Marija Đurđević

She is a distinguished flutist and pedagogue with more than twenty years of active professional experience as a soloist, orchestral musician, and university professor. As a long-standing member of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, she has performed in over 350 concerts in Montenegro and abroad, and appeared repeatedly as a soloist with the orchestra. Her solo repertoire includes some of the most demanding concertos for flute and orchestra, such as W. A. Mozart’s Concerto in G major K.313, Bohuslav Martinů’s Concerto for Flute, Violin and Orchestra, and Carl Reinecke’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra Op. 283.

Alongside her orchestral career, she is an active chamber musician, performing regularly with the wind quintet of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra and the KotorArt Quintet, as well as collaborating with the Symphony Orchestra of Radio and Television of Serbia. Throughout her career, she has worked with numerous leading conductors and internationally renowned soloists, gaining broad artistic insight across different musical traditions and performance practices.

Her pedagogical work is closely connected to her performance experience. As a professor of flute at the Music Academy of the University of Montenegro, she is deeply committed to developing technically secure, musically expressive, and mentally resilient young musicians. Her teaching approach combines a strong technical foundation with refined sound production, stylistic awareness, and a deep understanding of musical structure. Special emphasis is placed on efficient practice strategies, healthy body use, stage confidence, and psychological preparation for performance.

She believes that successful flute playing is the result of a balanced interaction between technique, musical imagination, and mental focus. In her teaching, she adapts methods to each student’s individual needs, encouraging independence, critical thinking, and artistic authenticity. Her students regularly represent the University of Montenegro and the Music Academy at festivals, competitions, and academic events in the country and abroad.

Born in Kragujevac, Serbia, she completed her primary and secondary music education in the class of Snežana Kovačević, laying the foundation for a lifelong dedication to both performance excellence and high-level music education.

 Teaching style is structured, student-centered, and strongly informed by her extensive performance experience. She combines high technical standards with a supportive and motivating approach, creating an environment in which students feel encouraged to explore their full artistic potential while developing discipline and responsibility.

Technical work is approached systematically, with particular attention to sound production, breathing, articulation, intonation, and physical balance while playing. Equal importance is given to musical expression, stylistic accuracy, and a clear understanding of musical form. She emphasizes efficient and intelligent practice methods, helping students learn how to practice independently and purposefully.

A distinctive aspect of her teaching is the integration of mental skills into instrumental training. She actively works with students on stage presence, concentration, stress management, and performance confidence, preparing them for real professional situations such as auditions, competitions, and concerts.

Her teaching is highly individualized. She adapts repertoire, methodology, and pacing to each student’s technical level, personality, and artistic goals, encouraging critical thinking, self-reflection, and artistic authenticity. Students are guided not only to become technically accomplished flutists, but also confident, versatile musicians with a strong personal musical voice.