As we approach the end of 2022, we’re taking a moment to look back and reflect on our work and impact during the year. Despite the situation in which our city finds itself now, 2022 started with a promise of opening borders and expanding horizons.

We launched the next phase of Music Connects – a four-year Creative Europe project with Musicians Without Borders, Roma Rock School, and Fontys Rockacademie, and new partners Clash! Exchange and Learning and the Balkan Trafik! Festival – a project which promotes inter-ethnic cooperation through state-of-the-art rock music education and connects young musicians and cultural organizers throughout Europe. 

Also for the first time in three years, we were able to organize our traditional Skopje Summer School! 10 mixed bands wrote, rehearsed, recorded, and performed their songs in an exciting band camp in Skopje. 

We spent the second half of the year preparing for exchanges in the Netherlands, Brussels and Berlin that are planned for 2023. Meanwhile, the school’s daily activities continued: we organized music lessons, band rehearsals, workshops, and concerts. 

We end the year concerned for our city, but brightened by the talent and promise of our young musicians, and committed to continuing to make Mitrovica a better, more livable place for all.

Here’s what we achieved in 2022: 

• 67 young musicians from North and South Mitrovica participated in 1,552 music lessons, mixed band rehearsals and workshops, led by 17 staff – 8 of whom are (former) students.
• 6 ethnically mixed bands with 26 members rehearsed, recorded, and performed their original songs, and released a music video.
• We created two supergroups with 13 students from Mitrovica Rock School, Roma Rock School, and Fontys Rockacademie. 
• We organized 64 workshops, 9 concerts, and spent 12 days in the studio. 

The Mitrovica Rock School thanks you for our ongoing support.