About me

I am a Macedonian-Swedish classically trained clarinetist educated in Sweden, the USA and my native Macedonia (Blago J on all music streaming platforms). I live two parallel professional musical lives: performing Western classical music and folk music from my homeland. Beyond these two musical worlds, I enjoy blending them into a unique artistic expression, while preserving the authentic character of both traditions. Combining the sensibility of the Western classical tradition with Macedonian folk music, I have developed a distinctive musical style that bridges two rich musical cultures, as heard on my two albums, Nostalgic Love and Nostalgic Love 2, creating a place for folk music in concert halls. The accompanying instruments, however, draw on a variety of Western musical styles, creating a fusion of traditions that reflects both heritage and innovation. Influenced by this broad musical landscape, my performances offer a deeply expressive and artistic concert experience. My original compositions are not always rooted in traditional Macedonian melodies; they are often inspired by a broad range of Western musical influences. Yet, through the use of folk ornaments, phrasing, and asymmetrical folk rhythms, they remain deeply connected to my musical heritage. I originally developed this approach for my own artistic fulfillment. Over the years, fellow musicians - particularly in my homeland - have come to refer to it as "Blagoj's Style", while my sheet music has been purchased and studied by university students and educators throughout Europe, the USA and Asia.

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