1953 – 1961 Radio Belgrade

Group of children in Radio Belgrade with President Tito

Leaders and soloists from Radio Belgrade Youth and Children Performers visiting President Tito, at center, back row. Slobodan is front and center. 1954

Radio Belgrade children's second visit with President Tito

Second visit to President Tito with the Radio Belgrade Choir. 1955

1952 – 1961 at the age of 8 S.D. Paich heard an announcement for an audition for child performers on the radio, to which he went, won a place, and then persuaded his mother to sign the contract and let him go. Reluctantly she did, and from ages 8 to 16, he sang and performed, acted in television and films.

Newspaper clipping of Slobodan performing lead role
Slobodan's portrait at time of Radio Belgrade

At the time of singing and leading the children’s choir in the opera Carmen. Also singing in Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion and Hoeniger’s Oratorio Jeanne D’Arc. 1955–1960

Slobodan in front of group photo

Slobodan at the time of winning the coveted membership into the Radio Belgrade Children Performance Group. 1953

Children's choir in Germany

First children from Eastern Europe visiting Germany for an international children’s singing contest. Slobodan sang Mozart in Serbian: he’s front row, second from the right. 1955

Radio Belgrade Childrens Chorus with conductor and composer

For most of Slobodan's tenure at the Radio Belgrade Children Chorus, composer Zlatan Vauda was conductor and director.