RTS Big Band

The RTS Big Band was founded back in 1948.

At the very beginning the orchestra included the strings and performed as the Orchestra for Light Music.

In 1954, the strings were excluded from the Orchestra and it continued to perform as RTS Big Band until nowadays.

Throughout the years the Big Band was conducted by the two most famous Yugoslav jazz conductors and composers-arrangers: Vojislav Bubisa Simic and Zvonimir Skerl.

One of the composers and arrangers, Robert Hauber, wrote couple of hundreds arrangements for Big Band.

During 60 years of its work, the Big Band won numerous prestigious prizes and awards.

Back in 1960 RTS Big Band, at that time completely unknown orchestra, won a first prize at the first European Jazz Festival Juan les Pins held in France.

After it's first tour in 1957, the Band had concerts in almost all European countries and took part in numerous jazz festivals, performed at several UNICEF concerts (in Belgrade, Paris and Geneva) and always had exceptional reviews.

Throughout the years the Big Band cooperated with numerous internationally renowned jazz musicians (Clark Terry, Ray Charles, Johnny Griffin, Maynard Ferguson, Tony Scott, Nathan Davis, Don Byas, Ed Thigpen, Jerome Richardson, Larry Vuckovich, Ernie Wilkins, Kenny Drew, Philly Jo Jones, Thad Jones, Sal Nistico, Alvin Queen, Reggie Johnson, Edi Henderson, Shawn Monteiro, Hank Mobley, Aladar Pege, Jon Hendricks, Roy Hargroove, Joe Miković, Dusko Goykovich, Steve Gut, Brad Lealy, Diane Schuur, Ack Van Rooyen, Peter Herbolzheimer, Don Menza, Wilson de Oliveira, Jens Winter.

All Serbian jazz musicians internationally known, originated from the Big Band - Dusko Goykovich, Bora Rokovich, Mile Pavlovich, Joe Mikovich, Steve Gut. This tradition is continued with a new generation of musicians which was brought up in Big Band RTS.

Nowadays, the Big Band RTS is headed by Dragoslav Stanisavljevic-Fredi, Editor in Chief and Conductor Ivan Ilic.