Azur Kasapović (1998, Sarajevo) graduated from the Sarajevo Secondary Music School, Guitar Department, and is currently a final-year composition student at the Sarajevo Music Academy in the class of Professor Ališer Sijarić. During his studies, he honed his skills at numerous masterclasses organized by Sonemus, collaborating with renowned composers such as Dina Rešidbegović, Vinko Globokar, Marko Nikodijević, Uroš K. Pompe, Uroš Rojko, Richard Barrett, and Antoine Fachard. His career includes notable achievements in classical and contemporary music, distinguishing himself both as a talented composer and performer. His works have been performed at festivals and concerts including the Sonemus Festival, May Music Festivities, and the Creative Workshop “Sharing Knowledge.” Since 2019, he has been teaching guitar at BASICSchool, where he actively contributes to concerts and develops interactive content for the school’s eSystem. He is highly valued by colleagues as a reliable and collegial collaborator, and loved by students for his versatility, patience, and constant readiness to help.

Eva Čalija (2003, Canada) is a third-year student at the Sarajevo Music Academy, Cello Department, in the class of Prof. Dr. Belma Alić. She completed her primary and secondary music education in Sarajevo and has won special and first prizes at numerous competitions at both cantonal and federal levels. She attended masterclasses with distinguished professors such as Petar Olenjuk, Dejan Božić, Dragan Đorđević, and Yevgeny Xaviereff. She has also received awards at international competitions, including Fantast and Petar Konjović. Among her significant performances are appearances with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, under the batons of maestros Riccardo Muti and Zubin Mehta. She is recognized for her dedication and energy that in

Marija Mastilo (1996, Foča) completed her primary and secondary music education in Foča and East Ilidža, later earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano at the East Sarajevo Music Academy, graduating as the top student of the Academy and the highest-ranked student at the University of East Sarajevo. During her studies, she competed in numerous national and international competitions, winning awards including laureate titles at several festivals. She attended masterclasses with prominent artists and professors such as Aleksandar Serdar (Serbia), Hinko Haas (Slovenia), Arnulf von Arnim (Germany), Elena Tarasova (Russia), Biljana Jašić-Radovanović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Marija Pilipović (Bosnia and Herzegovina). She has performed across Bosnia and Herzegovina as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist. Since 2018, she has worked as a piano teacher and accompanist, with her students achieving remarkable success at competitions. She is also the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding academic achievements, both nationally and internationally. Her students win the highest number of awards each year, particularly first and special prizes, and Marija is cherished by students for her dedication, warmth, and inspiring approach to teaching.

Marko Jovančić (1996, East Sarajevo) graduated from the Secondary Music School in East Sarajevo, specializing in music theory and solo singing, and later enrolled in Film and TV Directing at the Sarajevo Academy of Performing Arts. From 2013 to 2023, he worked at the Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing to various shows, special programs, and documentaries. As co-founder of the Music Atelier in BiH (today: Institute for Innovative Arts), he directed four of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most successful children’s musicals – The Lion King, Frozen, Whisper of the Woods, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR – as well as the televised New Year’s special Basics Show. Since 2016, he has worked as a photographer and videographer for Bonjour.ba lifestyle magazine, contributing to projects such as “Feel Good T-shirt” and photographing for brands like Pantene, Kerastase, and Somersby. He was a Digital Imaging Technician and photographer on films and series including Men Don’t Cry, The White Fortress, and The Hollow, and edited the award-winning Bosnian film Mother’s Gold. Since 2023, he has been a multimedia content designer at the IT company ZIRA and is the director of the advertising agency “Artefaktorium,” producing work for brands such as Lidl, dm drogerie markt, and the National Theatre Sarajevo. Without Marko, the school would not be what it is today – he created most of its visuals, filmed and directed nearly everything the school has ever produced, and is largely responsible for the image and reputation BASICSchool enjoys today.

Staša Dukić (1989, Zenica) grew up in Travnik, where at the age of nine she joined the Travnik Amateur Theatre after directing a street performance of Cinderella with neighborhood friends. The play was later added to the Travnik repertoire. She graduated in acting from the Sarajevo Academy of Performing Arts. Before moving to London, she worked at BASICSchool as an acting teacher, directing the school’s first two musicals – Frozen and The Lion King. Since 2018, she has been based in London, where she completed a master’s degree in Theatre for Children and Young People at Rose Bruford College. She has since led acting workshops at the college and Bruford Youth Theatre and collaborated with numerous theatre organizations and institutions, including Theatrebugs, Sparks Films and Media, The Hive, Speech Bubbles London, Trinity Theatre, Immediate Theatre, Polka Theatre, Half Moon Theatre, Little Angel Theatre, Playground Kent, The Baby Place, and The Herd Theatre. Her experience spans working with children and young people from 0 to 18 years old. After a long break, Staša is returning to the BASICSchool team, which brings us great joy. Although based in London, she will regularly travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue contributing to the development of new generations of young actors.

