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Music isn't just one part of Vladimir Kulenovic's life. When you meet the Utah Symphony's new assistant conductor, it's quickly evident that music is the center of his world.
Utahns will get their first view of Kulenovic's passion in action on Wednesday, when he conducts the Utah Symphony Chamber Orchestra in a Deer Valley Music Festival concert featuring the eclectic string trio Time for Three.
Kulenovic, 31, was born and reared in the musical city of Belgrade, Serbia (then Yugoslavia), to parents who are professional musicians and teachers.
He started piano and violin lessons at age 5, but has photos of himself conducting music at age 2 1/2. His parents told him that from a young age, he liked to conduct Vivaldi, Stravinsky and everything in between, a fascination that continues.
The family fled its homeland because of political persecution after Kulenovic's father, Vuk Kulenovic, now a professor at Boston's Berklee School of Music, vocally opposed the regime of dictator Slobodan Milosevic. After reaching the United States, the family settled in Boston.
Vladimir, then 12, subsequently returned to Belgrade with his mother and brother because the family couldn't afford a first-rate musical education for him in the United States. After he graduated from a specialized music preparatory school in Belgrade, he continued his studies at Boston Conservatory.
"I always wanted to be a conductor, and there was no chance to study that in Belgrade," he said. "And I've always liked this country and the principles on which it has been founded."
Scholarships and hard work got him through a series of music degrees. He lived frugally and still does — and has no regrets. "It was critical for my formation as a human being and a musician," Kulenovic said. "I enjoy what I do, and that's all that really matters."
Kulenovic has amassed an impressive amount of experience conducting orchestras, but his first audition for a full-time post was with the Utah Symphony, an orchestra he already admired. He replaces associate conductor David Cho, who will become music director of Texas' Lubbock Symphony Orchestra in 2012. In a five-year stint with the symphony, Cho conducted hundreds of concerts for students.
Utah Symphony vice president of artistic planning Toby Tolokan said Kulenovic impressed music director Thierry Fischer and the search committee with his energy and wonderful phrasing. He also showed talent for directing education concerts, a key element of the assistant conductor's position.
"Vladimir received high marks for his audition introductory speech to Copland's 'El Salón México,' which illustrated his comfort in speaking to young audiences," Tolokan said.
The young conductor's zeal for his art was the final deciding factor. "Vladimir is consumed with a love of music," Tolokan said. "He has an impeccable work ethic, meaning he studies scores at every possible moment of the day."
In speaking of his years of preparation for the job, Kulenovic related a story first told by composer Zoltán Kodály, which analogizes an ordinary brick.
"Your job is to take care of your brick and make sure at all times it is in perfectly usable condition," Kulenovic said. "Then, when the grand architect calls for your brick, it will be ready. I got an invitation from the Utah Symphony — the first I've gotten. They thought my brick was ready, and now it's put to work here."
Kulenovic, a nature-lover and ardent bicyclist, is thrilled with Utah's outdoor opportunities. "In my spare time — which is never — I'm going to be on my bike all the time," he said.
He adds that Utahns impress him even more than the mountain scenery. "I'm quite sensitive to the character of the people of a certain area, and people are so warm here," he said. "It makes you feel you are welcome and makes it possible for you to really do your best and contribute to the fullest."
Kulenovic watched Fischer conduct the Utah Symphony's performance of John Adams' "Harmonielehre" last year, an experience that gave him more good reasons to be happy about settling here.
"I really admire Maestro Fischer's work," he said. "This is an exciting era for this orchestra and its audience. I feel humbled and grateful to be a part of it and to contribute to the new heights this orchestra will reach."
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Guest ensemble Time for Three will join the Utah Symphony Chamber Orchestra and new Utah Symphony assistant conductor Vladimir Kulenovic in works of Bach, Bottesini and Mozart, then will present its trademark mix of bluegrass, jazz, gypsy and classical music.
When • Wednesday, July 27, at 8 p.m. in Park City's St. Mary's Church, 1505 White Pine Canyon Road.
Tickets • $25; $10 for students.
Upcoming • The Deer Valley Music Festival continues with another performance by Time for Three with the Utah Symphony and music director emeritus Keith Lockhart. The pops concert, Friday at 8 p.m. in Deer Valley's Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, will feature the world premiere of Chris Brubeck's concerto "Travels in Time for Three," as well as American and international favorites.
Tickets • Reserved seats, $60 and $85; general-admission lawn seating is $25; prices increase $5 day of performance; at 801-355-ARTS or http://www.deervalleymusicfestival.org.