Udruženje 'Rock škola Mostar'
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Mission Statement
To provide a unique environment and educational program where young people can share, cooperate, create, learn and express themselves through music and teamwork.
About This Cause
Mostar Rock School (hereinafter: MoRS) is an non-governmental organization operating in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a place of exchange and cooperation, a club of professional musicians and a support service dedicated to young musicians and upcoming bands. Each year, we yield a new generation of young talents. This informal school is a rare place where children are not divided according to national programs as it is unfortunately the case in state official school programs (all grade levels). MoRS plays its most important role in building trust amongst youth which results in reconciliation of local and wider community. Through education and field activities students and service users are encouraged to cooperate, foster universal values and respect diversity. With modules attractive to young people, the school becomes an important participant in the process of social impact and economic development. Over nearly eight years of existence, since 2012 and its very beginnings, more than 1000 young people have passed through the school’s education system, and now up to 200 young people use its services every month (students and other musicians and bands). Although it is located in Mostar, students and service users come from various parts of the region and the world. Even as non-formal education, MoRS provides a very comprehensive and quality educational program in the field of music. The curriculum includes: drums, bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, saxophone, vocals, audio production, electronic creative production, band coaching and masterclass workshops. The curriculum is structured through two forms: group and individual teaching - discovers and improves the skills of creating and reproducing in individuals; and session band program - enables the realization of acquired knowledge and skills through group interpretation. Individual lessons are focused on music education and growth, but group lesson and session band program are the ones that link all the students. It is the team work and creative process that teaches them to work with different personalities, to express their ideas as well to embrace the ideas of the other, and MoRS underlines this through its every activity. Each school year, within its educational program MoRS implements more than 3000 hours of group and individual lessons, 800 hours of session band program, and it counts more than 1300 guest band rehearsals and practices throughout the year. The school organizes at least nine concerts a year: five program concerts during the school year, one big concert at the end of the school year on June 21st, where we celebrate World Music Day. We also organize three outreach concerts. The mentioned concerts are related to the school curriculum and they are an opportunity for young musicians to show themselves to audiences. In 2017 the idea of the Booking Department (school project) was launched and since then the position of young musicians gathered around the school have considerably improved. The project addresses the youth unemployment and attempts to create career opportunities for young musicians and other professionals in the music industry. Through this project young talents have been enabled affirmation and access to the labor market. By providing career opportunities, Booking Department strives to motivate young people, otherwise rapidly leaving in concerning numbers, to remain in their country and pursue their careers home. The project equally, by its cross-border approach, searches to reconnect the music scene in the region and promote regional and intercultural ties. In 2019. MoRS Booking Department organized 150 concerts in the country and abroad. Since 2018, the school has been trying to bring its services closer to young people from smaller communities who are not able to attend classes in Mostar. Through the project of Mobile Rock Schools, young people from nine communities have the opportunity to participate in music workshops in order to improve their knowledge and skills. In addition to all these activities MoRS participates in international cooperation and networking through music camps, study visits, festivals and concerts. As a reliable partner school organizes music and entertainment program for world famous organizations such as Red Bull. It also helps in the creation and realization of local events. So far the school has organized two music camps that have brought together young people from 18 cities in BiH and also participated in several international exchanges of students and teachers. The school continuously works on the development of new ideas that can help young musicians succeed in music industry. Through its masterclass program, MoRS has hosted some of the biggest names in the international music scene such as “Black Crowes” (USA), “Ten Years After” (UK), Innes Sibunn, Senad Šuta (Dubioza Kolektiv, BiH), Damir Urban (CRO), Vasil Hadžimanov Band (SER), Lord Bishop Rocks (USA), Audiowolf (GER), Brian Eno (GB), Doyle Bramhall II (USA), Adam Minkoff (USA), Chriss St. Hillaire (USA), Van Velzen (NED). Additionally to being stuck in an underperforming transition from communism for the last 24 years, the Bosnian society also struggles with recent conflict history. Ethnic division and a staggering reconciliation process have left the country scarred. That being said, we can begin to comprehend all the consequences living in a society like this can have on young people, especially those who were left stuck in divided communities such as Mostar. The complex mechanisms of government in place did not allow enough room for development of free thought and modern worldviews - a good example being the system of education which is focused on ethnic histories and interests and further expands the gap amongst people. Especially the young people of the country, millennials and “digital natives”, exposed to modern ideals and freedoms online and among peers on one side and the grim perspective offered by their elders, the ones most damaged by the Bosnian War, on the other, are in a peculiar position. New ideas and values are present, but can rarely find room to flourish. Youth, while a large group in BiH, is still in nobody’s strategic interest, being marginalized and their voice not heard. It does not come as a surprise that the youth then doesn’t believe in the power they have as individuals or as a group. According to the “State of youth in BiH 2014”, a study done by Friedrich Ebert Foundation, up to 36,5% youngsters believed that their vote did not matter at all in the election process, and an astonishing 92% has never been part of social and/or political activities. Furthermore, 66% of people younger than 30 are unemployed. Left without a quality education and a source of income, many youths never fully explore their potential, and even more search for opportunities somewhere outside Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over 170.000 people left BiH in the past five years, many of which are young people in a search of a better life. Change needs to happen or Bosnia and Herzegovina will be on a verge of a demographic catastrophe if the trend continues. In addition to leaving the country, not believing their voice matters and not being involved in social or political activities, young people are the victims of segregation, especially through already divided enough educational system called “Two schools under one roof”, a system which physically divides children inside one school based on their ethnicity. Without the support to cooperate, share experiences, make friendships, fall in love, young people are forced to participate in the ever-present bigotry with only rare opportunities to show that they can and want differently. Ideas of freedom and equality can surely grow in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but they need support. The people living in the country are ready for political and social change - they have proven that on several occasions during the last few years (e.g. the babylution protests of 2013, riots of 2014 in Tuzla, Sarajevo and Mostar, students of Jajce beating “Two schools under one roof” in 2018, etc.). By reaching out to youth, listening to their needs, providing new opportunities that tackle all the problems stated above, Bosnian society can grow into a healthy democratic society that values freedoms, human rights, equality and social justice, where young people are the leaders of change and thought. That being said, Mostar Rock School, as a rare place where young people can come together, learn and cooperate, with the skills and knowledge needed to provide even more opportunities for them and for the wider community, aims to be a part of a historical change for Bosnian society.