Nativity of the Most Holy TheotokosSerbian Orthodox Church in Orange County

St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church18631 Chapel Ln.

Huntington Beach, CA 92646

SaturdayDecember 13, 2014

Programme

Chamber Choir Istocnik

Special guest artistMilena Kitic, mezzo-sopranoGoryana Zekic, conductor

Dedication to Sebian mothers / Posveta srpskim majkamaZeljka Gortinski

Kreće se lađa francuska poem by Branislav Milosavljevic

Plava Grobnica by Milutin BojicMirjana Jokovic

Ko Pije Vino from ‚Cetiri Obredne Kajde‘ by S. St. Mokranjac

IX Rukovet ‚Pesme iz Crne Gore‘ (1896) by S. St. Mokranjac

Requiem by Branko MiljkovicZeljka Gortinski

‚Lascia ch‘io pianga‘ from opera ‚Rinaldo‘ by G. F. Händel Nicole Dostanic, sopranoGoryana Zekic, piano

‚Pie Jesu‘ from ‚Requiem‘ by A. L. WebberAriana Rihter, sopranoSimona Rihter, sopranoXuelin Huang, piano

Kondak by M. Govedarica

Primorski Napjevi (1893) by St. S. Mokranjac

Sanja Dostanic, mezzo-soprano

Glorious Serbia! by unknown Greek poetMirjana Jokovic & Zeljka Gortinski

Intermission

‚Toccata‘ by A. ThatachurianGoryana Zekic, piano

Prelude in C Sharp Minor by S. RahmaninovGoryana Zekic, piano

‚Polubila ja‘ op. 8 no. 4 by S. RahmaninovMilena Kitic, mezzo-soprano

‚Una voce poco fa;  from ‚Il Barbiere di Siviglia‘ by G. RossiniMilena Kitic, mezzo-soprano

‚L‘amour est un oiseau rebelle‘ from opera ‚Carmen‘ by G. BizetMilena Kitic, mezzo-soprano

* * *

During intermmission Soko Folklore group performance

Event Program

Welcome Reception

Invocation, Fr. Blasko paraklis

Opening Remarks

Mistress of Ceremonies, Zeljka Cvjetan Gortinski

Performance

Closing Remarks

Our Purpose

To the Glory of God, and

to preserve the religious and cultural

heritage of Serbia and to share that

heritage with current and future

generations, the parishioners of Nativity

of the Most Holy Theotokos Serbian Orthodox Church

of Orange County are committed to raising funds needed to

build a religious and cultural center

where all will be welcomed.

Welcome

On behalf of our entire parish community, and our devoted stewards and their families, we welcome you to this wonderful evening of music, culture, and fellowship.

Tonight’s Gala event is devoted to sharing and celebrating our culture and our community with the ultimate goal to generate additional resources to build a Serbian Orthodox church and parish center here in Orange County, California.

Our effort to build our church is continuing to grow in success. We invite and encourage you to support our ongoing efforts, and we express our sincere gratitude to all who have and continue to support our Parish Center Building Fund.

Thank you,

Fr. Blasko ParaklisParish Priest

Alex ZlaticParish Board President

A Special Thank You & Appreciation to Our

Gala Sponsors:WESTPAC

WEALTH PARTNERS

Special Guests:

Representing His Grace Bishop MaximV. Rev. Protojerej-stavrofor Lazar Vasiljevic

His Excellency Mr. Gregory Karahalios,Consul General of Greece

Milinko Spica,Vice-Consul from the Serbian Consulate in Chicago

Dejan Udovicic

Biserka Cvejic

Performers: Milena Kitic

Mirjana JokovicZeljka Cvjetan Gortinski

Goryana ZekicChamber Choir Istocnik

Soko Folklor GroupNicole DostanicXuelin HuangSimona RihterAriana Rihter

Belgrade-born Milena Kitic, a renowned mezzo-soprano, has performed numerous roles with opera companies around the world in the last two decades. Perhaps best known for her performance as the title role in Car-men, Kitic has played Carmen in major per-formance venues across the United States and Europe with Belgrade, Serbia Opera (former Yugoslavia), Essen Opera in Germany, Washington, D.C. Opera, Balti-more Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, and Metropolitan Opera.

