World@VCU: Ognjen Vukić from Serbia

By Amelia Heymann

World@VCU is a VCU News feature, in partnership with the Global Education Office, that highlights students from around the world who enrich the Virginia Commonwealth University community. Ognjen Vukić is pursuing his undergraduate degree in music, with a concentration in media scoring, from the School of the Arts.

What should we know about your home country?

Serbia is located in southeastern Europe and is known today for exceptional athletes, such as tennis champion Novak Djokovic and basketball players Nikola Jokić and Bogdan Bogdanović. But even before them, Serbia has been known for scientists such as inventor Nikola Tesla and telecommunications pioneer Mihajlo Pupin.

What inspired you to study at VCU?

I was inspired by the approach to learning, which I find to be much more focused on practical experience than on theory. I believe that a multicultural community like the one at VCU can be highly inspiring for all students, including international students. I also believe that the community here is very well-connected. Within the Department of Music, we have built strong connections with one another, and that gives me hope that I can have a great start to my career.

Tell us about a favorite memory or experience so far here in America.

The moments that mean the most to me are the ones when we are all united through music. There will certainly be many more performances like this, but my first performance with the Small Jazz Ensemble during my first semester showed me the true reason why I am here. The audience, made up largely of students and fellow musicians, completely overwhelmed me in the best possible way. I was truly grateful for the incredible energy, applause and shared desire to express ourselves through music in such a beautiful way.

Has there been a surprise during your time studying abroad?

One of the biggest surprises, which I still encounter from time to time, has been the significant cultural differences that I was not aware of before coming to America. Serbians, and Europeans in general, tend to be more reserved than Americans, so at first we may come across as colder or less approachable. These small differences can sometimes be misleading, but I believe that when it comes to a moment of making music, all those boundaries disappear in an instant.

Share something about a significant achievement or project.

Simply being accepted to and coming to VCU is a huge achievement for me. I believe that even bigger projects and accomplishments are ahead of me in the coming years. I hope to proudly represent both my country and VCU throughout my career, whether that is in Europe or in America.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy keeping up with trends in music and the arts, as well as following sporting events both in America and in Serbia. I try to stay connected with what is happening in the lives of my friends back home, while also keeping up with my colleagues from the department. I love spending time in the studio working on my own projects, as well as occasionally taking part in jam sessions at clubs around Richmond.

Give us a glimpse into your future.

After I complete my studies in media scoring, I would like to continue developing my career in that direction. My dream job would be to compose, arrange and mix original music for films and TV series of all genres, as well as for other artists and their projects and albums. Simply put: Music or nothing.

Any advice for international students just starting their journeys?

Be yourself, because it is precisely who you are that brought you this far from wherever your journey began.