Association of Musical Artist of Serbia

The Association of Music Artists of Serbia ("UMUS") was established on April 7, 1946 with 20 musicians participating. It was one of the first independent organizations of musicians in the world. The goals and assignments of the Association include: participating in cultural and artistic activities, elevating the musical education of audiences, training the members, protecting performance copyrights, and assisting young artists in their performances.

Events

The Association has organized numerous cycles of concerts of their members, both in Belgrade (Kolarac's Legacy Concert Hall, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Gallery of frescoes, National Museum Hall, Vračar Centre of Culture, Vuk Karadžić Centre of Culture, Music School Stanković, Music School Mokranjac, Old Port Authority House in Zemun, Assembly of the City of Belgrade), and in other towns of Serbia (Kragujevac, Zaječar, Šabac, Kruševac, Trstenik, Valjevo, Zrenjanin, Novi Sad, Niš …), as well as the concert cooperation among the former Federal Republics and foreign countries.

The Association has participated in numerous donation and humanitarian music events as performers and the organizers.

History and membership

In 1983 UMUS (along with the other artists’ associations) was proclaimed by legal provision a body competent to take care of independent artists. It now holds this status to more than 170 members, mostly younger musicians. Owing to the joint action of several artists’ associations and unions, UMUS has incorporated into legal provisions the exemption of artists from paying customs fees for the import of musical instruments.

At the initiative of the UMUS, in 1950 the Union of Music Artists of Yugoslavia was established.

The UMUS is one of sixteen prominent institutions and organizations, which founded the Mokranjac’s Legacy on December 27, 2005, the scope of which is protection and promotion of the work of Mr. Stevan Stojanovic Mokranjac both in this country and abroad.

The Association has 352 members. It is a non-profit organization, subsidized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia. UMUS cooperates with the Secretariat of Culture of the City of Belgrade (independent artists, concerts of members, and the like), as well as with all the relevant institutions and individuals in music.

Publications and Awards

In December 1964 the magazine called "Pro muzika" was circulated. There have been 165 regular issues and several special issues. In 1970 the UMUS Award for the best music-interpretation achievement during the season was established, received so far by the most eminent artists. Since 2001 the Lifetime Achievements Award and the Award to the young artist (under the age of 30) have also been created. The UMUS Award is regularly granted at the occasion of the Association’s Day (April 7) in the cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia.

Founding members

*Rea Aserović
*Aleksej Butakov
*Bruno Brun
*Bogomir Gorse
*Milan Dimitrijević
*Mirko Dorner
*Meri Žeželj
*Lazar Marjanović
*Olga Mihailović
*Ljudevit Pap
*Josip Pikelj
*Olga Popov
*Andreja Preger
*Fjodor Selinski
*Vladimir Slatin
*Jakov Srejović
*Milica Stojadinović
*Vidosava Todorović
*Ivan Turšić
*Emil Hajek

Presidents (1946-2005)

*Emil Hajek (1946-1948)
*Lazar Marjanović (1948-1951)
*Predrag Milošević (1951-1953)
*Živojin Zdravković (1953-1955)
*Oskar Danon (1955-1957)
*Lazar Marjanović (1957-1963)
*Đura Jakšić (1963-1968)
*Dušan Trbojević (1968-1970)
*Josip Pikelj (1970-1973)
*Jovan Gligorijević (1973-1977)
*Milenko Stefanović (1977-1980)
*Radivoje Spasić (1980-1981)
*Jovan Jovičić (1981-1982)
*Ernest Ačkun (1982-1984)
*Dušan Miladinović (1984-1990)
*Gordana Jevtović (1990-1993)
*Ljubomir Dimitrijević (1993-1995)
*Petar Ivanović (1995-2003)
*Dragoslav - Pavle Aksentijević (2003-2004)(from 2004 to 2005 the acting President was Vladimir Milić)
*Vladimir Milić since April 3, 2005.

External links

* [http://www.umus.org.yu/html/en.htm Official Website]