Milena Kitic studied with Metropolitan and Vienna State Opera star, Kammersänger Biserka Cvejic. She holds a 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. A star of the Belgrade Opera in former Yugoslavia, Ms. Kitic made her debut in 1989 as Olga in Tchaikovsky's Eugen Onegin. Her operatic career originally started when she was only 18 years old singing with the Theater in Terazije in Belgrade while concurrently studying Ethnology at the University of Philosophy. Soon after, she transferred to University of Music in Belgrade and quickly became engaged with the Croatian National Theater in Split for the role of Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann during her sophomore. She toured Belgium, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, and the Czech Republic singing the role of Carmen and by the age of 22 landed an 8-year engagement with the Opera in Belgrade where she performed in a wide range of roles, from Rosina in Il Baribiere di Siviglia, to the title role of Carmen, and Principessa de Bouillon in Adriana Lecouvreur. Milena Kitic In 1997 she moved to Germany and signed a 3 year contract with Aalto Theater in Essen, where she carried all mezzo-soprano repertoire, with most performances as Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann, Sextus in Giulio Cesare and Carmen (for which she earned German critics' music award as Performer of the Season). Other European engagements included roles of Laura in La Gioconda with the Dorset Festival in England, Maddalena in Rigoletto at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Festspielhaus in Salzburg, as well as many concert appearances throughout Europe. From 1999 Ms. Kitic starts performing in the USA, debuting in the demanding role of Eboli in Verdi's Don Carlo, with the Palm Beach Opera, conducted by Mo. Anton Guadagno. In the same season she made her Carnegie Hall debut with Opera Orchestra of New York as Emilia in Otello at Carlo Bergonzi’s farewell concert, subsequently returning to the OONY as Laura in La Gioconda, sharing the stage with Marcello Giordani and Aprile Millo. While collaborating with Mo. Eve Queler of NYOO, Kitic produced a recording of famous arias for the mezzo-soprano. In 2002 Kitic debuted at the Kennedy Center and the Washington DC Opera as Carmen, and commenced a collaboration with The Los Angeles Opera, which lasted over a decade, as she performed in a variety of opera productions and benefit concerts conducted by Placido Domingo, James Conlon, Emmanuel Villaume, Kent Nagano, Nicola Luisotti, and Grant Gershon. Her Carmen in 2004 with Los Angeles Opera with Richard Leech, won unanimous raves from the press and LA audience and ultimately brought her to debut with the Metropolitan Opera with the same leading role in 2005. Ms. Kitic had also established strong collaboration with The Opera Pacific where she performed Herodias in Salome, Dalila in Samson and Dalila, Amneris in Aida, and her signature role of Carmen. In 2005 she was proclaimed Diva of the Year by the Opera Pacific Guild. Other highlights from Ms. Kitic's operatic carer are a concert at La Pala Fenice benefiting reconstruction of Opera La Fenice in Venice, Italy, Carmen with Baltimore Opera, Rosina in Il Barbiere with West Palm Beach Opera, Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann with the Cincinnati Opera, Emilia in Otello at The Ravinia Festival and Mexico City with NYOO, Carmen and Amneris in Aida with The Pacific Symphony conducted by Mo. Carl St. Claire, as well as many concert appearances throughout USA. In 2007 Ms. Kitic became the Inaugural Recipient of the Artist-in-Residence award given by Chapman University in Orange, California and became an Adjunct Professor and master class instructor. Shortly after, she decided to go on a 5 year long hiatus to raise her six-year old son. During that time she started leading master classes/guest teaching at USC's Thornton School of Music, University of Irvine (UCI), Classical Singers Association, Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, San Diego University, CalState Northridge, Center Stage Opera, Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHA), as well as in Rome, Italy among her own private vocal studio.