Early Achievements and Education

Originally from Serbia, Damir is a two-time winner of the Serbian national trumpet competition. In 2005, he moved to Berlin to study under Professor William Forman at the “Hans Eisler” Institute. His rigorous training and dedication have shaped him into the distinguished musician he is today.

A Pioneer in New Music

Damir has been a prominent figure in the field of new music for over 15 years. He has collaborated with esteemed composers such as Helmut Lachenmann, Vinko Globokar, György Kurtág, Fabian Levy, Daniel Ott among others. Playing as a member of the ensemble Unitedberlin (since 2009), he has performed over 100 concerts under the artistic direction of Vladimir Jurowski, both as Artist in Residence for the New music at the Konzerthaus Berlin and at various international festivals.

During his student and early career freelancing years Damir collaborated on various recording projects, concert productions and the tours with the Solistenensemble Kaleidoskope, KNM Berlin, Zafraan ensemble Berlin, Stegreif Orchestra, but also with the international sound artists such as Matthew Herbert (UK), Ari Benjamin Mayers (USA), Rashad Newsome (USA), among others.

Among the regular tours in Europe, Damir has played on the Tours in the US and Asia.

Notable Performances

Damir's latest performance as the soloist and his debut on German National Radio (Deutschlandradio Kultur) in late 2023 received high praise from the New Music Magazine Germany (Neue Musikzeitung), which described his rendition of Ligeti’s "Mysteries of the Macabre" as “breathtaking” and “stunningly theatrical.”

Earlier, in year 2022, he performed the solo recital for the trumpet at the New Music Concert series “Unerhörte Musik” in Berlin, where critics wrote, “Ingenious wind players in the BKA theater…” and “Bačikin ignites with virtuosity…”, playing his own composition "EARWORM!" ( funded by the Berlin Senate, "Arbeitsstipendium" 2022), among the other new music composers of the German scene.

Appearances with Renowned Orchestras

Beyond solo performances, Damir frequently appears as a guest trumpeter with numerous prestigious orchestras.

His most recent, three years collaboration as a principal trumpet player, was with the Radio Symphonic Orchestra Berlin.

Some of his most cherished projects was in Gérard Grisey’s "Les espaces acoustiques", following is the opening of the Musikfest Berlin with the "Ais"  Iannis Xenakis at the Berlin Philharmonic, and the orchestral Tour to the Enescu Festival appearing in the "World best Orchestras" category, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski.

Recent Accomplishments

In Spring 2024, Damir won the trumpet audition for the Symphonic wind Orchestra with the Bundespolizei Berlin and he is very excited to join them in the fall this yer, since the Symphonic wind music is one of his favorite.

This new chapter in his career promises to bring more exciting performances and opportunities to showcase his exceptional talent.