Margita Stefanovic
Encyclopedia
Margita "Magi" Stefanović was a Yugoslav and Serbian musician
best known as a keyboardist
for the Serbia
n rock band Ekatarina Velika
.
Born in Belgrade
as the only child of well-known theatre and television director Slavoljub Stefanović-Ravassi and Desanka Nikolić. After finishing elementary school, Margita enrolled in the "Josip Slavenski" music high school from which she graduated as the most talented pianist in her class alongside Ivo Pogorelić
. Her impressive school performance led to an offer of further studies at the famed Moscow Conservatory
, which she ended up turning down due to family reasons -- her mother very much disliked the idea of letting her go to Moscow
by herself at such a young age. Instead, Margita enrolled at University of Belgrade
's School of Architecture
where she was no less successful. Throughout her architecture studies she still continued practicing the piano as well as playing and occasionally touring with various small orchestras.
After graduating university in 1982, along with her then-boyfriend Srđan Vejvoda, she began to take an interest in Belgrade's underground music scene, which struck her as a completely different lifestyle from the one she was used to. During the spring of 1982 she was introduced to Milan Mladenović
by her cousin Gagi Mihajlović. Soon thereafter, at one of Katarina II's early rehearsals, she got an offer to join the band. After returning from a three-month trip to South America
she decided to take the still-standing offer, joining Katarina II in late 1982.
Margita was Katarina II/Ekatarina Velika's member until its very end in late 1994. During her time with the band she also collaborated on the albums of many other Yugoslav bands such as Karlowy Vary, Elvis J. Kurtović & His Meteors, Van Gogh
, Babe, etc.
She composed the score for several TV films ("Prvi put s ocem na jutrenje", "Vera Hofmanova", "Povratak Vuka Alimpića", "Plavi plavi") and theatre productions ("Klasni neprijatelj", "Tri sestre"). In 1985 she was introduced as an actress (the role of Dragana) in the movie "Tajvanska kanasta" (The Taiwan Canasta) directed by Goran Marković.
After Milan's death and Ekatarina Velika's end, Magi continued her work as a musician. During 1994/1995 she played in a band called Kurajberi, which gathered several Belgrade musicians and was focused mainly on performing covers at club gigs and jam sessions. In 1995, with a group of young Belgrade musicians involved in a techno movement, she formed a band called EQV and released an album Ti si sav moj bol (You are All of My Anguish) named after the famous Ekatarina Velika song, the album itself containing a techno version of the same song. The album was published by the Austria
n label Coop Arts & Crafts Unlimited. In October of the same year, EQV participated in Tactic Festival in Vienna
. She further continued contributing as a guest star on albums and concerts of many Serbian bands and occasionally played with bands Glisers, Zion banda and Direktori
. In 1996 she played several unplugged
concerts with Električni orgazam
, one of which was recorded and released the same year by B92
as Živo i akustično (Live and Acoustic). During that time she was also involved in several significant music projects ("S one strane duge", "Pesme iznad Istoka i Zapada").
Sometime in 1996 Margita became a member of Ars Antibari writers society from Bar
, which published several of her stories in two books ("Izgleda da će Jugo", Bar, 1996, and "Da li da ti kažem ko te je ubio, Gea?", Belgrade, 1999). In 2002 she composed the music for "Kaput mrtvog čoveka" (The Coat of a Dead Man) theater play directed by Hajdana Baletić, which turned out to be Magi's last ever music-related work.
However, from 1996 onwards her life was mostly spent struggling with heroin addiction and the physical effects of long-term drug use. Following the passing of her father in February 1996, Margita's drug problems intensified. In order to support her habit, she sold pretty much all of her possessions including an apartment in downtown Belgrade. She used part of the money for a trip to India
and also to buy two smaller apartments. Not long thereafter she sold those as well and eventually ended up living in a ramshackle modified garage in the suburb of Borča
. By this time she was basically penniless, depending on charity and handouts for even the basics such as food.
Margita Stefanović spent the last years of her life living in a homeless shelter in Voždovac
. She was diagnosed to be HIV
positive, which she contracted through intravenous drug use. She died on September 18, 2002 (aged 43) at the Belgrade Hospital for Infective Diseases where she had been sequestered since August of the same year.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
best known as a keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
for the Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n rock band Ekatarina Velika
Ekatarina Velika
Ekatarina Velika , sometimes referred to as EKV for short, was a Serbian and former Yugoslav rock group from Belgrade, being one of the most successful and influential music acts coming out of former Yugoslavia....
.
Born in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
as the only child of well-known theatre and television director Slavoljub Stefanović-Ravassi and Desanka Nikolić. After finishing elementary school, Margita enrolled in the "Josip Slavenski" music high school from which she graduated as the most talented pianist in her class alongside Ivo Pogorelić
Ivo Pogorelic
Ivo Pogorelić is a Croatian pianist.-Early life:He was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, now Serbia, to a Croatian father and a Serbian mother...
. Her impressive school performance led to an offer of further studies at the famed Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
, which she ended up turning down due to family reasons -- her mother very much disliked the idea of letting her go to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
by herself at such a young age. Instead, Margita enrolled at University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
's School of Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
where she was no less successful. Throughout her architecture studies she still continued practicing the piano as well as playing and occasionally touring with various small orchestras.
After graduating university in 1982, along with her then-boyfriend Srđan Vejvoda, she began to take an interest in Belgrade's underground music scene, which struck her as a completely different lifestyle from the one she was used to. During the spring of 1982 she was introduced to Milan Mladenović
Milan Mladenovic
Milan Mladenović was a Yugoslav and Serbian musician best known as the frontman of Serbian art rock band Ekatarina Velika.-Early life:...
by her cousin Gagi Mihajlović. Soon thereafter, at one of Katarina II's early rehearsals, she got an offer to join the band. After returning from a three-month trip to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
she decided to take the still-standing offer, joining Katarina II in late 1982.
