Vlada Veselinović - accordion player, composer, arranger, author of books for accordion.

Vlada Veselinović was born on July 19, 1980, in Pirot, Serbia. He showed an interest in the accordion at a very early age, receiving a children's accordion at just two years old. He built a strong musical foundation by completing elementary music school "Vladimir Đorđević" in Aleksinac (accordion department) under the guidance of his teacher, Dušica Pejić from Pirot. However, he did not stop at formal education, which merely provided direction and a clearer understanding of his favorite instrument—the accordion. Since traditional Balkan music was not part of the curriculum in music schools, he continued to independently explore all styles of Balkan folk music, perfecting his skills and developing his unique style of accordion interpretation. Today, he successfully shares his acquired knowledge with others. He has over a decade of experience working in folklore ensembles and more than ten years of collaboration with various orchestras in Pirot. Recently, he has had numerous appearances on television and at concerts as a solo accordionist. He also collaborates with musicians from Sombor, with a special emphasis on his work with guitarist Vlado Popović.

In 2009, he launched an online forum for accordion players and accordion fans, the site www.MuzikaHarmonike.com which has since grown into one of the largest forum related to accordion. The forum now brings together a large number of accordionists, accordion makers and craftsmen and fans of the sound of accordion.

In the absence of literature on traditional folk music and its performance and interpretation on the accordion, he came up with the idea to share his knowledge with other musicians by transcribing sheet music and publishing professional music literature. Since 2011, he has published several collections of scores as e-books in PDF format, which were later published in printed editions. A special mention should be made of the book "Škola narodne muzike za harmoniku / School of Balkan Folk Music for Accordion" (2014 edition), which as a unique textbook became highly sought after and praised by accordionists and accordion professors across Serbia and the world. This book is the first one that covers all the elements of performance of Balkan folk music on the accordion in a detailed and meticulous manner. Over time, this book has become the basis for beginners and a textbook used by many folk music teachers, and guidance to those who have already developed their playing technique and want to improve it and perfect their knowledge and repertoire. This book was published in English language in 2019: School of Balkan Folk Music for Accordion . In addition to the mentioned book "School of Balkan Folk Music for Accordion", he has so far published several other books and collections: "Pesma i harmonika / Song and accordion" (2015), "Virtuozni foršpili za harmoniku / Virtuoso intros and intermezzos (vorspiels) for accordion" (2015), "Rubato pesme / Rubato songs" (2016), "Balkan na moj način kroz zvuke harmonike / The Balkans expressed in my own way through the sounds of the accordion - original compositions by the author" (2016), "Vlaška kola na harmonici / Vlach kolo songs on accordion" (2017 ), "Pet šumadijskih kola na harmonici / 5 Šumadija kolo songs on the accordion" (2017), "Foršpili za sva vremena 1 / Eternal intros (vorspiels) 1" (2017), "Foršpili za sva vremena 2 / Eternal intros (vorspiels) 2" (2018), "Nova kola za harmoniku / New kolo songs for accordion - original compositions by the author” (2018), "Najlepša violinska kola / The most beautiful kolo songs for the violin” (2018), "Pesma i harmonika 2 / Song and accordion 2” (2019), "Igre i pesme iz Pirota i okoline / Dances and songs from Pirot area” (2020), "With Accordion Around the World” (2020), "Škola narodne muzike za harmoniku 2” (2021), Pesma i harmnika 3 (2021), Naučite note uz narodnu muziku (2022), Rumunska harmonika (2023), Nadahnut harmonikom (2024), Foršpili za sva vremena 3 (2024), Pesma i harmonika 4 (2025).

In addition, he is the author of many individual sheet music notations of Balkan folk music, as well as several PDF sheet music collections:Univerzalni foršpili (2011), Harmonika Balkana (2012), Popularna harmonika (2012), Melodije sa Balkana za harmoniku (2013), Kola uz Šumadije (2013), Balkan Accordion 1 (2020), Balkan Accordion 2 (2022), Narodna kola na klavijaturi (2023).