Ekaterina Vereshchagina (1987, Sochi, Russia) began her ballet education at a very early age, and as a four-year-old girl she already attended the Ballet Studio of the Opera and Ballet Theatre in Omsk, where she took part in numerous performances. She earned her diploma as a ballerina in 2005, and her diploma in ballet pedagogy in 2004. In 2005, she was engaged at SNG Maribor, and since 2006 she has been a member of the Ballet of the National Theatre Sarajevo, where she has also served as a ballet soloist since 2009. Throughout her career, she has attended numerous ballet seminars and master classes, collaborating with distinguished ballet teachers and choreographers. Since 2009, she has also been occasionally engaged as a ballet teacher at the National Theatre Sarajevo. In 2017, she was invited to participate in the First Regional Scientific and Artistic Conference on Ballet and Dance Education. In 2019, she was engaged in a BASICSchool project as the choreographer for the children’s ballet performance Whisper of the Forest, based on a libretto by Melina Alagić and Bojana Vidosavljević, with music by Moamer Balihodžić. In 2020, she graduated as a choreographer and pedagogue from the Omsk State Faculty “F. M. Dostoevsky,” and in 2023 she was the choreographer of the ballet Like Back at Eight at the National Theatre Sarajevo. In April 2024, she worked as a ballet pedagogue at the international ballet competition BALANCE 2024. It is both an honor and a pleasure to have her on our team, as her dedication, discipline, and enthusiasm bring the strength and seriousness of the Russian ballet school closer to our students, making them feel like young professionals in the classroom.

Marija Ivančević-Stipić (1987, Prozor) is a music theorist and pedagogue. She graduated from the Sarajevo Music Academy in 2013 and has since been devoted to music education, especially working with young children. She initiated numerous projects, including the “Little Music Workshop” and “Music Garden,” aimed at introducing music to children. She volunteered with the “Emaus” association, composed spiritual chansons awarded at international festivals, and conducted choirs. She furthered her expertise at the “Estill Voice International” seminar with Professor Anne Marie Speed, completing two advanced levels, as well as seminars on “Applying Orff Schulwerk in Music Education and Music Therapy” and “Developing Intelligence Through Play – NTC Learning System, Level 1.” She also attended the VI Scientific Conference “Children in the World of Music” and participated in numerous projects, including musicals and ballet performances. Since 2015, she has led the “Music Workshop” at BASICSchool, a specially designed program for preschool-aged children, later launching the “Music Playroom” for babies and toddlers under three. From 2019 to 2022, she served as the school’s internal manager, while continuously creating new music activities for the youngest students. She is a beloved figure for every child, as she was the first window into the world of music for the majority of students who now attend the school’s regular programs.

Marina Milošev (1997, Novi Sad) showed a strong affinity for music, singing, and stage expression from an early age. At the age of five, she became a member of the cultural and artistic society AKUD “Sonja Marinković” in Novi Sad, where she performed at festivals across the country as a folk dancer and vocal soloist. She completed her primary and secondary music education at the “Isidor Bajić” Music School in Novi Sad, studying French horn and solo singing, and later earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in solo singing at the Academy of Music of the University of East Sarajevo, in the class of Prof. Sanja Ostić, M.A. During her education, she received numerous national and international awards, scholarships, and recognitions for her artistic achievements. Among the most notable are the Vidovdan Charter of the City of Novi Sad, the Dositej Award of the Republic Fund for Young Talents of Serbia, and a scholarship for outstanding students awarded by the Ministry for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of Republika Srpska. Among her concert performances, she especially highlights the Christmas Concert with the Youth Philharmonic under the baton of conductor Gerardo Estrada, as well as her solo recital at the SANU Gallery in artistic collaboration with Maja Žuža, M.A. Alongside her solo performance career, she has also gained valuable experience through choral work, performing at numerous festivals and competitions in the country and abroad. She began her music-pedagogical work in 2016, leading music workshops and choirs for children, and further developed her experience in preschool institutions, music schools, and primary education. Today, she is a member of the BASICSchool team, where she teaches solo singing. She is a cheerful and warm person, and her energy is highly motivating and inspiring for students, which is why they gladly come to her classes.

Nina Vasić (2000, Šabac) began her music education in violin and graduated from secondary music school as valedictorian. She continued her studies at the East Sarajevo Music Academy, graduating in 2023 with a GPA of 9.79. She completed her master’s degree in 2025 at the same university. During her education, she won numerous awards in solo violin and chamber music competitions and gained pedagogical experience teaching violin at two music schools. Since 2024, she has been teaching at BASICSchool, where students appreciate her warm energy and strong dedication, which allow her to effortlessly pass on her love for violin and music to new generations.