Vedran Boškovski
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: I work in restaurants and do music every now and then.
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I was born in Skopje, Macedonia, so it is part of life. Everyone is around it and aware of it. I got more seriously into it, trying to learn the music and folklore, in college in my early 20s.
Number of times at Balkan camp: Three or four.
Studied at camp: I am interested in Macedonian music and playing traditional instruments: zurla, gajda, kaval. I actually got the scholarship for Mendocino and I was supposed to go there as a student, but then they asked me to teach. [Ed. note: Staff member Mark Levy had to cancel and Vedran was hired at the last minute to teach Macedonian village ensemble and Macedonian gajda.] I did take the Čalgija ensemble class. Then I attended the camp at Iroquois Springs on the scholarship.
Memorable moment at camp: In general, it’s a great time. This year at Iroquois Springs was a little better because the weather was phenomenal and I spent more time in the pool. California was also really amazing. Learning a bunch of new things, hanging with different musicians, playing a bunch of music, the food was phenomenal on both coasts. I come there with a purpose; there are really great master musicians that play great Macedonian music or Macedonian style of music, and that’s most of what I go there for. There are a lot of really amazing people. At the East Coast camp by now, I’m familiar with everyone; the West Coast camp was also very unique in its great people.