Short Biography

I am a Macedonian-Swedish classically trained clarinetist in Sweden, the USA and my native Macedonia (Blago J on Spotify and all streaming platforms). I live two parallel musical lives: I perform Western classical music and folk music from my homeland. I enjoy pushing the boundaries of the clarinet by blending the sensibility of Western classical sound and phrasing with Macedonian folk music, as heard on my two albums Nostalgic Love and Nostalgic Love 2. Influenced by a wide range of musical genres, my performances deliver a deeply expressive and artistic concert experience. This concept has led many listeners, especially in the Balkans, to rediscover the clarinet in a new way, often describing it as “opening a new dimension of the instrument and deepening their understanding of the emotional depth of Western classical music”. Among Western audiences, it is often perceived as “reframing the Balkans, in a way that aligns more closely with our own Western classical tradition.” It has also influenced young musicians (especially from the Balkans), some of whom have been inspired to explore and use elements of my style.

I hold a Master’s/Performance Diploma from the Chicago College of Performing Artsat Roosevelt University (2010-2012) and a Bachelor's degree in classical music performance from Lund University – Malmö Academy of Music (2005-2008). My academic journey also includes a year of study at Michigan State Universityin East Lansing, Michigan (2008–2009) and another at DePaul Universityin Chicago (2012–2013), as well as a one year course in interpretation from the Malmö Academy of Music - Lund University (2004-2005). (See below for my main teachers)

Now based in Malmö, Sweden, I have performed in 15 opera productions at Malmö Opera, each lasting around four months, and have collaborated with leading cultural institutions, including a full-season contract at Stockholm City Theater for the 2019/2020 production of Fiddler on the Roof, starring Pia Johansson and Dan Ekborg. I have taught in the folk music departments at Lund University and Gothenburg University, both in Sweden, for two years each. From 2012 to 2014, I served on the faculty of The New Music School in Chicago, USA. In the autumn of 2025, I led classical music masterclasses at the Universities of Sarajevo and University of Banja Luka, passing on the artistic and technical knowledge shaped by my years of study and professional experience in the USA and Sweden, and also held a three-day workshop in Sarajevo, delving deeply into the music from my albums.

Guided by curiosity, a love of travel, and a free-spirited approach to life, I bring a cosmopolitan sensibility to my work, shaped by a deeply personal musical voice, emotional awareness, and a quiet responsibility toward our society.

I did my first tour at the age of 13 as part of a youth folk group from my hometown Veles, and since then I have, by far, performed across much of Europe, as well as in the United States, Canada, Japan, and China.
I regularly receive messages from students across the world requesting sheet music from my albums.

Awards and Recognition

My artistry has been honored with several prestigious awards. In June 2022, I received a €14,000 Punktstipendium from the Swedish Arts Grants Committee. Earlier achievements include First Prize at the Barnett Foundation Clarinet Competition in Chicago (2008), with a $9,000 award. During my studies at Lund University in Sweden (2004–2008), I was granted multiple merit scholarships totaling €9,500.
My studies at DePaul University, Michigan State University, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts were also supported by full-tuition scholarships.