Marija Turšijan

Marija Tursijan was born on August 31, 1998 in Novi Sad. She enrolled in the preparatory class of the elementary music school "Isidor Bajic" in 2006 at the accordion section in the class of Svetlana Stojicic, Master, and she continues and ends  primary and secondary music school at the same school, in the class of prof. Milke Obrić. Marija graduates from both elementary and high school gaining a Certificate of excellance .

     During her education, she participated and won awards at numerous national and international competitions. In the elementary music school the results of the following competitions stood out:

• First prize at the competition "Little Virtuoso", Belgrade, 2008.
• First prize at the Arandjelovac International Competition in 2009.
• First prize at the competition "Little Virtuoso", Belgrade, 2009.
• Second prize at the Zemun Republican Competition in 2010.
• First prize at the International competition "Star Trails", Kragujevac, 2010.
• Second prize (third place) at the Sabac Republic Competition in 2012.
• The first prize at the International competition "May Meetings" in Lazarevac in 2012.
• First prize at the International Competition “Fantast” in Bečej, 2013.

   In the high school, Marija performs more often in competitions, festivals and concerts. From the competitions the following results can be distinguished:

• First prize at the “Meh Fest” Competition, Belgrade, 2014.
• First prize at the competition in Loznica in 2014.
• First prize in the competition, "Harmonic Days, Smederevo, 2014"
• Winner of the Harmonia Espressiva Competition, Sochaczew, (Poland), 2014
• First prize and first place in its category at the competition in Loznica in 2015
• First prize (third place) at the International Accordion Competition in Pula in 2015
• First Prize at the International Harmony Days Festival, Ugljevik in 2015
• Tenth place in the competition of 23 competitors in the International competition in Italy (Castelfidardo), 2015.
• Laureate at the Accordion Competition in Loznica in 2016 (cup for category winner)
• First prize and second place in its category at the Republic Competition in 2016
• First prize at the International Festival "Accordion Days", Ugljevik, 2016
• The ninth place at the 53rd World Accordion Competition "Akkordeonwettbewerb", Klingental, Germany, 2016.
• Second place at Talent Festival, Sremski Karlovci, 2016.
• Second place at the International Accordion Competition, Bratislava, 2016.
• Laureate at the Accordion Competition in Loznica, 2017.
• Laureate for the discipline of accordion at the competition "Festival of Slovenian Music", Belgrade, 2017
• First prize at the IX International Competition "Accordion Days", Ugljevik, 2017.
• Category VIII Laureate at the 8th International Competition “Akkordeon Art”, Sarajevo 2017.

       Marija is also active as a member of chamber ensembles and she participates in competitions and concerts with them. The first cooperation in this field was made with colleague Nedeljko Banjanin, with whom she won the first prize in the Republican Competition and the diploma for excellence in the competition "Harmonia esspresiva" in Poland. The following year, together with her colleague Marko Basara she founded the duo "Per Semper" in the class of prof. Igor Paroski and they achieved remarkable results in the following competitions:

• First prize at the Republic Competition, accordion duo, Belgrade, 2016
• B category winners and Grand Prize winners for best composition in all chamber composition categories at “42nd  Accordion Competition '', Pula 2017.
• First prize at the” Isidor Bajic Festival”

Together with Lena Loncar (violin) she founded the duo "Manticorde", in the class of prof. Igor Paroski, based on the performance of contemporary music compositions. They performed at the “Isidor Bajic Festival” and won the first prize.

       In 2013 she became a member of the accordion orchestra AKUDUNS, "Sonja Marinković", which stands out at competitions and concerts in the country and abroad. The orchestra has won some of the most prestigious awards at competitions in the country and abroad, of which performances at one of the most prestigious harmonica competitions stand out:

• First prize and title of absolute winner of the entire competition at “40th accordion players' meetings in Pula  in 2015.
• First prize and title of absolute winner of the entire competition at “ 42nd  accordion players' meeting in Pula in 2017.

    She has been awarded several times by city, province and state:

• Vidovdan Award of the City of Novi Sad for outstanding results at Republic and international competitions in the 2014/15 school year.
•  Award “Dositej Obradovic” for results in 2014/15.
• Vidovdan Award of the City of Novi Sad for 2015/16.
• Award “Dositej Obradovic” for the results in 2015/16.
• Commendation in the field of music awarded by the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina for outstanding results in the field of music.

      In 2017, she completed her secondary education and enrolled in the Faculty of  Philology and Arts of the University of Kragujevac in the class of  Professor Vojin Vasovic.

During her studies, she participates in domestic and international competitions and achieves the following results:

• Winner in student Category at “Belgrade Accordion Festival”, March 12th, 2018.
• Winner in the category of CONCERTIST at”43rd Accordion Meeting '' in Pula (from 25th to 28th of April, 2018)
• Winner of student category at the international competition "Euphony" in Novi Sad, May 25th, 2018.
• The ninth place in the three-stage student category in the international competition "Citta di Castelfidardo" in Italy (16th September 2018)
• The third place in the student category of chamber music at the international competition "Citta di Castelfidardo" in Italy (September 16th, 2018) - Duo DRAMAtico: Angela Andolsek (flute), Maria Tursian (accordion)
• Participation in the World Accordion Competition in Arasate (Spain), December 2018.
• Winner of the student category at the 3rd International Competition “Viva Accordion” in Aleksinac 2019.
• First prize at the International Competition “Meh Fest”, Belgrade 2019.
• The sixth place in the SENIOR category at the 56th Klingental Accordion Competition in 2019.
• Winner of student category at 10th International Accordion Festival "Accordion Art" in Sarajevo in 2019.
• Winner of the student category, with the prize for best compulsory composition and the title "Grand Prix" at the 3rd International Competition "Georgi Galabov" in Bulgaria, from 18th to 19th October 2019.
• 9th  place on Trophee Mondiale in Portugal, November 2019.
• Finalist of competition “Bayan and bayanists” held in Moscow, December 2020.
• Laureate  I degree won at III International competition-festival “Natkhnenne native land”, Belarus, March 2021.