His quality and diligent work in the field of music earned him recognition and huge support from all over the world. The online accordion forum he founded, as well as his original compositions, drew attention to him and earned him the respect and recognition of many renowned accordionists. His dedicated companionship and frequent collaboration with many great accordionists from Serbia as well as from all over the world, allow him the privilege to constantly strive to further enhance his knowledge and experience related to the accordion. The support and accolades he receives from musicians mean a great deal to him and provide the incentive for him to continue along the path he had chosen because it is clearly the right path: the path of pure art and tradition. He has proven himself not only as a book author, but also as a composer of original music, as well as an accordionist whose faithful interpretations preserve and celebrate traditional folk music. In 2015 he received a recognition for his intensive work in the field of accordion and popularization of this instrument at the festival "The first accordion of Vojvodina" in the village of Stapar, where he also performed as a guest of honour. Vlada Veselinovic's biography was published in the encyclopaedia "ACCORDION AND WORLD'S BEST CONTEMPORARY ACCORDIONISTS" (Times Square Press. New York, 2019). Interviews and articles about him have been published in the prestigious American accordion magazine "Accordion Stars", as well as in "Stars Illustrated" magazine, also published in America. In the book "The World's Best of the Best and Most Illustrious" published in 2020 also in America (published by Stars Ilustrated Magazine, Times Square Press, New York), he was included among the world's most famous names from various fields, not only music but also film and theater, fashion, television, politics, sports, etc. There he was honored as the author of the year for professional music literature. At the beginning of 2021, Vlada Veselinović was included in the “Accordion World Hall of Fame” founded in America in 2018 by FAMSPA (Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists Incorporated). Since 2021, he has been a correspondent from Serbia for the American magazine "Accordion Stars".

Over time, he has gained students from all over the world who come to him to perfect their accordion playing technique. As a recognized instrumental interpreter, known for his precise sheet music and thorough knowledge of various styles of Balkan folk music, he has also proven himself to be a successful educator. He teaches accordion lessons to both beginners and those with experience who wish to further improve their knowledge. At the end of 2019, in Split, Croatia, he held a Master Class on Balkan folk music on the accordion, which gathered numerous accordionists from Split and the surrounding area. In his role as a lecturer, he participated in the professional gathering of the Inter-County Professional Council of Accordion Teachers, organized by the Agencija za odgoj i obrazovanje RH (Agency for Education and Training of Croatia). The event took place on October 2, 2024, at the Ferde Livadić Music School Hall in Samobor, Croatia. The leader of the event was Mag.art.Dr.phil. Ivana Črnjak, prof. savjetnik, while the lecturers were prof. savjetnik Marjan Krajna and Vlada Veselinović. The seminar's topic was "Understanding the Styles and Proper Interpretation of Traditional Music on the Accordion in the Broader Region." In addition to the theoretical presentations, Veselinović demonstrated all covered topics practically, using his own literature, in which these areas are thoroughly elaborated. His book "Škola narodne muzike za harmoniku" attracted particular attention from the attendees.

He strives to remain true to from the traditional sound, without changing the original sound by using the modern and higher quality equipment of today, he records his songs in his music studio "Maestro" in Pirot. The studio was founded from the desire to share his talent and knowledge with listeners and admirers of his music. Because of his refined ear and taste for music, he was also sought after in other areas of music as a composer and arranger of songs. He has also received rewards for his achievements in studio work.

The most important fulfilling work for him are his compositions. In 2016 Vlada Veselinović's first instrumental album was released, entitled "Balkan na moj način kroz zvuke harmonike". Compositions from the album very quickly found their way to the audience and entered the hearts and ears of all who love the sound of the accordion. On the second album "Nova kola", which was released in 2018, numerous compositions were composed in the style of Šumadija kola, where the author retained his recognition for his unique playing style and signature arrangements. In May 2020, he released his third CD, entitled "With Accordion Around the World", featuring arrangements of world-famous compositions. At the beginning of 2025, another album with original compositions will be released, titled "Od Šumadije do Juga". For listening to compositions and interpretations of Vlada Veselinović, please visit: YouTube - Vlada Veselinovic channel.