Marko Mrdja (born 1996) started playing the piano and composing when he was seven years old. He took his first piano lessons with Professor Zoran Petrović in Belgrade, who emphasised Serbian folklore and traditional music in his teaching. He later continued his piano studies with Felix Romankiewicz, focusing on the classical repertoire.
Marko studied composition, with a particular focus on electronic music, at the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart (HMDK), under the tutelage of Professor Marco Stroppa. He graduated in July 2021. During his time at HMDK Stuttgart, he composed numerous works for a variety of instruments and ensembles. Alongside his formal studies, Marko joined the Zyriab Academy, where he broadened his approach to improvisation and rhythm by studying the Indian rhythmic language Konnakol and engaging with diverse musical styles, including jazz. He studied under the renowned Georgian musician Zaza Miminoshvili. In search of a personal musical language, Marko also undertook self-study of South-Eastern European music, reflecting on his own cultural roots. This artistic exploration culminated in a solo improvised performance presented at the Made in Stuttgart Festival in 2021. He also studied improvisation and Indian classical music with Dinesh Mishra, a disciple of the legendary bansuri master Hariprasad Chaurasia.
Since 2024, Marko has been the pianist of the Soundrise Quartet, an ensemble dedicated to original compositions blending jazz, classical and experimental music. He is also the co-founder of Predawn Records, an independent record label specialising in experimental electronic music. He established the label in 2021 with Laima Adelaide and Nils Edte.
He regularly performs live electronic music sets under the name TAMA.
