President Jokić highlighted that beyond sports events, Kotor and Santa Barbara, as sister cities, foster their friendship through cultural exchanges, programs of the KotorArt International Festival, student exchanges, and a culinary school.

He noted that discussions with Ambassador Rising Reinke and representatives from Santa Barbara focused on deepening the cooperation between the two cities through student exchanges and the establishment of a Mediterranean Cultural Center in Perast.

„I believe we will further strengthen our friendship. Once again, my heartfelt thanks go to the George Dennis Lilly family for nurturing this friendship. On our side, we are ready to develop this partnership further, aiming to generate as many projects as possible,“ stated Jokić.

Ambassador Judy Rising Reinke expressed her pleasure at meeting outstanding young athletes from Kotor and Santa Barbara during the occasion.

„One of the things I truly love about this role is sports diplomacy, as it brings together people from different parts of the world—especially young athletes—who may not share the same language but share common ambitions, motivations, and goals.

Today, I had the chance to watch a match between the junior team from Santa Barbara and the one from Kotor. I am genuinely pleased with how the Municipality of Kotor has hosted the event. I believe the American water polo players were warmly welcomed here and have had the opportunity to exchange experiences and develop their sports skills in this city,“ said Ambassador Rising Reinke.

She emphasized that the two sister cities are achieving remarkable cooperation in sports, culinary arts, and culture.

„Sports diplomacy allows our two nations to grow closer. I hope this collaboration continues. I would like to thank the Municipality of Kotor for supporting this type of exchange, enabling young people to grow and experience a new culture,“ Ambassador Rising Reinke added.

Coach Mirko Vičević expressed satisfaction with the ongoing water polo collaboration between Santa Barbara and Kotor, which has been developing for nine years.

„The match ended with a victory for Santa Barbara. This project, which has been ongoing for quite some time, has been executed exceptionally well. I believe this is the ninth time that players from Santa Barbara have come to Kotor. We visited them once and had the chance to see how they truly live. We were excellent hosts in Kotor, and our children were also warmly welcomed in American homes, where they gained valuable insights that might influence their future career choices. I am delighted that this collaboration improves every year, with both local governments recognizing the significance of such gatherings. It is wonderful to see us bond so well and for everything to run smoothly,“ Vičević stated.

The Director of the Water Polo Club „Primorac,“ Dragan Samardžić, highlighted that the implementation of this project has been improving year by year, offering great opportunities for the younger generations of the „Primorac“ club and the city of Kotor.

Among others, the Director of the Kotor Tourist Organization, Jovan Ristić, was also in attendance.

Text: Irena Mačić Đurić, Photo: Radio Kotor – IMĐ

In a setting rarely seen on global stages, the intimate 18th-century Church of St. Nicholas Franciscan Monastery in Prčanj hosted a performance by the renowned string quartet from Santa Barbara.

The quartet, consisting of violinists Jessica Guideri and Ina Veli, violist Erik Rynearson, and cellist Trevor Handy, presented an all-American program for the Festival audience, in addition to Mozart’s String Quartet in D Major, K. 575. The program also featured Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 98, better known as the American Quartet, and Strum, a composition by American composer Jessie Montgomery. Following the main program, the quartet treated the audience to an encore performance of the beloved song Over the Rainbow from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

“The concert was attended by several dignitaries from Santa Barbara, including Mr. George Lilly, Chairman of the Kotor-Santa Barbara Sister Cities Committee, and Mr. Stephen Dreikorn, Head of the Media, Culture, and Education Department at the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro.
Kotor and Santa Barbara have been sister cities since 2009, and this fruitful collaboration is evident in the exchange of knowledge and experiences in music, culinary arts, and sports. In two weeks, young water polo players from Santa Barbara will visit Kotor to work with our esteemed coaches. Last night’s concert provided a rare and memorable experience. The interpretation of famous and challenging string quartets by world-class artists from Santa Barbara will undoubtedly stay with everyone who was present in the stunning and unique setting of the Church of St. Nicholas Franciscan Monastery in Prčanj.” – stated the Festival’s PR team.

