Stefan Sablic

Founder, musician, arranger and composer of Shira u’tfila, which preserves and promotes the Sephardic musical heritage of the Balkans, Mediterranean and North Africa. As an acclaimed theatre director, Stefan has also directed numerous theatrical productions and participated in various international festivals and performances. He is the cantor of the Belgrade synagogue and founder/president of the Jewish Centre for Culture and Art. You can visit his site at www.stefansablic.com.

Filip Krumes

Filip Krumes got his music education from Belgrade University of Arts, Faculty of Music and Royal Conservatory for Music, Drama and Dance in Antwerpen, Belgium where he had opportunity to explore improvisation in a style of the contemporary classical music. Filip devoted his artistic life to improvisation in various musical styles and its application to the contemporary musical language. In addition to being a performer, composer, arranger, and music producer, Filip makes and repairs string instruments. Besides music, Filip studied artistic photography.

Akash Bhatt

Akash Bhatt is a percussionist born and raised in Ahmedabad, India. As a child, he trained for many years to play tabla in the Banaras Gharana tradition. Through performing with musicians and artists from various backgrounds, he has developed a language that is more contemporary and free than purely traditional. Since joining Shira u’tfila as a percussionist in 2004, Akash has added the intricacies of Middle Eastern music to his already wide repertoire. Besides being a percussionist Akash is experienced and accomplished architect.

Srdjan Djordjevic

Double bass player and member of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra Srdjan Djordjevic discovered a great passion and interest in Sephardic music when he started playing with Shira u’tfila in 2004. He previously performed jazz and toured through Europe with the bands Jazzfiction and the Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra.  

Ariel Qassis

Living in Haifa, Israel, Ariel Qassis is a full time musician & qanun player in various ensembles and productions around the world. Specializing in 'Arabic & Turkish music, Ariel has developed a unique playing style. He is founder of the "Istiklal trio" group that performs Turkish Classical music. 

Dejan Zaric

Dejan Zaric was born in Pristina, and has lived in Amsterdam since the early 1990s. He acquired his love for traditional music during his numerous travels from Southeast Europe to the Far East, learning and collecting.  He plays various percussion instruments from these regions, including def, riq, darabuka, Persian zarb and Indian mouth harp.

Elad Gabbay

Jerusalem-based Elad Gabbay, one of the leading qanun players in Israel, plays qanun and oud in various bands, productions and festivals. He studied music of the Middle East and teaches at the Academic Music Centre in Jerusalem. Today Elad is performing all around the world with various musicians like Yair Dalal, David Menahem, Haim Look and others.  

Milena Sara Miletin

Milena Sara Miletin has been attracted to Yiddish music since childhood.  She studied classical guitar in Prague and for many years performed as a musician and singer in the Prague Jewish Choir "Mishpaha," including numerous concerts in the Czech Republic. She has been collaborating with Shira u’tfila on the recording of "Donde Tiyenes Ojos."  

Nenad Vjestica Khan

Nenad Vjestica Khan is a multi-instrumentalist, playing sitar, oud, guitar, bass and keyboards. He studied Hindustani classical music at the Al-Hamra Music Academy, Lahore, Pakistan, focusing on sitar, under Master Ustad M. Alam Khan.  In addition to performing at numerous festivals and concerts, Khan has composed for TV and theater and has published a CD of his view of fusion.  Since 2005 he has collaborated with Stefan Sablic on the world music improvisation project, Karavan Sarai.

Djordje Stijepovic

Djordje Stijepovic played double bass with Shira u’fila until he moved to San Francisco in 2004. Presently touring the U.S., Djordje remains a great musician and a good friend, whom we hope returns to Europe soon. You can visit his site at www.djordjestijepovic.com