Dragić Veličković, known as one of the leading trumpet player of Goran Bregović’s Wedding and Funeral Band, brings the energy of the Balkan spirit and a virtuosity that captivates audiences worldwide. Born in 1989 in Leskovac and originally from Grdelica, he is part of a longstanding tradition of musicians whose talent has been shaped by the heritage of Balkan folklore, folk music, and the distinctive style characteristic of Balkan brass bands.

He graduated on University of Novi Sad – Academy of Arts – Department of Music – Trumpet Department and completed his master’s studies on Faculty of Music Arts in Belgrade

Dragić Veličković has performed with Bregović in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals, including WOMADelaide in Australia, PALEO Festival in Switzerland, Balkan Trafik Festival in Belgium, Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Jazzablanca Festival in Morocco, Festival Internacional Cervantino in Mexico, Jazz à Vienne in France, and Sziget Festival in Budapest. His performances are imbued with the unique rhythm of Balkan Gipsy music and folk tradition. At these events, the audience often enters a collective euphoria as Dragić, together with his band, delivers powerful melodies like “Kalashnikov” and “Ederlezi,” which have marked the career of Bregović’s band.

His trumpet performance is a virtuosic mix of Balkan sounds and Gipsy tradition, often described as emotional and infused with an intensity that speaks the universal language of music. On every stage, Dragić’s music invites people to dance, and the audience feels a sense of unity and joy that it brings.

Through decades of performing and collaborating with top artists, Dragić Veličković has become a symbol of the Balkan spirit and an artist who not only plays the trumpet but conveys an emotion through it that lingers with the audience long after the music fades.