Time: October 21

Venue: Ceremony Hall, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Branko Church Choir

After Serbia was fully liberated from the Ottoman Empire, Nis already had its own cathedral. In 1887, the church artistic group “Branko” was established as the choir of the Nis Cathedral. Its task was to teach and serve Church and Sacred Serbian Music. During the Second World War, the choir never stopped working. At that time there were only tem members in the choir, but they managed to preserve the genuine church music and chanting. After the war, despite the difficulties caused by the country’s political regime, the choir persevered and maintained its original activities, i.e. its participation in the Holy Mass.

In 1990 the choir group was renovated and opened its doors to young members, so that today the mean age of its members is 24-25 years. The choir never stopped performing during the bombing of Serbia in 1999.

The Choir is conducted by Mrs. Tsinitsarevic. As it has always done, the choir not only sings church music but performs other compositions of world choir music, works by local composers and some Greek compositions.

«Branko» Choir has visited almost the whole of continental Greece; its most interesting appearances were in Asprovalta and Ierissos in 1994 and 1995, Platamon in 1996, Yannitsa and Kastoria in 1998 and 2000, Veria in 1999 and 2003, Patras in 2000 and 2002. Branko Choir participated in the contest of Christian Orthodox Choirs in 2003 in Hajnovka, where it received the jury’s special prize.