Danijela
A PRINCESS OF TRUMPET
“You are a little trumpet princess”
With these words of the legendary Boban Marković, Danijela entered the world of music at the age of 9, becoming the first lady of Serbian trumpet, captivating hearts worldwide with her melody.
Her story is not just about music but about passion and love for life, which she has been emitting on the music scene for 20 years now as a young woman. In 2003, at only 9 years old, she, along with her brothers, founded her Orchestra Danijela, which, guided by her rhythm, became the first trumpet ensemble in our region led by a lady.
Danijela's love for music developed in her early childhood when, as a little girl, she was fascinated by the instrument that accidentally found its way into her home. She was born in 1993, in the heart of the small town of Arilje, in western Serbia. From the first notes in primary and secondary music school "Stevan Mokranjac" in Kraljevo, to overcoming challenges at the "Academy of Arts" in Novi Sad, Danijela became synonymous with trumpet virtuosity.
She has left her mark primarily through numerous performances during her studies, both solo and in chamber ensembles, jazz and symphony orchestras such as the Belgrade Philharmonic, SNP Orchestra, NS Big Band, International Symphony Orchestra in France, and others. She has won numerous awards from classical music trumpet competitions, including two first prizes from the International Davorin Jenko Competition in solo and chamber categories. In addition to classical music competitions, Danijela, together with her orchestra, has been an integral part of the Dragacevo Trumpet Festival in Guca for many years, where she performed as a competitor for many years before taking on the role of a jury member.
Orchestra Danijela
Beginning
2003
The story of the formation of the orchestra led by a lady begins in the Veselinović family home, where this brass band grew through childhood play. Enchanted by the trumpet, Danijela transferred her passion for music to her two younger brothers, Slobodan and Bojan, who quickly mastered the tenor horn and drums. Later, their youngest brother Bogdan joined in, playing the saxophone. This small musical group was joined by relatives, and in 2003, the youngest orchestra in Serbia was formed, consisting of children aged 6 to 10. As the only girl among her brothers, Danijela became the trademark of this orchestra.
The first public performances and outings followed, after which Orchestra Danijela gradually grew into more than just a local sensation. In 2005, they established a pioneering competition in Guca and won the award for the best orchestra, and in 2006, they represented Serbia at the "Joy of Europe" Festival. In those early years, the orchestra recorded an album released in 2007 by Take it or Leave it Records, featuring 15 covers that the children's ensemble recorded in a record time of just under 4 hours.
Festivals
2003 - present
With the boundless support of their parents and a great love for music itself, the orchestra matured and gradually found its place in numerous competitions and festivals across Europe. Some of them include:
- Festival and International Competition in Lobez, Poland (2008)
- Spain/Madrid-Barcelona (2010),
- Festival Crans Montana – Švajcarska (2014),
- Festival “FETE des COULEURS” – Aigle, Švajcarska (2014)
- Concerts in Geneva and Nyon - Switzerland (2015),
- Festival in Corfu, Greece (2015)
- Babel Sound Festival, Hungary (2024)
With the boundless support of their parents and a great love for music itself, the orchestra matured and gradually found its place in numerous competitions and festivals across Europe. Some of them include:
- Festival and International Competition in Lobez, Poland (2008)
- Spain/Madrid-Barcelona (2010),
- Festival Crans Montana – Švajcarska (2014),
- Festival “FETE des COULEURS” – Aigle, Švajcarska (2014)
- Concerts in Geneva and Nyon - Switzerland (2015),
- Festival in Corfu, Greece (2015)
- Mikser Festival in Belgrade - Serbia (2016),
- Marble and Sounds Festival in Arandjelovac, Serbia (2016),
- Arlemm Festival in Arilje - Serbia (2016,2023),
- Danube Fun Fest in Donji Milanovac - Serbia (2016),
- Telenor's 10th Anniversary, Belgrade (2016)
- Balkanica Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria (2017),
- World music festival in Gornji Milanovac, Serbia (2017),
- Tour in Montenegro (2017)
- Tourism Fair, Belgrade - Serbia (2017)
- 25 years of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka - Bosnia and Herzegovina (2017)
- Panonica festival – Poljska (2018)
- Klezmore Festival in Bratislava - Slovakia (2018)
Orchestra Danijela
Present
Today, this orchestra consists of ten members and represents one of the most famous brass orchestras in the country. In addition to family members, the orchestra is mainly composed of trained musicians who, with their sound and unique energy on stage, have successfully entertained thousands of people over the years.