She has received numerous accolades for her performances, includ-ing the German Music Critic‘s Award for „Performer of the Season‘‘ in 1998 and the Opera Pacific Guild‘s „Diva of the Year“ in 2005. The In-ternational Jeunesses Musicales Competition in Belgrade, Serbia, has established a special prize for „the best young mezzo-soprano“ in Kitic‘s name.

Her talent earned her the inaugural Artist-in-Residence Award giv-en by Chapman University in Orange, California, where she is an ad-junct professor and master class instructor. She also works closely with the Orange County High School of the Arts and runs a private vocal studio.

Kitic presently resides in Newport Beach, California.

Zeljka Cvjetan Gortinski, an ac-tress, is a member of the Society of Dra-matic Artists of Serbia and the Afta - SAG Union.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in act-ing, in 1984, at the University of Arts, Bel-grade.

During her second year at the Univer-sity, she started her professional career as an actress in many stage, film, radio and TV productions and became a permanent member of a repertory theater company, “Belgrade Drama Theater.” Zeljka was for-

tunate to work with some of the greatest directors in the former Yugo-slavia: Dusan Jovanovic, Slobodan Unkovski, Dejan Mijac, and Egon Savin. She starred in successful TV mini series: “The Forgotten Ones”, “House of Gloom” and “The Portrait of Ilija Pevac” as well as in feature films, “Oktoberfest”, “Odyssey Over Igman” and “The Little Carrot You Do Not Grow Nicely.” In 1991, Ms Gortinski and her family moved to California where she has continued her acting career and education, having earned a Master’s Degree in Theater from the California State University, Los Angeles in 1997. She was fortunate to co-star with Amy Brenneman, Tim Sizemore, Rachel Lee Cook. Ms Gortinski is a mem-ber of the Classical Theatre Lab and theatre The Road.

Goryana Zekich entered the Academia of Musical Art in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1995, at the age of 14, as one of the youngest freshmen in the histo-ry of the institution. She graduated shortly after turning 18, and was awarded a diploma distinguishing her as the most successful piano student of her generation. In 2005, Goryana earned the Master of Music degree in Piano performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, where she was in the studio of Barry Snyder.

Goryana has won prizes in over ten national and international piano competitions, and has played as a soloist and chamber musician in various European countries, as well as in all major concert halls in Serbia and Montenegro. Her numerous per-formances in the United States also include a Christmas concert given in the residence of New York governor George Pataki. Goryana has been making regular appearances on Radio and Television Serbia, and has recorded for the Eastman archives and English record labels. In 2008, Goryana established and became the director of chamber choir „lstochnik“.

Mirjana Jokovic was born in Serbia, where she began her career when she was only eight years old on the stage of National Theatre in Belgrade. At age ten, she was already starring as a lead role in major

Yugoslavian movie. After establishing herself as a major acting force in former Yugoslavia thru numerous roles on TV, Film and Theatre, she entered the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade at age 16. Her career then took off to include theater and film work in South Amer-ica (in Argentina 1987, 1988) and Europe (Germany in 1990). In 1991 she moved to USA, residing between New York and Los An-geles, while filming in Europe (Underground 1995 – Palme d’Or Winner, Vukovar 1996 and Cabaret Balkan 2000). Mirjana’s domes-tic credits include number of US independent films. Some of her roles in theatre productions includes following:

Broadway (2000) - Chorus/Chrysothemis - Electra, ART Cambridge, MA roles: Dulle Griet /Full Circle, Hermione /A

Winter’s Tale, Kattrin /Mother Courage, Desdemona /Othello, McCarter Theater, Lady Capulet/Romeo and Juliet,Harford Stage, CT, Electra/Electra, Off Broadway, Seada/Neces-

sary Targets,ACT Theatre in SF Natasha/Three Sisters.She has been recognized in many film festivals and received numer-

ous awards:BEST ACTRESS: Yugoslavian film festival- 1994, 1991, 1990, 1989

and 1988BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS: San Sebastian Film Festival- 1988BEST ACTRESS: Rio de Janeiro Film Festival- 1988In 2005 she permanently relocated to Los Angeles where she began

teaching acting at CalArts/ California institute of the Arts. In 2008 she became Associate Director for Performance, School of Theatre and in 2010 Mirjana was appointed the Director of Performance and Head of MFA Acting Program, School of Theatre at CalArts where she oversees Directing, Writing and Acting Programs.

