Darko Karlečik

Darko Karlečik graduated in percussion from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, where he studied in the class of Prof. Nebojša Jovan Živković and Prof. Dr. Art. Srđan Palačković. After successfully completing his undergraduate studies, he enrolled in a Master’s programme at MUK University (Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien) in Vienna, which he completed in June 2016 in the class of Prof. Nebojša Jovan Živković.
With a rich and diverse performance background, Karlečik has collaborated with numerous orchestras in Serbia and abroad. Notable engagements include performances with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra (Staatsoper Wien), the Max Steiner Orchestra in Vienna (Austria), the Serbian National Theatre, the Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra, the Belgrade Philharmonic (Serbia), the Zagreb Philharmonic, and the Croatian National Theatre (Croatia), among many others.
Karlečik is a permanent member of the 2K+ Ensemble, specializing in contemporary music. He also performs regularly with the percussion ensemble SUDAR (Croatia) and was an active member of the percussion ensemble AU-AU during his studies in Serbia, where he gave premiere performances of works composed specifically for the ensemble.
His extensive concert experience includes solo and orchestral performances both at home and internationally, with notable solo recitals in Beijing (China), Vigo (Spain), and Lausanne (Switzerland), as well as orchestral engagements in prestigious venues such as the Musikverein Vienna, Konzerthaus Vienna, Vienna State Opera, ORF Funkhaus Vienna, Stadthalle Vienna, and Vienna City Hall (Austria); the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall (Croatia); the Elbphilharmonie and the Bamberg Symphony Hall (Germany); Kolarac Foundation Hall (Serbia); the Banatul Philharmonic Hall in Timișoara (Romania); and the Abdul Husein Abdul Rida Theatre (Kuwait).
Karlečik actively participates in music seminars throughout Europe, collaborating with renowned artists such as Keiko Abe, Jean Geoffroy, Eric Sammut, Ivana Bilić, Jojo Mayer, Jeff Queen, and other distinguished musicians. He has organized and led independent masterclasses in Serbia, Croatia, and Spain. Recognized for his outstanding talent, Karlečik received the Yamaha Music Foundation Europe (YMFE) Award in 2013 as one of Europe’s most promising young percussionists. He is also a three-time recipient of the City of Zrenjanin Scholarship for Young Talents (2012–2014) and a recipient of the Dositeja Fund for Young Talents scholarship of the Serbian Ministry of Education in 2014 and 2015.
He currently works as an independent professional associate in the Percussion Department at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad (Serbia) and as a percussion teacher at the Isidor Bajić Music School in Novi Sad. In addition to his teaching activities, Karlečik is deeply committed to promoting classical music and percussion among children and young people.
Since 2025, Darko Karlečik has been a Yamaha Artist and performs on a Yamaha YM-6100 marimba.