Nine Months from Beginner to Award Winner

In classical music, it often takes years for young talents to achieve their first significant successes. Nine-year-old pianist Hannah Aleksandrovich has accomplished that journey in an extraordinarily short time. On September 1, 2025, she began her formal musical education at the prestigious Music School “Isidor Bajić” in Novi Sad. Just nine months later, she was awarded First Prize with a perfect score of 100 points at the International Festival “Isidor Bajić” 2026.

For her competition performance, Hannah chose the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2, “Quasi una Fantasia,” universally known as the “Moonlight Sonata.” More than two centuries after its composition, the work remains one of the most celebrated and emotionally profound masterpieces in the piano repertoire. With her interpretation, Hannah impressed the jury and became one of the very few participants in her category to achieve the maximum score.

After her performance, Hannah Aleksandrovich greets the audience at the Isidor Bajić Festival in Novi Sad.

The competition is organized by the Music School “Isidor Bajić,” one of Serbia’s oldest and most respected institutions for music education. Founded in 1909, the school has nurtured generations of musicians and continues to play a vital role in the cultural life of Novi Sad and the wider region. The significance of Hannah’s achievement is further enhanced by the setting in which it took place. Novi Sad, located on the banks of the Danube River, gained international recognition as the European Capital of Culture 2022 and is widely regarded as one of Southeast Europe’s most vibrant cultural centers. Its strong tradition of supporting music, education, and the arts provides an inspiring environment for young artists to develop their talents.

Although Hannah Aleksandrovich is only at the beginning of her musical journey, earning First Prize with a perfect score after just nine months of formal piano education is far more than a competition success. It represents an extraordinary milestone and an early indication of a promising future. For now, it is simply the story of a young pianist from Novi Sad whose dedication, talent, and passion for music have already begun to attract attention. For the future, it may well be remembered as the first chapter of an exceptional musical career.