A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES MARKING 140 YEARS OF CHORAL SINGING

PRIJEDOR, JUNE 30 /SRNA/ - The Serbian Cultural Artistic Society /SKUD/ "Dr. Mladen Stojanović" will this year celebrate the 140th anniversary of choral singing in the city on the Sana River with a series of events.

The president of the Organizing Committee, Goran Vukoje, said this is a milestone that few cities can boast about. He noted that in 1885, a group of citizens initiated the formation of the Serbian singing society "Vila," and since then, choral singing has been continuously maintained.

"SKUD ‘Doktor Mladen Stojanović’ is the bearer of this tradition. ‘Vila’ ceased operations in 1941 and immediately after the war resumed activities under the name ‘Doktor Mladen Stojanović.’ We have been the custodians of the city’s choral singing tradition up to the present day," Vukoje said at a press conference in Prijedor.

He recalled that SKUD commemorates the major milestones of ‘Vila’ every 10 years, and that today the society brings together around 500 members across several sections.

"The city administration helps as much as it can. We hope to receive support in the future as well," Vukoje said.

SKUD Secretary Nebojša Aleksić said that the anniversary will be marked with a total of 14 events to celebrate 14 decades of "Vila."

"By the end of the year, we have very important tasks ahead - writing a monograph, filming a documentary, and preparing a commemorative academy. We already have a monograph written for the 100th anniversary, when our society celebrated a century of existence and choral singing," Aleksić said.

He emphasized that SKUD "Mladen Stojanović" preserves the rich heritage of the former "Vila," which was not only a choir, but also a tamburitza orchestra and a drama section from which the local theater emerged. It was the foundation of all cultural institutions in Prijedor.

"After the Second World War, all members of the pre-war 'Vila' joined the 'Doktor Mladen Stojanović' society, and all of 'Vila's artifacts are in our possession," Aleksić said.

The President of the SKUD Assembly, Vesna Jelača, invited fellow citizens to take part in organizing and celebrating this important anniversary.

"This is a major cultural event for all of Prijedor," Jelača said.