      In February 2018, “the Kragujevac Academic Accordion Orchestra” was founded, where Marija became the first soloist and concertmaster. In addition to the concert activities, the orchestra also engages in competitive activities.

 Orchestra participated in one of the most prestigious competitions in the world of accordion in Pula and won the first prize and the first place in its category and the title of absolute winner of the entire competition ("43rd accordion meeting" in Pula, from 25th to 28th April 2018), and in 2019 orchestra participated in and won the International competition “Akordeon Fest” in Tivat.

Orchestra held several successful concerts:

• The first solo concert of the orchestra held in the Great Hall of the Second Kragujevac Grammar School, 17th April 2018.
• Concert as part of the event “October Walkers (hododarje)-OKTOH”, October 26th, 2018.
• Solo concert at the Great Hall of Kolarac Endowment 29th October 2018.
• Solo concert in the hall of the First Gramar School in Kragujevac, as part of the 27th accordion festival on the 15th November 2018
• Solo concert at the third International Festival “Viva Harmonica” in Aleksinac on March 22nd, 2009.
• Solo concert held in the grand hall of the Second Kragujevac Grammar School, 18th April 2019.
• Solo concert at the “44th Accordion Meetings” in Pula, 25th April 2019.
• Solo concert at the Tivat Accordion Competition in 2019.
• Solo concert held in Trebinje on the 1st June 2019.
• Solo concert in the First Kragujevac Grammar School, 23 November 2019.
• Solo concert at the Great Hall of Kolarac Endowment 24 November 2019.
• Participation in the Saint Sava Academy dedicated to Mihajlo Pupin, Slovenia (31/01/2020)
• Concert in online format on the occasion of The Day of the City of Kragujevac 6. 5.2020.
• Three solo concerts in online format:

~ Great Hall of the Centre for Culture Smederevo - 18.12.2020.

~ Ceremonial hall of the First Kragujevac Grammar School – 26.12.2020.

~ Great Hall of the Center for Culture Pozarevac – 31.12.2020.

     During the studies, Marija holds several concerts:

• 28th February 2018 together with her colleague Angela Andolsek (flute), holds a concert in the ceremonial hall of the “Vojislav Vuckovic” School in Cacak.
• 5th March 2018 with her colleague Angela Andolsek holds another concert, but this time in the gallery of the National Museum in Kragujevac.
• 20th April 2018 with his colleague Mark Trivunovic holds a concert in the ceremonial hall of the “Isidor Bajic” School in Novi Sad.
• 10th May 2018. with his colleague Mark Trivunovic, holds a concert as part of the 15th international competition“Star Trails” in Kragujevac.
• 16th May 2018 holds a concert as part of the concert series “Osijek Wednesday” and at the same time as a part of the festival  “Women and Art”  in Osijek.
• 10th September 2018 holds a concert at the “Stevan Mokranjac” School in Zajecar.
• 26th November 2018 holds a solo concert at the Gallery of the National Museum, in Kragujevac.
• 25th April 2019 holds solo concert at the 44th International Accordion Competition in Pula.
• 24th May 2019 holds solo concert as part of the Accordion Competition “Euphonium”
• 14th June 2019 holds a concert with colleagues at the Center of Fine Arts of Jovan Kolundzija (Guarnerius) as part of the presentation of the best students of the faculty
• 31th October 2019 holds a solo concert at the Center of Fine Arts of Jovan Kolundzija (Guarnerius)
• 1st October 2020 holds a solo concert in First Kragujevac Grammar School

    Within the project “Women in Music '' she performed the premiere of the composition of Chinese author Yu Zixuan “Plum blossom” along with cellist Nevena Radojkovic as follows:

• 12th May 2018 National Museum in Kragujevac,
• 14th May 2018 Belgrade Cultural Center

This was also the Serbian premiere of the aforementioned piece.

Within this festival competition in many disciplines took place, and Mary took part in the category of complementary piano and won the title of laureate of the student category.

During his studies, he had the opportunity to work with world-renowned professors:

• Injaki Alberdi (Spain)
• Vladimir Murza (Ukraine)
• Yuri Shishkin (Russia)
• Geir Draugsvoll (Denmark)
• Friedrich Lips (Russia)
• Ander Telleria (Spain)
• Karin Fleck (Germany)
• Nenad Ivanovic (Serbia)
• Nikita Vlasov (Russia)
• Milos Milivojevic (Serbia)

   As for the repertoire that Marija performs on her instrument, it must be noted that it includes works written for other instruments, first and foremost, it is about orchestral and piano music, and she is also based on the performance of the original literature written for accordion, where special emphasis is placed on the interpretation of modern music.

Serbian school of accordion is one of the best in the world. My education lasted 15 years, so I have a lot of experience in performing music and music theory. 

I am young and I have patience for all kind of students. It's not important if your knowledge of accordion and piano is low, we will improve that!

We can work through Skype, Viber, Messenger or Watsapp video call. If you need, I will record audio or visual video between our classes and help you with practise accordion!