On August 2nd, Porto Montenegro will host a unique and high-quality event at the Porto Montenegro Auditorium, beginning at 9:00 p.m. The concert, titled California Dreaming, is a co-production between the Tivat Music Festival and KotorArt. The performance will feature American and Montenegrin musicians coming together as one orchestra, led by internationally acclaimed conductor Nir Kabaretti. The prestigious violinist Gilles Apap, renowned for his authentic and creative style, will perform as a soloist.

The orchestra will include distinguished American musicians from leading California orchestras, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil.), LA Opera, and the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra. Featured musicians include violinists Jessica Guideri and Ina Veli, violist Erik Rynearson, and cellist Trevor Handy.

The Festival’s orchestra, composed of talented young Montenegrin musicians, has already performed at two concerts, on July 19th at the Church of Our Lady in Prčanj and on July 25th at the Tivat Cultural Center. These performances featured challenging musical works and innovative concert concepts.

“This time, young Montenegrin musicians will have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned artists and share the stage with them, significantly contributing to their growth and development. We would not have been able to organize this event without the exceptional support of our long-time partners: Porto Montenegro, Henley & Partners, Montenegro Sotheby’s Realty, and Regent Porto Montenegro. We sincerely thank them for their shared goals, values, and ongoing support,” said the Festival’s PR team.

Nir Kabaretti, after graduating from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, was appointed conductor and personal assistant to Zubin Mehta in Florence. He made his debut in 2004 conducting The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky at La Scala Theater in Milan and has since built an impressive reputation worldwide conducting symphonic, opera, and ballet repertoires. Kabaretti has collaborated with artists such as Plácido Domingo, Itzhak Perlman, Lang Lang, Vadim Repin, Elīna Garanča, and Joyce DiDonato. He currently serves as the Music and Artistic Director of the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra in California.

Gilles Apap, who also chose California as his home, shares this connection with Nir Kabaretti, and from this shared base, the concert California Dreaming was conceived. In addition to performing, Apap is holding masterclasses for violinists as part of the KotorArt Academy from July 28th to August 1st. On August 1st, the participants will perform for the public at the Church of the Holy Spirit at 7:00 p.m., and entry is free of charge.

After participating in the 1985 International Menuhin Competition, Apap established a lifelong collaboration and friendship with Yehudi Menuhin, who once described him as “a true violinist of the 21st century.” Together, they worked on Apap’s famous cadenza for Mozart’s Third Violin Concerto. Known internationally for his virtuosity, Apap has a unique approach to musical interpretation, blending the classical repertoire with jazz and folk music, thereby breaking boundaries between musical styles. In addition to his performances and collaborations with major orchestras, Apap and his quartet, The Colors of Invention, present chamber music that fuses Vivaldi, Ravel, and Bartók’s classical works with traditional folk melodies. One of his recent projects is the ethno-jazz band Meduoteran, with which he performs at jazz and ethno music festivals across Europe. He is also the founder of the crossover music ensemble The Transylvania Mountain Boys, with whom he has recorded three albums for Sony Classical.

Since 2009, the twin cities of Kotor and Santa Barbara have been fostering dynamic connections through successful projects in music, culinary arts, and sports.

This summer, KotorArt will feature members of the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra, including four distinguished artists: concertmaster and section leaders, violinists Jessica Guideri and Ina Veli, violist Erik Rynearson, and cellist Trevor Handy. The concert program will include Antonín Dvořák’s renowned String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, better known as the American Quartet, as well as works by contemporary American composers Adam Schoenberg and Jessie Montgomery. The audience will hear the Montenegrin premiere of Motio for string quartet (2015) by Schoenberg and Strum for string quartet (2006/2012) by Montgomery. Both composers have received prestigious accolades, such as Emmy and Grammy Awards, and their works are frequently performed in prominent U.S. concert halls by orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Festival audience will have the opportunity to experience an “American” program interpreted by eminent artists from Santa Barbara. This concert marks another valuable collaboration between the two twin cities, and we expect these significant works to resonate with fresh sounds in the centuries-old St. Tryphon Cathedral in Kotor. “We would like to express our gratitude to the concert’s partners, the Santa Barbara Symphony and the ME&US Foundation,” stated the Festival’s PR team.
The KotorArt International Festival is held under the patronage of UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and Media, and the Municipality of Kotor, with support from the European Union, as well as significant sponsors and a wide network of partners from both Montenegro and abroad. Additional information about the Festival’s activities can be found on the official website at www.kotor.art.