OC Ars Vocalis Academy
Milena Kitic
A star of the Belgrade Opera, Serbia (former Yugoslavia), Ms. Kitic made her debut in 1989. as Olga in Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin".
She has performed with the National Theater in Belgrade for 8 years in a wide range of roles: from Rosina in Rossini's "Il Baribiere di Siviglia", Cherubino in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro", Preziosilla in Verdi's "La Forza del Destino", Fenena in "Nabucco'', Bastien in "Bastien e Bastiena", Flora in "Traviata", Lola in "Cavalleria Rusticana", Mercedes in "Carmen", Orlofsky in "Die Fledermaus", Fiodor in "Boris Godunov" - to the title role of Carmen, and Principessa de Bouillon in Cilea's "Adriana Lecouvreur."
Season of 1988-89 Kitic performed with the Croatian National Theatre in Split, singing the role of Nicklaus in "The Tales of Hoffmann".
The 1997-99 seasons Ms. Kitic signed 3 year engagement contract with the Essen Opera in Germany, where she sang Giulietta in Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman", Sextus in Handel's "Giulio Cesare" and "Carmen" - for which she earned the German music critic's award as, "Performer Of The Season" for 1998. She performed as Carmen throughout Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium and Czech Republic.
Other highlight European engagements include the roles of Laura in Ponchielli's "Gioconda" at the Dorset Festival in England in 1999, and Maddalena in Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Festspielhaus Salzburg in 2000.
During 1998.-99. season, Kitic made her US debut in the demanding role of Eboli in Verdi's "Don Carlo", with the Palm Beach Opera, conducted by Mo. Guadagno. This inspired a return to that same opera company in season 2000, as Rosina in "Il Barbiere". In 1999, Kitic made her Carnegie Hall debut with Opera Orchestra of New York as Emilia in Otello for Carlo Bergonzi’s farewell concert conducted by Eve Queler, subsequently returning to Opera Orchestra of New York as Laura in ''La Gioconda'' , opposite Marcello GIordani and Aprile Millo. Collaborating with Mo. Queler and NYOO has produced a recording of famous arias for the mezzo-soprano.
In 2002, Kitic debuted with the Washington DC Opera, as Carmen. Critics and audiences praised her performance in the role of Giulietta in "Les Contes d' Hoffman" with the Los Angeles Opera. During that same season, she again performed with the LA Opera at the "Concert of Passion and Poetry", conducted by Placido Domingo. 2003 began with her debut, with the Opera Pacific as Herodias in Strauss' "Salome", and the Benefit Concert for the same company, in which she performed with P. Domingo and Mo. De Main. Another production of Carmen with Baltimore Opera rounded out the season.
In 2004. Ms. Kitic again,won unanimous raves for performing Carmen with Los Angeles Opera, opposite Richard Leech, and conducted by Placido Domingo and Nicola Luisotti.
The 2005 year started with a successful debut in the role of Dalila, in "Samson and Dalila" with the Opera Pacific. That same year Ms. Kitic was also proclaimed "Diva of the Year" from the Opera Pacific Guild.
Highlight engagements from 2005.-2008. include, Meg in Verdi's "Falstaff" with the Los Angeles Opera, conducted by Kent Nagano; Emilia in Verdi's "Othello" at the Ravinia Festival, conducted by James Conlon; debut at the Metropolitan Opera in the title role of Carmen (October 2005.); Carmen and Amneris in Verdi's "Aida" with Opera Pacific; Giulietta in "The Tales of Hoffmann" with the Cincinnati Opera.
In 2007, Ms. Kitic became the Inaugural Recipient of the Artist-in-Residence award given by Chapman University, of Orange, California.
Currently, she is an Adjunct Professor, and master class instructor at the Chapman University. Ms. Kitic has also lead master classes at USC's Thornton School of Music, the University of Irvine, The Classical Singers Association, Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and the Orange County High School of the Arts. All this while operating a private vocal studio.
Ms. Kitic is a member of NATS, (National Association of Teaches of Singing), and NATS-LA (National Association of Teachers of Singing, Los Angeles),
MTAC (Music Teacher Association of California), and AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists).
From 2013. - present she has been teaching at the OCAVA-in-Rome Summer Program, in Rome, Italy (www.ocava.org).
In 2012, she performed a recital at the Music Teacher Association Convention (MTAC) in San Diego, and in 2013, will be teaching a summer program for singers with the recently founded OCAVA/OC Ars Vocalis Academy in Rome, Italy (www.ocava.org).
Ms. Kitic is often seen as a judge for the Music Center Spotlight Awards and other vocal-competitions in Los Angeles and Orange County area and is enthusiastic donor for several Young Artist Programs in the United States.
The International Jeunesses Musical Competition in Belgrade, Serbia has established a special prize for "the best young Mezzo-Soprano", under the name of "Milena Kitic".
In 2008. Ms. Kitic served as a Board member of the Opera Pacific in Costa Mesa. She currently serves as chair for artistic excellence for LA Opera with whom she most recently performed her ''signature'' role of Carmen, Albine in "Thais" (with Placido Domingo), Mrs. Noah in Britten's "Noah's Flood" (conducted by Mo. James Conlon), and will again appear as Suzuki in ''Madame Butterfly'' in March 2016. (more info available at www.LosAngelesOpera.org)
Among other most recent performances are Carmen with the Pacific Symphony in Costa Mesa, CA and a solo-recital in Houston, TX (both in Feb. 2015).
Ms. Kitic has studied with Metropolitan and Vienna State Opera star, Kammersaengerin Biserka Cvejic. She holds BM (Bachelor of Music in Performance) from the University of Music in Belgrade, Serbia and MM (Master of Music in Performance) from the University of the Arts in Novi Sad, Serbia.