Marko Jovanović

His playing is a musical embrace
His father is a great music lover and even though he doesn’t play an instrument himself, music is always present at home. Marko Jovanović grew up in Munich and came into contact with Balkan music, among other things. Because that is the music of his parents’ homeland, Serbia. But blues, raga, world music and much more also emanated from his childhood home.
From the very beginning, Marko felt the power of music, especially when it was played live. His favourite uncle is the only musician in the family. Marko remembers that wherever there were live bands, his uncle would join in to improvise and jam with the other musicians.
His uncle played the harmonica, and Marko was captivated by its special sound. His father gave the 13-year-old a harmonica and his uncle showed him his first techniques and how to play it. At the age of 15, Marko took to the stage for the first time. Since then, the instrument has been his passion and his life.
Founder of Germany’s first harmonica school
The harmonica is his constant, says Marko. He goes through different phases of his life with it, connects with a wide variety of people and forms close friendships through it. The older he gets, Marko continues, the more he realises the power and intensity that making music together triggers in people.
Today, Marko is one of the best harmonica players in Europe. After many years as a freelance and widely travelled musician, Marko founded Germany’s first and so far only harmonica music school in Berlin-Kreuzberg in 2016. For him, it is another important milestone in his professional career. He follows a holistic approach and in turn brings together a wide variety of people.
An idea that he is continuing with the concept for the international HARMONICA FEN FESTIVAL. As curator of the festival, he brings the world’s best harmonica players to Berlin. Together with other musicians, they give impressive concerts as well as workshops for anyone with a passion for the harmonica.