Dragana Jovanović (b. 1963) Doctor of Arts, works as a full professor at the Faculty of Music of the University of Arts in Belgrade – Department of Composition. She is an eminent composer with a sizeable opus, active in the field of contemporary classical music, but also of popular and incidental music, with a considerable experience in orchestration, electronic media, and their combinations. Her compositions have been performed many times in Serbia, and also in other European countries, in China, USA, Canada and South America.

Her recent work includes: Bailadeira (2024) – triple concerto for clarinet, accordion, double bass and symphony orchestra; Johnny Falcon for accordion and string orchestra (2023), Johnny’s Journey for accordion and string quartet (2023), Zeniteum (2022) – stage oratorio composed for the formal opening of the European Capital of Culture Novi Sad, and many more. She has composed a number of pieces for various performing ensembles. Dragana Jovanović also writes music for film, theatre and TV, and she is active as a producer. She was involved in multimedia projects as well. She has received several awards in Serbia and abroad. She has been a jury member at international composition competitions.

About the piece

Johnny Falcon for accordion and string orchestra was composed on the initiative from the leading accordionist Nikola Peković, to whom it is dedicated. It is a polygenre piece, rhapsodic in form, and it demands exceptional virtuosity from the soloist. The piece was premiered in 2023 at the opening of the Eufonija festival.