Margita was Katarina II/Ekatarina Velika's member until its very end in late 1994. During her time with the band she also collaborated on the albums of many other Yugoslav bands such as Karlowy Vary, Elvis J. Kurtović & His Meteors, Van Gogh
Van Gogh (band)
Van Gogh is a Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band from Belgrade. The band was formed in 1986, and released their debut alternative rock-oriented self-titled album the same year...
, Babe, etc.
She composed the score for several TV films ("Prvi put s ocem na jutrenje", "Vera Hofmanova", "Povratak Vuka Alimpića", "Plavi plavi") and theatre productions ("Klasni neprijatelj", "Tri sestre"). In 1985 she was introduced as an actress (the role of Dragana) in the movie "Tajvanska kanasta" (The Taiwan Canasta) directed by Goran Marković.
After Milan's death and Ekatarina Velika's end, Magi continued her work as a musician. During 1994/1995 she played in a band called Kurajberi, which gathered several Belgrade musicians and was focused mainly on performing covers at club gigs and jam sessions. In 1995, with a group of young Belgrade musicians involved in a techno movement, she formed a band called EQV and released an album Ti si sav moj bol (You are All of My Anguish) named after the famous Ekatarina Velika song, the album itself containing a techno version of the same song. The album was published by the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n label Coop Arts & Crafts Unlimited. In October of the same year, EQV participated in Tactic Festival in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. She further continued contributing as a guest star on albums and concerts of many Serbian bands and occasionally played with bands Glisers, Zion banda and Direktori
Direktori
Direktori is a Serbian oi! punk/ska group from Belgrade.-1989 – 1999:During the spring of 1989, vocalist Nebojša Drakula, with the former Varšavski Geto member Miroslav Pilipović "Trta" on guitar, former Pogrebni Zavod member Srđan Marić on bass guitar and former Hogari member Dragan "Rale"...
. In 1996 she played several unplugged
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
concerts with Električni orgazam
Električni Orgazam
Električni Orgazam is a Serbian rock band from Belgrade. Originally starting as a combination of New Wave, punk rock and post-punk, the band later slowly changed their style, becoming a mainstream rock act.- New Wave years :...
, one of which was recorded and released the same year by B92
B92
B92 is a radio and television broadcaster with national coverage headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. The network's key demographic is chiefly urban and young audience. Its programs, including the news cover topics with fairly liberal political painted attitudes...
as Živo i akustično (Live and Acoustic). During that time she was also involved in several significant music projects ("S one strane duge", "Pesme iznad Istoka i Zapada").
Sometime in 1996 Margita became a member of Ars Antibari writers society from Bar
Bar, Montenegro
Bar is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has a population of 17,727...
, which published several of her stories in two books ("Izgleda da će Jugo", Bar, 1996, and "Da li da ti kažem ko te je ubio, Gea?", Belgrade, 1999). In 2002 she composed the music for "Kaput mrtvog čoveka" (The Coat of a Dead Man) theater play directed by Hajdana Baletić, which turned out to be Magi's last ever music-related work.
However, from 1996 onwards her life was mostly spent struggling with heroin addiction and the physical effects of long-term drug use. Following the passing of her father in February 1996, Margita's drug problems intensified. In order to support her habit, she sold pretty much all of her possessions including an apartment in downtown Belgrade. She used part of the money for a trip to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and also to buy two smaller apartments. Not long thereafter she sold those as well and eventually ended up living in a ramshackle modified garage in the suburb of Borča
Borca
Borča is a suburban settlement of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in the Belgrade's municipality of Palilula.-Location:...
. By this time she was basically penniless, depending on charity and handouts for even the basics such as food.
Margita Stefanović spent the last years of her life living in a homeless shelter in Voždovac
Voždovac
Voždovac is an urban neighborhood and one of 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.- Location :...
. She was diagnosed to be HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
positive, which she contracted through intravenous drug use. She died on September 18, 2002 (aged 43) at the Belgrade Hospital for Infective Diseases where she had been sequestered since August of the same year.
Other
- There is an urban legend about Margita being the subject of the first-ever graffitiGraffitiGraffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
that appeared in BelgradeBelgradeBelgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. The graffiti was written on the wall of her apartment building, and it said "Margita je dečak" ("Margita is a boy"), implying that she was an atypical girl of the era. The graffiti was sprayed by Nebojša KrstićNebojša KrsticNebojša Krstić is an Advisor of the President of Serbia for public relations appointed by Boris Tadić. He was also a member of the Serbian rock band Idoli.- Biography :...
, at the time a member of the Serbian new waveNew Wave musicNew Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band VIS IdoliVIS IdoliIdoli were a new wave band from Belgrade, SR Serbia. They are considered to be one of the greatest and most influential Yugoslav rock bands and their 1982 album Odbrana i poslednji dani was voted by the critics as the greatest Yugoslav rock album.- Merlin and Zvuk Ulice :The roots of Idoli can be...
. - In July 2008, a book Vrati unatrag by Aleksandar Ilić, featuring conversations with Magi was released.
Sources
- "Magi, zvezda koja večno traje" (Beograd, 2002)
- Petar Janjatović: "Ilustrovana Yu-Rock enciklopedija" (Beograd, 1998)
- Aleksandar Žikić: "Mesto u mećavi" (Beograd, 1997)