VIOLIN PROFESSOR FROM BANJA LUKA AUTHOR OF BOSNIA'S NEW ANTHEM

ZAGREB, Feb 15 (Hina) - The author of Bosnia's new anthem is Dusan Sestic, a violin professor at the Banja Luka Music School. The anthem has been chosen by parliament's House of Representatives as the best among those submitted through a bid for tenders. Sestic told Radio Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday he was ecstatic upon learning his anthem had been chosen. It represented a professional satisfaction as well, he said. "I am very proud of the choice," Sestic added. It is interesting to note that the author has not had the chance yet to hear the item he composed in the performance presented to the MPs. The item Sestic submitted to a special independent commission has been subsequently arranged by Ranko Rihtman from Sarajevo, who currently lives in Israel. "Judging by what I have heard so far, and it is only one section, I have had the impression that Rihtman's arrangement is very rich. We are actually good friends and I don't doubt at all the quality of the arrangement," Sestic said. The first reactions to the new anthem without lyrics have been mainly positive, probably due to the fact that it represents the first joint symbol of the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina adopted by MPs without direct intervention on the international community's part. The author studied music in Belgrade where he worked in the symphonic orchestra. He also pointed to the considerable period of time he spent at the Split opera. (hina) ha jn