Marija Šestić Biography (1987, Banja Luka) is a prominent Bosnian singer, musician and music pedagogue. It is known for its representation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Eurovision 2007 and according to the hit ‘River without a name’. He comes from a musical family – her father Dušan Šestić is the author of the BiH national anthem (the so-called. Intermezzo) ). Marija showed her musical talent in her childhood: she started studying piano at the age of 6, and already at the age of 13 she enrolled in piano studies in her native Banja Luka. In 2003, he released his debut album and began his professional career.
The most important information about Marija Šestić:
- Origin: Banja Luka, BiH (1987)
- Family: Father Dušan Šestić, author of the national anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- instrument: Piano and voice (singer)
- successes: 1st place in the BiH Eurosong competition 2007, debut album (2003)
- Eurovision: Represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 (Helsinki) with the song ‘Rijeka without a name’.
- Jury and TV: Jury member on music show programs (eg ‘You can be a star’ – ZMBT)
the beginning of a musical career
Marija started playing music more seriously already in elementary school – she won at children’s festivals and won several awards. After her primary education, she devoted herself to music pedagogy and piano. At the age of 13, he entered the Music School in Banja Luka, and in his twenties released his first album. The first album (2003) includes her early singles and marked the beginning of her professional career. At that time, hardly anyone from the region could combine serious piano education with a pop career – Marija was at the same time music pedagogue and the performer.
Her career soon gained momentum. In 2005, she was already a candidate at the Bosnian Eurosong competition with the song ‘In this world’, where she won 4th place. She improved by singing at festivals and special concerts. In addition, she was among the first from the former Yugoslavia to appear on MTV Europe, which confirms her professional status in the region.
Eurosong 2007: Rijeka without a name
One of the most important moments in Maria’s career was Eurosong 2007. After winning the domestic competition, Marija presented Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2007 with a song “No Name River”.
Marija Šestić sings ‘River without a name’ at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest (Helsinki)
The Eurosong was held in Helsinki, and Mary’s performance is widely noted for her emotional vocals and performance in her mother tongue. With 106 points won, she won an excellent 11th placement out of a total of 24 participants. With this, she confirmed the status of one of the leading Bosnian singers of that period.
Most famous songs and projects
In addition to ‘Rijeka without a name’, Marija Šestić recorded a number of popular songs that are often on the air of regional radio stations. Some of her most famous compositions are:
- A river without a name – Bosnian song from the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 (106 points, 11th place).
- Long ago – One of her successes, which is regularly played by radio stations in the region.
- Secret – an emotional ballad of the recognizable style of Marija’s vocals.
- no one’s – A pop song often performed at concerts.
- from dusk to dawn – Another regional hit from her discography.
These songs confirm Mary’s wide range – from modern pop ballads to emotional ballads. Her charisma Onstage and voice technique are often highlighted as crucial to the success of these compositions.
Jury participation and television engagements
Recently, Marija Šestić has been active not only as a performer but also as Jury member at music competitions. One of the main moments in this context is participation in the popular Bosnian television show program “A star can be you” (abbreviated ZMBT). Hayat TV’s ZMBT brings together young talented singers, and Maria is like Jury member evaluated the candidates with her expert comments. With her arrival in the jury, the show received additional media attention – she commented on the competitors’ performances and gave points to viewers and participants.
In addition to ZMBT, Marija was also a guest at regional festivals. For example, she was a member of the jury at poetry festivals such as Pearl of the Adriatic, where her professional status and experience contributed to the choice of new musical talents. This shows that, in addition to performances, it also contributes to discovering new performers and promoting music.
Interests and contributions
- Music pedagogy: Marija constantly works as a music pedagogue. After studying the piano, he transmits knowledge to younger generations – he often leads singing workshops and performs at school concerts.
- Family musical engagement: Her father Dušan composed the BiH national anthem, and the other family members were also musically active. This heritage is clearly manifested in Mary’s professional approach.
- Languages and international audiences: Although she often presents Bosnia and Herzegovina with songs in Serbian/Croatian language, Marija also sang the English language (‘In this world’, 2005). In this way, she contributed to the international visibility of our musical heritage.
Maria’s energy and enthusiasm also help educate the audience about classical music – often explains how working with a piano builds on her interpretation of pop songs.
Conclusion
Marija Šestić is still an active figure in regional music: since 2007, she has conquered the audience both at concerts and on television. Her biography It covers the journey from children’s festivals to the Eurovision stage and the role of mentors for younger singers. As a singer and piano player, she connected art and education; As a jury and television supporter, she is currently contributing to the discovery of new talents.
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Sources: We found detailed information about Marija Šestić in biographical records and media articles that document her career and achievements.
Cover photo: Indrek Galetin, nagi by with, Via Wikimedia Commons
