Tabula Rasa — A Journey into the World of Contemporary Academic Music, Featuring Works by Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt, and Sofia Gubaidulina On December 11 and 15, the Belgrade Dom Omladine and Novi Sad Synagogue will host Tabula Rasa — a unique event showcasing academic music from the 20th and 21st centuries through the works of distinguished contemporary composers. Tabula Rasa is an interdisciplinary project with a unique narrative structure, combining specially designed lighting as an integral part of the program with the performances of the Muzikon Orchestra, pianist and program creator Marina Khudykh, and violinist Mikhail Andrushchenko, a permanent member of Teodor Currentzis' musicAeterna orchestra. The program features five musical pieces, woven into a single storyline, including works by Alfred Schnittke — a legendary Soviet composer and living classic; Arvo Pärt, one of the most renowned geniuses of our time; and the remarkable female composer Sofia Gubaidulina, arranged for piano and string orchestra. Some of these works will be performed in Serbia for the first time. The goal of the event’s organizers is to present academic music in a fresh, contemporary light, making it accessible and appealing to a broader audience, while offering guests an immersive journey into the world of academic music. Tabula Rasa Program Participants Muzikon Orchestra — a young Serbian multimedia ensemble founded on the principles of quality, excellence, and creativity. With over 10 years of experience organizing concerts and performing worldwide, their repertoire includes not only classical music but also collaborations with prominent jazz musicians from Serbia. Muzikon’s mission is to make classical music an integral part of modern culture. INST | FB Marina Khudykh — soloist, program creator, and TEDx speaker. A graduate of the Rachmaninov Conservatory in Paris, she founded a cultural center in Belgrade. In 2023, she created and performed TRIVIUM, a large-scale concert trilogy at Belgrade's Kolarac Hall and the Novi Sad Synagogue, a notable interdisciplinary project aimed at fostering positive change in the world through the power of music. WEBSITE | IG | FB | TEDx lecture | RTV Jutarnji Program | Art Area TV Srbja Mikhail Andrushchenko — a graduate of the Moscow State Conservatory, permanent member of Teodor Currentzis’ musicAeterna and Utopia orchestras, first concertmaster of the Belgrade Philharmonic, and concertmaster of the Belgrade Opera and Ballet Theater Orchestra. Media requests: vilenkin.pavel@gmail.com