Serbian cellist Valentina Ignjic enjoys an extremely versatile career as a soloist,
chamber musician, orchestral player and teacher. She started learning the cello at the age of 10 in her hometown Belgrade. From the very beginning, she has been working together with the teachers who further developed her love for music and have helped her to fulfill her hopes. Through many years of hard work, she has become the concert cellist who has performed throughout Europe and the United States.

Valentina made her concerto debut, performing Tchaikovsky “Variations on a
Rococo Theme” with the Academy Symphonic Orchestra. Other solo performances
include recitals Serbia, Hungary, Germany, Montenegro, Georgia (US) and Illinois (US). She has participated in masterclasses with Prof. Imre Kalman, Bongshin Ko, Stanislav Apolin, Louise Hopkins, Alexander Kniazev, Florian Kitt, Maria Kliegel, Mischa Maisky, Xenia Jankovic, Roberto Diaz, Johannes Moser, Yo Yo Ma, Matt Haimovitz. Inspired by people who helped her to be broad-minded in music performing and cello technique, she felt the need to test herself in various competitions. During these years she won several awards, MTNA State Competition 2011 (Alternative) USA “Academy of Arts” Concerto Competition, “Mokranjcev Memorial Festival” 2005 (1st place) Serbia, State Contest 2004 (3rd place) Belgrade,
State Contest 2002 (2nd place) Belgrade, State Contest 2000 (1st place) Belgrade.

She has always been interested in chamber music and orchestra playing, but the
seriousness in her performing as a team player on the scene has appeared after her
performance in Berlin Philharmonic Hall and Lubeck Kongresshalle-Germany, with
Deutsch-Skandinavishe Junged-Philharmonie (Co-Principal). She also has the
experience of having performed with “Junged Kunstler Bayreuth” Festival in Germany
(Co-principal). Performances include Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Montenegro
Philharmonic Orchestra, “Art Link” Baroque String Orchestra, “Dusan Skovran”
Chamber Orchestra and LaGrange Symphony Orchestra.
She studied with Prof Imre Kalman at University of Novi Sad ”Academy of Arts”
where she got her B.A. Degree in Music Performance. His teachers were Andre Navarra and Arto Noras. In 2011, Valentina was awarded a full scholarship at Columbus State University, Prof. Wendy Warner cello studio. Her teacher was Mstislav Rostropovich. In 2015 she graduated from Roosevelt University (Chicago College of Performing Arts), Prof. Richard Hirschl cello studio, who is an active member of Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His teacher was Leonard Rose. She is currently studying with Dr. David Starkweather at University of Georgia, where she is pursuing a Doctorate in Musical Arts Degree.

CV