Album Notes

Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic

Hailed by the critics as one of the most unique and expressive marimba and percussion artists in the field today, Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic has greatly influenced the international percussion scene during the last two decades – as both a masterful composer and virtuoso performer. Despite his cosmopolitan lifestyle and attitude, Zivkovic has always preserved his “Slavic soul” which makes his compositions and performances a unique emotional experience. Concert tours have led him throughout Europe, from Siberia to Spain, from Greece to Finland, repeatedly in Asia, and annually through Latin and North America.

His groundbreaking compositions for marimba and percussion have set new performing standards, and his captivating and energetic performances have influenced generations of marimbists. Many of Zivkovic’s compositions ( for example: Ilijas, Ultimatum1, Trio per uno ) have become standards in contemporary percussion repertoire world-wide. His symphonic works are performed by top orchestras, such as the: National Symphony Orchestra, Washington D.C.; BBC Concert Orchestra, London; Orchestra di Santa Cecilia, Rome; Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra; and The Northern Sinfonia in Newcastle, UK. In addition to his thrilling and challenging concert works, he has composed many pieces for younger players. In particular, the pedagogical compositions from his “FUNNY MALLETS SERIES” are among the world’s best sold works for mallet instruments. With nearly three hundred performances of his works each year in over fifty countries, Zivkovic is one of the most frequently performed composers of marimba and percussion music.

As a charismatic soloist, mostly with his own marimba and percussion concertos, Zivkovic has performed with the: Stuttgart Philharmonic; Munich Symphonic; Bochum Phiharmonic; Austrian Chamber Symphony; Hannover Radio Symphony; Bielefeld Philharmonic; Belgrade Philharmonic; Slovenian Philharmonic; Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra; National Orchestra of Costa Rica; and many others. He has also performed in such prestigious venues as the Viennas “Konzerthaus”, National Recital Hall Taipei, and the Stockholms “Nybrokajen”.
In addition to his composing and concert activities, he gives master classes and seminars in Europe, Asia, Mexico and regularly through the USA.