The February award of the City of Novi Sad was awarded to the celebrated violinist Stefan Milenković on February 1 this year.
The February Award is traditionally awarded on the Day of the City of Novi Sad, marking the date when our city was officially declared a free royal city by Empress Maria Theresa in 1748.
Stefan Milenkovic’s career includes thousands of performances around the world. He played for Gorbachev, Reagan and Pope John Paul II, and at the age of 16 he played his 1000th concert in Mexico. Milenković was a professor at several world universities, from childhood he was considered a “wunderkind”, and became the youngest graduate of the University of Arts in Belgrade. He possesses a violin from 1783 by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini.
In 2020, the celebrated violinist returned to Serbia, precisely to Novi Sad, the European Capital of Culture, where he works as an artistic director and curator of classical music through the work of the City Concert Hall.
The February award is given every February 1 for all the efforts that are in the spirit of the libertarian traditions of the City of Novi Sad, fostering interpersonal tolerance and unity of all its citizens, for activities and works that affirm the name and tradition, fame and reputation of the City of Novi Sad, a contribution to culture, art, literary works, the study of historical materials and scientific research activities as a whole and prominent engagement in humanitarian, social and health fields.
Photos: Jelena Ivanović, Vladimir Veličković
