Mitrovica Rock School

In Mitrovica, Kosovo, ethnic Albanians and Serbs live their lives divided almost entirely by the River Ibar - and by war. Since Kosovo declared independence in February 2008, the divide has intensified. The division is not only a burden on everyday life, it is killing cultural life in Mitrovica, once a rock music capital in the Balkans. Mitrovica's musical resources, both human and material, are greatly depleted.

Musicianship and musical careers
Together with Community Building Mitrovica (CBM), MwB is creating the Mitrovica Rock School to give all young aspiring musicians - whatever their ethnic background - a place to develop musicianship and musical careers. Based on a local desire to rebuild musical traditions, the Rock School provide Mitrovica's young musicians with space, instruments, materials, and educational opportunities.

Talent, creativity and musical skills
In the Balkans, music has been propagandized and nationalized. The Rock School offers young musicians a place where they are identified by their talent, creativity and musical skills, not their ethnicity or political views. The opportunity for young people to discover and express themselves through their own original music and words will help them transcend political and cultural hostility.

Cooperative initiative
The Mitrovica Rock School project is a cooperative initiative of Musicians without Borders, Community Building Mitrovica, IKV Pax Christi and the Fontys Rock Academy. It is the result of a sustained relationship between these organizations and a shared long-term goal of establishing a permanent rock music school in Mitrovica.