Todor Skalovski

Todor Skalovski portrait by Pavle Kuzmanoski.

Todor Skalovski (January 21, 1909, Tetovo – July 1, 2004, Skopje) was a prominent Macedonian composer, choir and symphony conductor. He is the author of many vocal, vocal and instrumental and stage compositions, and in addition to his creative work and conducting, he worked on pedagogical work and organization of musical life in contemporary Macedonia.

He finished his music education in Belgrade, and he studied conducting at the Mozarteum Conservatory in Salzburg with Professor Wilhelm Furtwangler. He is the founder, first chief conductor and director of the Macedonian Philharmonic in 1944. Founder, the first chief conductor and director of the Macedonian Opera, as well as the first deputy chief editor of the Macedonian Radio. As a long-time organizer of the music life in Macedonia, Skalovski is the founder of several international music festivals in Macedonia, such as the Ohrid Summer Festival and especially the biennial international choral festival in Tetovo – TEHO. He was a member of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, MANU since 1972. He has won the highest prize of former SFR. Yugoslavia, AVNOJ, as well as the highest award of the Republic of Macedonia for lifetime achievement, “11 October” and others.

Todor Skalovski is known for the creative use of folk motifs in his compositions. With the use of harmony, tonal and modal systems, and lyricism, it is similar to Serbian composer Mokranjac and Macedonian composer Trajko Prokopiev, although in some works such as “Macedonian dance”, Skalovski uses drama elements that are considered as musical counterpart of “Teskoto” Blaze Koneski. He also wrote spiritual music.

He composed the anthem of the Republic of Macedonia Today over Macedonia.

Baltepe by Todor Skalovski