Appreciated worldwide as a multi-instrumentalist virtuoso, composer and singer of unprecedented caliber, Slobodan Trkulja has established himself on the music scene as a charismatic performer whose sonorous and emotional singing alongside his music mastery captivates audiences around the world. To them, he is a genius who plays 20 instruments with great skill and whose daring music carries a timeless message. Critics have dubbed Slobodan as “one of the most beautiful male voices of the Balkans” (NRC Handelsblad, Netherlands), a “male version of Le Mystery des Voix Bulgaires” (Balkan Insight), a “player with infectious energy and talent, causing the audience to surrender completely”  (Trouw, Netherlands).

In January 2023. Slobodan made his TV debut in China appearing on New Years special 2023 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. He sang Serbian folk song “There, Far Away” accompanied by world renown pianist Lang Lang. By China Media Group official statistics, the show was broadcasted live on 1.000 TV stations in 173 countries and got staggering 16.216 billion views!

Whether performing for an audience of thousands in Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Shanghai’s World Expo, St. Petersburg’s Music Hall Theatre, Belgrade’s Sava Center / Kombank Arena to name a few, or an intimate performance for several hundred people, Slobodan equally enjoys appearing in major concert halls as in non-traditional venues and festivals such as North Sea Jazz Festival and Celtic Connections.

As the frontman and founder of the group Balkanopolis, Slobodan collaborated and performed with notable symphonic and jazz orchestras including Grammy Award winning Metropole Orchestra, Phion Orkest from Holland, Belgrade Philharmonic, Jazz Orchestra of Concertgebouw, WDR Rundfunk Orchestra to name a few. Guest artists who appeared with Slobodan (& Balkanopolis) include fado diva Mariza (Portugal), pianist Lang Lang (China), Oleta Adams (USA), Yorgos Dalaras (Greece), Baaba Maal (Senegal), Mayssa Karaa (Lebanon/USA), Pelageya (Russia), Josipa Lisac (Croatia) and others.

Besides being known for his music (and hairdo), Slobodan is also known for his humanitarian work and special music performances for babies and toddlers.

Born in Serbia in 1977, Slobodan first taught himself to play the clarinet from age 11, after which he learned to play dozen more instruments. In 1998. Slobodan went to Amsterdam where he studied saxophone at Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He received his Master’s Degree with highest honours.

Balkanopolis

Slobodan Trkulja is the founder and frontman of Balkanopolis. The music of Balkanopolis, composed by Slobodan Trkulja, is rooted in pop / orchestral / jazz music and Balkan traditional melodies and rhythms. It varies in style from acoustic & traditional, played on Serbian traditional instruments, furiously improvised jazz-orientated solos over incredibly complex Balkan rhythms (25/8), to modern take on ancient Byzantine chants and “grleno pevanye” (archaic throat singing). Mixed with powerful orchestral arrangements and modern sounds, the music of Slobodan Trkulja & Balkanopolis ranges from lyrical to epic soundscapes.

Balkanopolis consists of following members:

Slobodan Trkulja – singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist
bagpipes, kaval (end-blown flute), clarinet, Armenian doudouk, Cretan Lyra, tenor/soprano saxophone,
Serbian tambura, frula, piano, mandolin, cornemouse,  guitar, flute, traditional percussions, etc.
Miloš Jakovljević – kaval (end-blown flute)
Marko Milatović – keyboards, programming, piano
Uroš Teofilović – electric / acoustic guitar, tamboura, Cretan laouto
Dejan Antović – bass guitar
Mladen Dragović – drums

Slobodan Trkulja & Balkanopolis created a unique sound that is referred to as the Modern Tradition and has evolved into a musical genre with an increasing following both in terms of other musicians that are emulating it and international audiences that are drawn to it.