Andrija Minčić
A graduate clarinetist and saxophonist, and founder of Saxtime Music Production. He comes from a musical family where the love and passion for music have been nurtured for four generations. Currently holding the position of associate professor at the Faculty of Arts, University of Niš, where he has been teaching since March 2013, inspiring the next generations of musicians.
Andrija graduated from the Faculty of Arts in Niš, where under the mentorship of eminent professors Ante Grgin and Aleksandar Jakovljević, he built his foundations in classical music. After completing his undergraduate and specialist studies in chamber music, he felt the need for a new step towards other genres, shifting his focus from his primary instrument – the clarinet, to the saxophone, which soon became his “First” instrument.
As a concert soloist, member of symphonic formations, and chamber ensembles, he has performed in the most renowned halls of Europe such as:
Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, L’Auditorio – Madrid, Victoria Hall – Geneva, Tonhalle – Zurich, St. Paul’s, Covent Garden – London, Grand Hall – York, Istanbul Philharmonic, Istanbul Opera, Qatar Philharmonic, Sava Centar, Kolarac Endowment, Arena Boris Trajkovski Skopje, and many others.
He has been awarded multiple scholarships by the city of Niš, received the scholarship of the Medijana Municipality St. Petka, the highest recognition of the city of Niš, 11th January, as the best graduate student of the Faculty of Arts in Niš for the year 2009, the Silver Badge of the University of Niš, as well as the Grand Prix of the Chamber of Crafts of Serbia, and the Grand Prix at the World Trophy in the World Music category in Victoria, Canada.
He has made permanent recordings for the Turkish national television TRT, the Qatari national television, as well as PGP RTS.
In July 2020, he laid the foundation for the SAXTIME copyright project, which is globally oriented through digital platforms in partnership with the Red Bull corporation.
He has been a saxophonist in Božo Vrećo’s backing band since 2019, performing as the lead alto saxophonist in the Niš Big Band since 2017. He is also a clarinetist in the Bojan and Nikola Peković ensemble, a saxophonist in the Blackberries band, a brand ambassador for the leading manufacturer of wind instrument equipment “Silverstein Works” based in New Jersey (USA), as well as for the Taiwanese instrument manufacturer P. Mauriat.
Andrija Minčić, as the founder of the Saxtime brand, has performed as a soloist and member of original ensembles and bands at various festivals and concerts both nationally and internationally, sharing the stage with some of the most prominent names in the entertainment world, such as Božo Vrećo, Stjepko Gut, John Newman, Candy Dulfer, The Gypsy Kings, Maceo Parker, Daniel Kajmakoski, Sergej Ćetković, Bebi Dol, Bajaga i Instruktori, Vasil Hadžimanov, and Aleksandar Sofronijević.
- Nisville Jazz festival – Serbia
- Insomnia festival Serbia
- Bansko Jazz fest – Bugarska
- Rudolstadt World music festival – Nemačka
- World Trophy for accordeon in Victoria – Canada
- World Trophy in world music in Portimao – Portugalija
- Fifth Strings festival Doha – Qatar
- Ohrid Summer Festival – Macedonia
