Kosta Popović, cello

Kosta Popović (b. 2000, Podgorica) is a Montenegrin cellist known for his versatility as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. He began his musical education at the Vasa Pavić School for Music and Ballet in Podgorica, studying with his father, Mladen Popović. In 2017, he moved to the UK to attend Whitgift School and Junior Guildhall. He continued his studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, where he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees under the guidance of Professor Louise Hopkins, and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma.

Kosta has performed internationally across the UK, Spain, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. As a founding member of the acclaimed Fibonacci Quartet, he has appeared at major festivals including Schiermonnikoog Chamber Music Festival, Art Amanti Chamber Music Festival, and on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and NPO 2’s Podium Witteman. In 2023, the quartet won First Prize at both the Royal Over-Seas League Competition and the CAVATINA Intercollegiate Chamber Music Competition at Wigmore Hall. 

He has appeared at prestigious festivals such as the Santander Festival (Spain), performing with Stanislav Ioudenitch and Jens-Peter Maintz; the International Summer Academy in Vienna (MDW), where his performance was broadcast live on Austrian National Radio; and Fjord Classics (Norway), collaborating with Ian Bostridge and Lars Anders Tomter. In 2024, he performed at Hellensmusic, ISA25, and Esperus Music Academy, working with Xenia Jankovic, Alice Neary, and Jeroen Reuling. Other notable appearances include Maiastra Music and St James’s Church, Piccadilly. Most recently, he has performed as a concerto soloist with Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra and Westminster Philharmonic. 

Kosta has participated in masterclasses and projects with esteemed musicians and ensembles, including the Endellion Quartet, Gould Trio, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Adrian Brendel, Alexander Rudin, Alasdair Tait, Jens-Peter Maintz, Gary Hoffman and Eberhard Feltz. From 2022 to 2023, he studied with Gunter Pichler at the International Institute for Chamber Music Reina Sofía and at the Netherlands String Quartet Academy (NSKA). 

A recipient of the LSO String Experience Scheme, Kosta has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra as a member of their Cello Section.  

Kosta’s awards and scholarships include the Guildhall Financial Award, Ian Fleming Instrumentalist Award (Help Musicians), Countess of Munster Musical Trust (Study Award and Recital Scheme), and the Miloš Karadaglić Foundation Scholarship.

He plays on a Lockey Hill Cello (c.1780) kindly loaned to him by the Susane Beer Cello Corner Foundation.