Sofija Knezevic

Born 02.04.1990. in Serbia. She finished two secondary music schools in Belgrade . The first one is ``Mokranjac`` - where she was attending theoretical , vocal an instrumental department for the piano. The second school is ``Stankovic`` the jazz singing department. Also finished general secondary school . Ifinished Primary school ``Vuk Karadzic`` as well as primary music schools ``Dr. Vojislav Vuckovic `` and ``Mokranjac`` . She finished the exams for the final year of primary school in ahead of schedule - in one month total – because she has enrolled secondary music school ``Mokranjac`` in the previous year . She was awarded the title of The Best Pianist among all the candidates from Serbia and Montenegro . She finished both secondary schools a year earlier on the same way like she did with her primary school, because she passed the entrance examination in the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz.

She was also acting in the movie that was made for the Festival in Belgrade , few years ago , called ,``Nastajanje`` made by Vlada Perovic . And also was writing in a few fashion magazines , because before that she was some of the top people in fashion in her country . Has been performing in Europe since she was seven years old , both as a soloist and as a member of a group of singers . Already at that age she had concert tour in Italy and Slovenia . She sang at 10 concerts in the Kolarac Foundation , 4 concerts in the Sava Centre ,1 in jazz club ``The bird `` , 1 in ``Movie bar`` , 4 concerts in the National Theatre , 1 in the gallery ``Progres`` , one at the Republic Square and she also sang at numerous concerts in famous Serbian , Italian , Austrian and Slovakian concert halls and jazz clubs . She was the winner at the town singing competition ``Golden Mermaid`` . She was also the winner at the municipality competition ``Golden Mermaid`` , as the leading group singer . She recorded several CD – s with various groups and choirs . Last one was recorded with the STAGE BIG BAND of Sigi Feigl. She sang in the choirs `` Kolibri`` , ``Krsmanac `` , ``Obilic`` , ``KUG Jazz Choir`` , ``Gospel Choir`` , ``Vociferous`` , ``Free Vocal Ensemble`` etc . She sang as a backup vocal at numerous performances including the Junior Eurovision. She has played the piano at over 20 public classes and openings of exhibitions and galleries , and many other public performances . In 2005./2006. she had her two soloist humanitarian concerts for two little children who needed a heart surgery. 2009. She had a soloist concert , performed in reopened ``Kuca Djure Jaksica`` with Ivan Maksimovic(Berklee), Ivan Ilic(Berklee) , Jani Sepetavec (KUG), Milan Stanisavljevic (KUG) , in Belgrade. Last concert was performed 2010. in ``Miles`` , Austria, with Felipe Sequeira de Oliveira, Mathias Ruppnig and Tuomo Uusitalo.

She had many concert toures, the most important ones were in Slovakia for the 4 Jazz Festivals she sang on, and the tour with the famous Don Menza in Austria.

She was a soloist in ,, Mokranjac ,, hall , the oldest hall in Belgrade ,, Stankovic ,, and in the Student Cultural Centre . She sang at the opening of jazz club ,, Dizzy`s ,, in Belgrade in 2007 . She worked with many jazz musicians like Shawn Monteiro , Peter Herbolzheimer , Aria Hendrix , Jelena Revisin , Stefan Heckel, Rob Bargad, Michael Kahr , Don Menza , Eddie Henderson , Werner Feldgrill , Thomas Kugi , Mario Gonzi , Oliver Kent , Mary Fran Lubahn , Dave Santoro, Bob Brookmeyer , John Aberccrombie , Jerry Bregonzi , Barre Phillips , Sandy Cressman , Wayne Darling , Freddie Hersch , Derrick Gardner , Dusko Gojkovic , Stjepko Gut , Anette Giesrigel, Sheila Cooper, Claus Raible, Fritz Pauer, Dena DeRose, Ed Partyka, Felipe Riveira, Chicco Renato, Roberto Quintero, Luis Bonilla, Sheila Jordan and many others . She sang at the jazz Festival in Novi Sad for Sheila Jordan in 2006 , and on a Austrian MM Jazz Festival 2008. , 2009. in Slovakia on the Music Festival in Lyptovsky Mikulas. Also 2010. with Vociferous and Veryan Weston at the Jazz Festival in Graz ``Singers and Voices``, and with the Vociferous and also with the KUG Jazz Choir on the Jazz Festival in Weiz, Austria.

2009. she had a pleasure to sing with the famous european Dixieland band, on a few concerts including the festivals ``Bojcinsko Kulturno Leto`` and ``Gardoske Letnje Svecanosti`` .
And also had a pleasure to sing for humanitarian causes in Austria in Bad Goizern and many other places.

In year 2008. she acted and sang in an international project called ``MUSIC MATTER VIBRATION`` with Italian musicians Michelangelo Lupone, Luigi Picaleo , Carlo Laurenzi ,Jean Jeffreau. Because of that cooperation these people decided to give the money for opening a jazz department at the main Art University in Belgrade, Serbia.

2010. She sang with the famous Austria international competition winning band Sway with Alberto Lovison, Felipe Oliveira, Yvonne Sconzo and many others with whom she