Irena Popović (Ćuprija, 1974), composer, obtained a degree from the University of Arts in Belgrade Faculty of Music, Department of Composition, and a Master’s degree from Mozarteum University Salzburg, at the Chair for Composition and Orchestration.

A significant part of her opus consists of applied music, which she composes for theaters across Europe, in cooperation with the most important theater directors from the region (Oliver Frljić, Andras Urban, Kokan Mladenović, Snežana Trišić, Tanja Mandić Rigonat, Slobodan Unkovski). Some of the most successful productions have been on the repertoire of many theater: Patriots (National Theater Belgrade), If Sombor Was Hollywood (National Theater Sombor), The Bridge on the Drina (Serbian National Theater Novi Sad), When Father was Away on Business and Casimir and Caroline (Atelje 212), Erased (Prešeren Theater, Kranj), Hasanaginica (Novi Sad Theater), Caroline Neuber (National Theater Banja Luka), Koštana (National Theater Subotica), No(e)va Makedonija (National Theater Bitola), What is Europa (MESS Sarajevo), Do You Remember Dolly Bell? (Chamber Theater 55 Sarajevo), etc.

Her music has received awards at home and abroad: three Sterija Awards, two awards at the International Small Scene Theater Festival in Rijeka, three awards at the Festival of Professional Theaters of Vojvodina, the Award for Best Music at the Susreti Theater Festival in Brčko, the Special Award for Music at the Days of Comedy theater festival in Jagodina, the Special Award for Music at the Yugoslav Theater Festival in Užice, two awards for best theater music at the Pozorišne/Kazališne Igre BiH festival in Jajce, the award for best music at the BH Drama theater festival in Zenica, the award for best music at the Theater Spring festival in Šabac, the award for best music at the Antalya International Film Festival, the Special Award for best music at Theater Fest in Banja Luka, the award for best music at the Teatar na Raskršću theater festival in Niš.

Her compositions are performed at different festivals around the world, and her works are on the repertoire of many soloists and chamber ensembles.

She is active as a teacher and performer in various art workshops for improvised music.

She is the founder of the group Music Material Industry, which brings together performers and composers who are active in different environments and which insists on merging different forms of artistic expression. A special branch within this group is the “Oh, Meine Liebe Constanze” Vocal Cultural and Artistic Society of Expansive Women. (She lives in Belgrade but dreams of the seaside…)

Role at the 2022 Biennale

Jury Member for the Student Biennale, category Scene Design in Theater.