Milena Stanišić

Milena Stanišić is a Full Professor of Harp at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade. From 1994 to 2009 she served as Principal Harpist of the Opera Orchestra of the National Theatre in Belgrade. Was also engaged as Principal Harpist with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002 to 2005. In addition, she has played with all major orchestras in Serbia, as well as numerous ensembles throughout the region.

An active soloist and chamber musician, Stanišić performs regularly across Europe and internationally. Has appeared at the World Harp Congresses in Geneva, Vancouver, Sydney and Hong Kong, as well as at international harp festivals in Rio de Janeiro and St Petersburg (Northern Lyra). As a soloist she has collaborated with a wide range of orchestras, including the Radio Television of Serbia Symphony Orchestra, the St George Strings, the Skovran String Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Sarajevo Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Orchestra and the Ensemble Metamorphosis.

She is a member of the Duo Floral, alongside flutist Stana Krstajić. The duo has performed extensively and released three CDs featuring repertoire for flute and harp.

Stanišić completed her studies at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade under Professor Milica Barić. Continued her training at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester as a recipient of the Headley Trust full scholarship, studying with Frank Sternefeld. She was awarded her Doctorate in 2016 under the mentorship of Professor Ljiljana Nestorovska.

Her awards include 1^st prize at the Young Musician of the Year competition in Morecambe (England, 1997) and a special 1^st prize at the International Music Competition Petar Konjović (Belgrade, 1994). In 1994 she was also awarded the City of Belgrade October Prize for young artists.

Stanišić is a co-founder and President of the Harp Association of Serbia. She is also a co-founder and Artistic Director of the International Harp Festival in Belgrade, a role she has held since its establishment in 2002.
Information for March 2026