Biography.
“It is clear that this is a highly talented musician at work.
This man is telling us the stories both as a soloist and a composer.”
— Deutschland Radio
Damir, has established himself in Berlin as an all rounded, well accomplished Trumpet Player. Whether it is playing under Mr. Vladimir Jurowski with the ensemble Unitedberlin, or the Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin or with his band Damir Out Loud, he is constantly beguiling listeners with his unique and recognisable sound.
A two time winner of the Serbian national competition for trumpet he moved to Berlin in 2005 where he studied under Professor William Forman at the Hans Eisler Institute. Since then he has gone on to win numerous scholarships as a player and recently received „Der Deutsche Schallplatten Kritik“ for an album featuring his compositions and arrangements with the Babylon Orchestra Berlin. In the last five years Damir has developed his teaching and now holds positions at Kleinmachnow Music school and Potsdam University.
In 2021 Damir has been awarded a work scholarship from the Berlin Senate of Cultural Affairs to finish his composition for Solo trumpet based on modern playing techniques to be performed by both Students and proffessionals alike.
As Vinko Globokar said having heard Damir performing his piece “Les Soliloques Decortiques”- That’s how you play it!
New music
Damir Bacikin has been active in the field of new music for over 15 years. In this time he has worked with composers such as Helmut Lachenmann, Vinko Globokar, Fabian Levy, Salvatore Sciarrino among others.
Bacikin has played over 100 concerts with different programs as a member of the ensemble Unitedberlin under the artistic direction of Mr. Vladimir Jurowski, both as Artist in residence 2015-2021 at Konzterthaus Berlin as well as at various international festivals.
Inspired by the piece for solo trumpet “MACH” from Eres Holz, and the modern playing Techniques used in this piece, Damir has gone on to write a piece for solo trumpet, supported by „Berliner Senate for cultural affairs” with the „Arbeitsstipendium” in the year 2021.
Bacikin played his latest recital in January 2022, appearing at the New Music Concert series “Unerhörte Musik” Berlin. He played two of his original compositions for trumpet and electronic among other pieces from renovated international composers. WATCH HERE. “Bacikin ignites with virtuosity…” -The Opera and concert critic Berlin READ MORE (Text in German)
Damir Bacikin: Ungehört, unerhört
Unerhörte Musik
Das Programm ist eine einzigartige Synthese aus neuer Musik, modernem Jazz und slawischen Klängen. Melodien, die sich einprägen, aber auch endlos weitergehen. Ein Abend unterschiedlicher Spieltechniken und musikalischer Einflüsse, welcher über die Grenzen hinausgeht und den man gerade deshalb keinesfalls verpassen sollte! -Damir Bacikin
Damir Bacikin: »Sevdah of Berlin« für Trompete und Elektronik (2020)
Luca Lombardi: »Predah« für Trompete solo (2014)
Eres Holz: »MACH« für Trompete solo (2012)
Alexandra Filonenko: »Invocation« für Trompete solo (2021)
Gabriel Santander: »Chronesthesia« für Trompete solo und Elektronik (2021, UA)
Ying Wang: »Plus-Noctilucen« für Trompete solo und Elektronik (2021)
Damir Bacikin: »EARWORM!« für Trompete solo (2020)
Damir Bacikin, Trompete
Classical/Orchestra
Bacikin has made numerous recordings and radio broadcasts over the years and has been performing regularly with the Radio Symphonie Orchestra Berlin (RSB - Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin) as a guest trumpeter. The absolute highlights of his orchestral career so far were playing first trumpet in Gérard Grisey’s - Les espaces acoustiques, a truly orchestral master piece, at the Berliner Konzerthaus and appearing as principal trumpet with the RSB on tour at both the Berlin Philharmonic and at one of the biggest classical music festivals, „Enesco festival”, Bucharest, in the category „The best orchestras in the world”.
Here you can see and hear the whole evening concert.
Composing and arranging
Bacikin has also been composing for many years. With his Band „Damir Out Loud“, he composed and published two albums, „Graduation day“ (2013) and „EARWORM!“ (2020). In 2020 he composed and arranged pieces for the Berlin Babylon Orchestra´s first album, „Babylon ORCHESTRA“ which went on to be awarded by a German National Prise as the best album of the year 2020 (Der Deutsche Schallplattenkritik).
Working more on the composition “EARWORM” for trumpet and electronic, in year 2021 Bacikin wins the work grant from the Berlin Senate, in the field of new music. Aiming for the piece to be published and available for Students and Professionals to study and perform. LISTEN THE SAMPLE
Bacikin worked as an arranger for Sasha Walz company on the piece “Raum und Psyche” choreographed by Jiri Bartovanec.
Teaching
In year 2020 Bacikin became Trumpet Dozent at the University Potsdam.
Since year 2019 Bacikin is the Trumpet Dozent at the state Music school- Kreismusikschule Engelbert Humperdinck Potsdam-Mittelmark.