Sofija Bajrektarević

Curriculum Vitae

(October 2021)

Sofija Bajrektarević, Mag. Phil., PhD

Born in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Studies of Music Theory, Music Education, Musicology and Ethnomusicology at the University of Music in Sarajevo (1987–1992).Studies of Ethnomusicology at the Arts Academy of Banja Luka (1997–2001). Studies of Musicology at the University of Vienna [Universität Wien]. Studies of Musicology atthe University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna [Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien].PhD in 2017 based on the work Die Rolle der Musik beim serbischen Hochzeitsbrauch in Wien: Bestandsaufnahme zu (musikalischer) Identität und Transkulturation [The Role of Music in Serbian Wedding Customs in Vienna: Inventory of (Musical) Identity and Transculturation].

Professional experience

1994–1996   Research fellow at the Department of Folk Music Research of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with an emphasis on the culture of migrants in Vienna.

1996–2002   Research fellow in the project Lebenszeichen einer bedrohten Kultur: Bosnier in Österreich[Signs of Life of a Threatened Culture: Bosnians in Austria] at the Department of Folk Music Research of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

2003–2005   Researcher / Independent Researcher and event manager

Realization of the music events: Concepts and programs development, Organization, Moderation.

Workshops for young people in Austria: Integration through Music and Dance.

Participant in the research project and international symposium Multipart Singing in the Balkans and in the Mediterranean. About the Research of Multipart Music in Europe: Bosnia and Herzegovina. Department of Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

2005–2006   Research fellow – project Einwanderungs- (Musik)kulturen in Wien[Immigrants’ (Musical) Cultures in Vienna] at the Department of Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

2008–2010   University Lecturer at the University of Banja Luka in the framework of the ÖFG (Austrian Research Foundation) and MOEL (Plus-Development Programme). Lecturing and lead research subjects: (i) Urban Ethnomusicology; (ii) European Traditional Music; (iii) Minorities Culture: Practice of fieldwork as a pilot study – the Culture of Minorities in Banja Luka. 

2008–2010   University Lecturer at the Faculty of Management (BLC – Banja Luka/ Banja Luka College). Lecturing subjects: (i) Cultural Management; (ii) Cultural Marketing.

2008–2014   Head of Research Department, Applied Cultural Studies Euro-Mediterranean, International Institute IFIMES (International Institute for Middle East and Balkans Studies) – Ljubljana/Vienna.

2008–2011   Founder and Vice President of the ICD/Initiative Cultural Diversity, Banja Luka / Bosnia Herzegovina.

2009–2011   ICD Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Projects “Unity of Diversity 2009” and “Unity of Diversity 2010” / Intercultural Communication through Applied Science and Art. Project development, concepts, organization and implementation.

2013 –ongoing   Concept proprietor and Design developer ‘Unique K by SofiB’ (applied science and arts: Durability of tradition in the contemporary moment), Vienna Fabrics & Design – Vienna. www.vienna-fabrics.at

2014–2018   Head of Research Department, Modern Diplomacy (Culture; New Social Compact; Green Planet, Cites) and coordinator of the MD Tomorrow’s People Platform – Modern Diplomacy– the EU Platform for Politics, Economy, Technology and Culture – Brussels/Athens.

2018 –ongoing   Head of Mission Alternate, Permanent Representation of the International Institute IFIMES (International Institute for Middle East and Balkans Studies) to the UNoV and other Vienna-based International Organizations.

2019–2020   Program Director, Culture for Peace– The Global Initiative of the Universal Peace Federation Austria.

2021 –ongoing   Director, From Culture for Peace to Culture of Peace (Unifying Potentials for the Future).  www.culture-peace.org

Publications

1996. Bajrektarević, Sofija and Ursula Hemetek. Sevdah in Wien. Eine Dokumentation bosnischerLiedkultur in Österreich. Tondokumente zur Volksmusik in Österreich, Vol. 5. Bosnische Musik.Wien. Institut für Volksmusikforschung und Ethnomusikologie. Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien.

1996. Bajrektarević, Sofija and Ursula Hemetek. „Sevdah in Wien. Die Sängerpersönlichkeit Ševko Pekmezovic vor dem Hintergrund der bosnischen Sevdalinkatradition. Jahrbuch desÖsterreichischen Volksliedwerkes, Bd. 45. Wien: ÖBV Pädagogischer Verlag. 78–104.

1997. „’Ethnische Säuberung’ traditioneller Musik durch den Zerfall dermultikulturellen Gesellschaft in Bosnien (am Beispiel der städtischenMusik).“. In Musik im Umbruch, Kulturelle Identität und gesellschaftlicherWandel in Südosteuropa / New Countries, Old Sounds? Cultural Identity and Social Change in Southeastern Europe. Bruno B. Reuer (ed.)München: Verlag Südostdeutsches Kulturwerk. 155–164.

