Western Balkans Youth Orchestra Delivers a Masterful Concert at Ohrid Summer
75 young musicians from across the region performed under conductor Desar Sulejmani, part of a project using music to build regional cooperation among young artists.
In the striking setting of Dolni Saraj in Ohrid, as part of the "Ohrid Summer" festival's music program, the Western Balkans Youth Orchestra performed last night — a 75-member ensemble of top young instrumentalists from across the region, led by Albanian-German conductor and pianist Desar Sulejmani.
The program was ambitious and varied — from the overture to Richard Wagner's "Tannhäuser," through Paul Dukas's symphonic poem "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," to George Enescu's "Romanian Rhapsody No. 1" and Ottorino Respighi's "Pines of Rome." The evening also featured an award-winning piece by a young composer from the Western Balkans.
Music Instead of Borders
The orchestra was founded in 2019 with the idea that music could serve as a bridge between young artists from different countries and cultures across the region, encouraging regional cooperation in a space where politics often falls short. Over the years, the project has grown into an educational platform for young musicians from the Western Balkans, the European Union and beyond.
Through joint rehearsals, work with experienced mentors, tours and concerts like last night's, participants gain not just professional musical experience but also a space for cultural exchange and dialogue that crosses national borders — exactly what the region has long needed more of.
MKNews Hub · Culture · August 19, 2026