Bio

Agni Avshar, born on 6 July 1988 in Skopje, expressed her talent for and fondness of music at the age of 7, which was the primary reason why her mother enrolled her in the elementary music school ‘Ilija Nikolovski – Luj” in Skopje. There, for 8 years she studied playing the piano, solfege and music theory, which brought about her love for singing. As early as that age she manifested an exceptional music talent and an extraordinarily developed sense of hearing.

Her first contact with a wide audience and performances at music events were her participations in piano recitals and competitions, where she appeared on her piano teacher Karmen Kostova’s insistence, which was grounded on her student’s high music potential and charismatic stage appearance.

At the age of 20, in 2009, she founded a band with which she locally performed music of pop and rock genres, thus acquiring great experience in stage and vocal performance. In the meantime, she completed her studies at the Faculty of Philology in Skopje, the department for translating and interpreting English, French and Portuguese language. Having graduated, she involved herself still more actively in music-related engagements, and in 2016 she joined the Macedonian – Roma, folklore – jazz chamber ensemble upon request of Srdzan Amet. After 4 weeks of intensive rehearsals, they set off on a one-month tour to Antwerp, Belgium, where they had several concerts in Neuchateau, Antwerp and in Brussels.

Upon completion of this project, Agni decided to enroll in the Musical Academy in Skopje, the department for Jazz and Popular genres, with her major being solo singing. As early as her first year of studies, her talent was noticed by her professors, and they engaged her to perform with them, where she gained most of her experience in performing on jazz gigs.

In June 2019 she graduated from the Musical Academy with a grade average of 9,8.

Among the ongoing music engagements (performing at cocktail parties, private elite parties, gala events and concert and solo concerts), there were some more significant solo performances:

  • Winning the First-Degree Laureate at the International festival “Ezerski Biseri” in 2016, Struga, Republic of Macedonia
  • Singing alongside one of the most prominent techno DJ’s Huan Atkins, accompanied by the Macedonian Philharmonics conducted by the distinguished Macedonian conductor Dzijan Emin, in the project: “Macedonian Philharmonics and Huan Atkins” in the Ohrid Amphitheatre, on 2 August 2018;
  • Performing for the celebration of Macedonian Independence Day, 8 September 2018, in front of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, accompanied by the Macedonian Philharmonics;
  • Accompanied by the Macedonian Philharmonics – singing old Macedonian popular and jazz songs – at the Macedonian Philharmonics, on 13 November 2018;
  • Solo performance at the “Vasilicarski Koncert – Disco Fever” – accompanied by the orchestra of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, conducted by Bisera Chadlovska, on 12 and 13 January 2019;
  • Singing at the Vienne Ball – accompanied by the Big Band of the Association of Jazz Musicians and Free Artists, conducted by Dzijan Emin, in the Alexander Palace Hotel, on 16 March 2019;
  • Solo concert with her Quintet, “Agni Avshar Quintet” at the Jazz Factory Festival in Bitola, on 20 April 2019;
  • Singing at the formal ceremony of Diplomas Awarding in Yahya Kemal College, on 24 May 2019;
  • Solo performance at the concert “Electro Symphony”, as a part of the event “Bit Fest Bitola”, accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of Bitola conducted by Vladimir Dimovski, on 8 August 2019;
  • Solo performance at the concert „James Bond Symphony“, as a part of the event “Strumica Open Festival”, accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of Bitola conducted by Vladimir Dimovski, on 12 August 2019
  • Singing alongside and accompanied by one of the most acclaimed and internationally recognized Macedonian guitarists, Vlatko Stefanovski, at the concert “Rock Symphony and Vlatko Stefanovski”, accompanied also by the Chamber Orchestra of Bitola conducted by Vladimir Dimovski, in Belgrade, on 29 August 2019;
  • Performing with her ensemble, the “Agni Avshar Ensemble” at the event and concert “White Night”, on 5 October 2019 in Skopje
  • Singing at the “Vasilicarski Koncert – LEGENDS” – accompanied by the orchestra of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, conducted by Bisera Chadlovska, on 12 and 13 January 2020
  • 28 April 2020 – Online Concert during Covid 19 – organized and supported by the City of Skopje
  • Performing with her quintet, the “Agni Avshar Quintet” at the event “Veleshko Kulturno Leto” at the Amphitheatre in Veles on 29 August 2020
  • On 22 October 2021 she has a vocal solo performance at the 40th Skopje Jazz Festival as a part of “Yordan Kostov Ensemble” where she incorporates scat singing, operatic singing and microtonal vocalization and improvisation in her performance.
  • 25 March 2022 – vocal and acting performance in the musical “Ulica” held in the Macedonian National Opera accompanied by Dzijan Emin and his band
  • 30 April 2022 – Concert “Agni Avshar Duo” as a part of the event “Today it’s All About Jazz” held in Skopje, organized by the Macedonian Association of Jazz Musicians and Free Artists
  • 03 May 2022 – Solo concert named “Zvucite na Mediteranot” organized by Katerina Stevkovska on which Agni Avshar was a vocal soloist accompanied by a quintet ensemble
  • 16 & 17 September 2022 – Two, consecutive, jazz and pop concerts in Leskovac, Republic of Serbia, as a part of the film festival LIFEE.
  • 04 October 2022 – A solo performance at the concert James Bond Symphony, accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of Bitola, where she sang some of the most famous James Bond theme songs among which “No Time to Die”, “The World is Not Enough”, “Golden Eye” & “Diamonds are Forever”.
  • 14 October 2022 – A concert with her pianist Gordan Spasovski in Kotor, Montenegro in the Jazz Club Evergreen.
  • Attending many TV shows among which “Muzika na Kirilica, “Stisni Play”, “Utrinska na Telma”, “Zivot so Stil”, “Utrinska na Alfa”, “Utrinska na Sitel”, “Zivot so Stil”, “Backstage” etc.

She is mostly known for her powerful yet sensual vocals, her affinity towards reviving the jazz standards from the great American Songbook, as well as jazzing up evergreens and contemporary pop music.

On 8 October 2021 she releases her debut single “Soznavam” which encompasses scat vocalization. The music was written by Nikola Micevski and the lyrics by both Beti Jankovikj and Renata Kralevska.