Children from BiH, Serbia, and Croatia held a grand concert in Srebrenica

SREBRENICA, (Patria) - A concert was held in Srebrenica last night as part of the first regional music camp "Srebrenica Music Camp 2018", featuring 150 children from choirs and orchestras from Serbia, Croatia, and BiH in a full Cultural Center hall.

This is the largest concert in Srebrenica in the past decade, bringing together children from three countries as well as guests from Austria and Venezuela participating in the first regional music camp "Srebrenica Music Camp 2018", which began on July 29 and concludes on August 4.

- Throughout the six-day camp, we diligently rehearsed and prepared compositions ranging from the classical era, pop-rock classics, to the most beautiful traditional songs from Serbia, Croatia, and BiH, which we performed tonight. The goal of the camp is to foster intercultural dialogue among children and cooperation with organizations from other countries, which we have succeeded in achieving - says the artistic director of "House of Good Tones" Srebrenica and camp organizer.

Doraja Eberle, founder of the humanitarian organization "Bauern Helfen Bauern" from Salzburg, who provided direct support for organizing the first regional camp "Srebrenica Music Camp 2018", did not hide her enthusiasm for the concert, nor the camp.

- Children show us how things can work easily. I wish politicians would come and learn from these children how we can respect each other in our differences. These children teach us adults a lesson in behavior, which is why we must invest in them because they are the future - said Eberle, adding that Srebrenica needs more.

The camp, as an example of positive practice in working with children and youth, also impressed Gerald Wirth, president and artistic director of the Vienna Boys Choir, who stated that such a camp would be an extremely great opportunity for him and his choir children to gain new knowledge and that it is necessary to bring children from Austria to Srebrenica in the coming period.

Among the guests was Martin Pamer, the Austrian Ambassador to BiH.

- I think this camp is brilliantly organized and that, in addition to its musical and artistic background, it offers children the chance to spend important moments together, to joke, laugh, and enjoy, and I think that is the most important part. It is important that similar programs and camps are present throughout Europe more than ever - said Wirth, who conducted the grand concert in Srebrenica.

Goran Jerković, manager of the Center for Culture and Information Maksimir, as well as conductor and artistic director of the Chamber Choir "Ivan Filipović" from Zagreb, is very satisfied with the camp program held in Srebrenica.

- I am very pleased that such a large number of young people and children are gathering with the same goal, which is to create a beautiful story through music that connects them, as well as the shared moments they spent at the camp. We eagerly await the continuation of such a project, and I proudly announce that in November this year, we are preparing for a grand concert, a big gathering in the Vatroslav Lisinski Hall in Zagreb, and the continuation of this project - said Jerković.

Music professor Miljana Radivojević from Niš, Choir "Čarobna nota", is extremely satisfied with the camp and the children's socializing.

- Phenomenal socializing, beautiful organization. We are very happy to be a part of this camp, the children are socializing and getting to know each other better. The songs we performed are familiar to us, the children love them, and they are dear to us - said Radivojević.

Ricardo Luque from Venezuela, president of the System of Orchestras of Children and Youth (SO DO) El sistema Croatia, has been in Croatia since 1990 and has extensive musical experience, being one of the founders of the popular band Cubismo, formed in 1995.

- I had the opportunity as a child to engage in music, which changed my life. I feel I became a better person when I was given the opportunity to experience art. I think cross-border cooperation is very necessary because we are stronger together, and it is a way for future generations to get to know each other better, to cooperate through music, to get to know each other better through the beauty that music offers, and to be richer in diversity - says Luque.

Among the guests tonight was Đemila Talić Gabrijel, Honorary Consul of BiH in Australia for the New South Wales region, who, with her husband Chris Gabriel, a successful Australian businessman, supported this wonderful event in Srebrenica.

- It is an honor and a pleasure to be part of this exceptional evening in Srebrenica, where the space is filled with wonderful musical tones, beautiful youth, and children's smiles. They showed their skills, conveying emotions through both playing and singing. Thank you to everyone who made an effort to let children's songs and laughter be heard from this part of BiH - said the consul.

"House of Good Tones" from Srebrenica, with the financial support of the "Open Society Fund BiH" and friends of the organization "Bauern Helfen Bauern", organized the first regional camp "Srebrenica Music Camp 2018", which concludes on August 4.

"House of Good Tones" from Srebrenica is a multi-ethnic music project of reconciliation and creation of better coexistence for children from Srebrenica, Bratunac, Potočari, and Skelani, bringing together over 350 children aged 2 to 17.

The program has been running since 2012 and is free for all children.