TV formats
Present
In addition to competitions and festivals, Danijela's orchestra has also been part of TV series such as Ubice moga oca (2018) and Sve na dlanu (2021), as well as numerous shows like like "Tvoje lice zvuči poznato", "Najbolji orkestri Srbije", "Izbor za pesmu Evrovizije", Šarenica, Ja volim Srbiju, 60 uzbudljivih godina RTS-a, Praktična žena, Na večeri kod and others. Their unique story of music and love for folk songs has been documented in numerous films made about Danijela and her orchestra:
- In 2004, the documentary film "Devojčica sa trubom" (The Girl with the Trumpet) was produced by RTS.
- In 2007, a short film titled "Škola nas je održala" (School Kept Us) was dedicated to them, produced by RTS, which later received the "Peacock Silver Feather" award.
- In 2008, another documentary film titled "Danijela" was filmed, also produced by RTS.
- In 2016, a documentary film called "Disanje" (Breath) was filmed with VICE as part of the "Young Heroes" series.
- In 2016, a documentary film titled "Princeza Guče" (Princess of Guča) was filmed, produced by the Russian National Television "RT".
- In 2021, a documentary film was filmed, produced by Polish National Television.
- In 2021, a program about culture, music, and food was recorded, produced by Japanese National Television NHK.
Trio Danijela Veselinović
Danijela's trio was formed in early 2024 with the idea of bringing a new, different sound of the trumpet to the audience, offering a mix of various genres in a somewhat more intimate tone. While the large Danijela orchestra moves the masses with its energetic trumpet groove, the trio charmingly plays with music, covering a repertoire from original songs and Šumadija dances to Latin music and Frank Sinatra. In addition to the trumpet virtuoso, the trio consists of Lazar Marić on piano and Bojan Veselinović on percussion.
News
A GLOBAL MEETING IN NOVI SAD! The First Lady of Serbian trumpet in the company of an international star.
Danijela Veselinović is the only woman leading a brass band, and she has been doing so for 20 years!
The Princess of Serbian Trumpet, Danijela Veselinović, impressed with her performance at the European Aquatics Championships
DANIJELA'S ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS! Jubilee Celebrated with a Grand Concert in Guča
We play Serbian traditional songs as well as international hits: Danijela Veselinović announced her performance in Guča
She is the only woman leading an ORCHESTRA, and the famous trumpeter Boban Marković has given her the title "PRINCESS OF THE TRUMPET"
Video
In 2016, they filmed their first music video for the folk song "Moja mala nema mane" (My Little One Has No Flaws) in their own arrangement. Wanting to step outside the conventional format, the video was designed as a 360-degree VR video, intended for viewing on tablets and phones, and later filmed as a 360-degree TV spot with Little Planet elements, intended for television broadcast. This was followed by music videos for songs such as "Danijelin zov" (Danijela's Call), "Truba više" (More Trumpet), "Rumenka kolo", and "Nikoljdan".
WorkShop
Danijela Veselinović is not only the trumpet princess but also a mentor who shares her knowledge worldwide. Through workshops and masterclasses, Danijela has been sharing her passion for Serbian and Balkan trumpet music with students from numerous music conservatories in New York, Norway, India, and Serbia for several years. With the help of practical exercises, advice, and guidance, students have the opportunity to explore trumpet playing techniques and discover the deeper meaning and spirit of Serbian music and the Balkan region.