1998.Bajrektarević, Sofija and Ursula Hemetek. „Lebenszeichen einer bedrohten Kultur.“ Jahrbuch des Österreichischen Volksliedwerkes, Bd. 47. Wien: ÖBV Pädagogischer Verlag. 77–92.

1999. „Bosanci u Beču – tradicionalna muzika u izbjeglištvu.“ In Zbornik radova I. Međunarodni simpozij „Muzika u društvu“. Ivan Čavlović (ed.). Sarajevo: Muzikološko društvo FBiH: 174–185.

2000. „Kada mi umremo i ovo pjevanje će sa nama”. Muzika, IV, 1–2 (13–14). 51.

2000. Bajrektarević, Sofija and Ursula Hemetek. Bosnische Musik in Österreich, Klänge einer bedrohten Harmonie.EinBuch (Forschungsbericht) über die Bosnische Musik in Österreich.  Klanglese 1. Wien: Institut für Volksmusikforschung. Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien.

2001. “O ojkanju”. In Zbornik radova Vlado Milošević,etnomuzikolog i kompozitor. Naučni skup.Dimitrije Golemović (ed.). Banja Luka: Akademija umjetnosti: 37–48.

2002. “Kolo u Potkozarju: igra i pjesma.” In Zbornik radova Dani Vlade S. Miloševića. Naučni skup.Dimitrije Golemović (ed.). Banja Luka: Akademija umjetnosti: 23–30.

2004. 'Muzika u obradima i običajima stanovnika Čirkin Polja'.InZbornik radova Dani Vlade S. Miloševića. Naučni skup. Dimitrije Golemović (ed.). Banja Luka: Akademija umjetnosti. 29–44

2006. Bajrektarević, Sofija and Ursula Hemetek, Hande Saglam. Einwanderer Musikkulturen in Wien: Bestandsaufnahme zu musikalischer Identität und Akkulturation: Pilotstudie zum Thema Migrationsforschung. Endbericht zum Projekt des Jubiläumsfonds für die Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Wien: Institut für Volksmusikforschung und Ethnomusikologie. Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien.

2006. “Serbian Cultural Impact on Music.” InSerbian in Europe / Neighbourhood Relations and European Integration. Ös. Ost-und Südosteuropa-Institut, Band 22.  Valeria Heuberger and Elisabeth Vyslonzil (eds.).Vienna-Berlin: LIST Verlag: 157-167 

2007. “Musical Praktice of Immigrants from the Former Yugoslavia in Vienna: wedding customs – A quest for identity.” In Cultural Diversity in the Urban Area.Ursula Hemetek and Adelaida Reyes (eds.). Vienna: Institut für Volksmusikforschung und Ethnomusikologie. Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien.

2008. “About Multipart Singing in Bosnia und Herzegowina.” In European Voices I. Multipart Singing in the Balkans and the Mediterranean.Ardian Ahmedaja and Gerlinde Haid (eds.). Wien-Köln-Weimar: Böhlau Verlag: 177-189

2010. Bosnische Liebeslieder/Eine Hommage an die Sevdalinke des 20. Jahrhunderts. Programmheft, Konzerthaus Wien, Saison 2009/10, Jeunesse Austria.

2016. “Aufnahmen der ‘Klänge einer bedrohten Harmonie’/Recordings of the ‘sounds of an endangered harmony’.” In Treasures of Fieldwork on Music and Minorities – A selections of Ursula Hemetek’s Field Recordings. Sound Documents of Folk Music in Austria, Vol.8.  Gewidmet Ursula Hemetek zum 60. Geburtstag. Rudolf Pietsch, Marko Kölbl, Hande Saglam (eds.). Wien: Institut für Volksmusikforschung und Ethnomusikologie. Universitäat für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien: 58-69.

Exhibitions

November 2014: Unique K by Sofi Bfor Vienna Fabrics & Design. Autmn Collection Exhibit  (Schwarzenbergstrasse 10, Vienna) 

January 2015: Unique K by Sofi Bfor Vienna Fabrics & Design. Winter collection exhibit. (Schwarzenbergstrasse 10, Vienna) 

February 2018: Unique K by Sofi Bfor Vienna Fabrics &Design. Winter collection exhibit. (Ringstrassen-Galerien, Kärtner Ring 11-13, Vienna)

Standing/Permanent Collection Exhibit ‘Unique K by Sofi B’(applied science and arts / Durability of Tradition in the Contemporary Moment)at the Vienna Fabrics & Design, (Ringstrassen-Galerien, Kärtner Ring 11-13, Vienna; www.vienna-fabrics.at)