SRĐAN BULATOVIĆ / BULATOVIĆ-NIKČEVIĆ DUO

Montenegro

concert
master classes

Dr. Srđan Bulatović is a prominent Montenegrin guitarist and pedagogue. He completed his studies at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, where he earned both his Master’s and Doctoral degrees under the mentorship of Prof. Vera Ogrizović. He holds the distinction of being the first Doctor of Performing Arts in classical guitar in Montenegro.

His pioneering work laid the foundation for professional guitar education in his home country. In 1994, he established the guitar department at the "Vasa Pavić" Music Secondary School, and in 2000, he initiated the guitar study program at the Music Academy in Cetinje. Today, nearly all Montenegrin guitarists and professors are former students of his.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Bulatović has performed across Europe and worldwide. He is widely recognized for his long-standing collaboration with Darko Nikčević; since 1991, their guitar duo has gained international acclaim for its unique fusion of classical, flamenco, and ethno influences.

He has authored numerous textbooks and collections of compositions. His discography includes several solo and collaborative albums, notably "Gitara" (1998), the first classical music CD ever recorded and released in Montenegro. Currently, he serves as a professor at the "Vasa Pavić" Music School and is the Artistic Director of the "Guitar Art Summer Fest" in Herceg Novi.

BULATOVIĆ-NIKČEVIĆ DUO

The guitar duo of Srđan Bulatović (Doctor of Arts, Classical Guitar) and Darko Nikčević (flamenco guitarist and Master of Audio Technology) is internationally recognized for its exceptional virtuosity and captivating performances, especially following two highly successful concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York (2016 and 2017). Their distinctive blend of Balkan irregular rhythms and diverse international influences carries the spirit of the Mediterranean and a touch of oriental mysticism.

They have collaborated for over three decades and have performed their original compositions across the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Azerbaijan, and Albania. Their music is wide-ranging in character, style, and tempo, shaped by strong influences of Montenegrin traditional music, film music, world music, and contemporary genres.

They have released ten joint albums, with particular emphasis on three editions for Naxos Records, representing their most internationally visible productions. Numerous international magazines and online platforms—including American Record Guide, Akustik Gitarre, Ritmo, Chitarre, and MusicWeb International—have written highly favorable reviews of their work. Their music is regularly featured on global Apple Music and Spotify playlists, including Classical Live and The Guitar, and has been broadcast on radio stations in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Philippines.

Two of their compositions were included in the compilation Comfortable Guitar, released by Naxos Japan. Naxos Sheet Music Publishing has published fourteen of their original works, making them the first authors from the region to enter this prestigious global catalog.

They are the authors of the ballet Mediterranean, as well as the symphonic works Europe Symphony and The Secret – Fantasia Concertante for Two Guitars and Orchestra, for which they have signed a contract with the American label Navona Records; these releases will be published in February next year.

They are recipients of Montenegro’s highest national honor—the Thirteenth of July Award.