The Victoria Pops is an eclectic, adult ensemble that focuses on playing fun, entertainment, popular music together as a group in a learning, workshop style environment. The orchestra reharsases once a week at the University of Victoria School of Music.

Conductor and founder, Jelena Milojevic, creates arrangements with members’ levels in mind, drawing from the variety of popular styles including pop, film music, tango, jazz, gypsy, popular classical, folk music from France, Italy, Ireland, Balkan, Ukraine, Hungary, South America etc.

All instruments are welcome and only a very modest playing level is expected (no audition required).Repertoire includes instruments of both, pop/rock band and symphony, like piano, accordions, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, strings, woodwinds, brass, harp, drum set, percussions etc.

Excerpts from her website: Jelena Milojević is a world renowned accordion performer. She studied both in Croatia and Serbia and ultimately received her Master’s Degree in Accordion Performance and Education, in one of the most recognized accordion centres in the world, Music Academy (FILUM) in Kragujevac, Serbia, where she is now completing her Doctoral Degree in accordion performance.

Being a versatile musician with an extensive performing history, she has played numerous concerts in Europe, North America and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician and a soloist with various orchestras and performed in some of the most prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Berlin Philharmonie. She is the winner of some of the most prestigious international accordion competitions, such as the CMA World Trophy, International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo, Italy, International Accordion competition in Pula, Croatia, Roland V-Accordion Competition etc.

Jelena Milojević has a successful collaboration with internationally recognized composers, such as Ana Sokolovic, Chris Jarrett, Douglas Schmidt, Farangis Nurulla-Khoja etc, and performs and records new music with Vancouver Symphony, Berlin Symphony, Aventa Ensemble, Turning Point Ensemble, Emily Carr String Quartet, UVic Chorus and Orchestra etc.

She released three CD’s and is being frequently featured at the TV and radio stations in Europe and North America. She has worked with acclaimed conductors, such as Bramwell Tovey, Bill Linwood, Leslie Dala, Giorgio Magnanensi, Clyde Mitchel, Yu Xuefeng, Symeon Ioannidis, Owen Underhill, Adam Jonathan Con, Ajtony Csaba.

As an educator, Jelena has been contributing greatly to the accordion development in Canada by organizing International Accordion Festival, hosting major accordion events; 2013 Coupe Mondiale, World Accordion Trophy (2018), inviting numerous international accordion artists to Victoria and by pioneering the acceptance of the accordion at the Vancouver Community College, Camosun College and University of Victoria.

With more than 20 years of teaching experience, her students have won numerous prizes at various international competitions, have played with symphony orchestras and developed successful performing careers. She is the Artistic Director of the World Accordion and Tango Festival in Victoria and a frequent adjudicator at international accordion competitions.

More info and sign up: jelenamilojevic@uvic.ca