Dejan Udovicic is by far the youngest one of the top three most accomplished national program men’s water polo head coaches in the world today and the most successful head coach in the history of Ser-bian team sports with twenty-three medals and one fourth place finish from twenty-four top international competitions won in just eleven years time.

He has achieved an outstanding overall ca-reer winning percentage of .806 in 632 games, coached the Senior National Team in seven-teen major events earning sixteen medals and the Junior National Team in seven major events winning a medal in each. His successes include several other significant wins and an array of medals.

Coach Udovicic is a proven expert in the planning and methodology required to pro-duce top water polo teams and athletes from

the youngest age groups to Olympians. Following the strong Yugosla-vian legacy, he is credited with advancing and perfecting the Serbian water polo system. We are honored and thankful to welcome him as the coach of the US Olympic Men’s Water Polo Team.

Biserka Cvejic born November 5, 1923, is a famous Serbian opera singer and university professor.

Рођена је у Далмацији, а потом се иселила са родитељима у Белгију. Поче-ла је да пева у цркви где је добила савет да учи певање. После Другог светског рата враћа се у Југославију. Уписује се на Музичку академију у Београду у класи професора Јосипа Ријавеца, чувеног те-нора. Директор Београдске опере Оскар Данон јој је понудио стал-ни ангажман. На сцени је дебитовала 1950. Њена прва већа улога била је Шарлота у опери „Вертер“ (1954). У наредној улози, „Ебо-ли“ у опери „Дон Карлос“, постиже велики успех.

Са Београдском опером одлази у Беч 1961, где учествује у снимању опере „Рат и мир“ Сергеја Прокофјева. На аудицији у Бечу пева сцену у судници из „Аиде“ и арију „Еболи“. После шест месеци добија позив Бечке државне опере да замени Ђулијету Си-мионато. Доживела је велики успех на сцени ове оперске куће. Ан-гажовао ју је Херберт фон Карајан, а њихова сарадња трајаће до 1979. У Бечкој државној опери наступала је двадесет година као водећи мецосопран. Тумачила је 25 улога и имала око 370 наступа.

Choir „Istochnik“Most Holy Theotokos Church, Irvine, California‚Istochnik‘ was formed in 2008 by Goryana Zekich and a small

group of inspired people devoted to sharing the riches of Orthodox Church liturgical music with all those who enjoy listening. The choir has gained a large fan base because of their repertoire of masterpieces of Slavonic traditional music, and Serbian, Russian and Byzantine chants, along with an exceptionally high performance level.

The choir makes appearances regularly and has given concerts at many churches. In 2009, Istochnik was honored to perform during an event of the HOD humanitarian organization (founded by Mr. and Mrs. Vlade Divac).

In January of Two Thousand Ten the choir performed at The Or-ange County Performing Art Center at the Gala concert together with Stefan Milenkovic.

Istochnik include: Goryana Zekic – Conductor, Sloboban Petric – Manager, Singers: Anica Jandric, Christopher Rutledge, Deborah Sav-age, Gabriel Stewart, Ksenija Dostanic, Ljiljana Jerski, Lou Savage, Mi-lanka Radic, Nicole Dostanic, Sanja Dostanic, Reader Vladimir Agapeyev.

Nicole Dostanic is 16 years old, a stu-dent at Woodbridge High School in Irvine, CA. She has a great passion for singing and has been a student of Dubravka Zubovic for the last year.

Nicole will be completing the solo voice program at the International Music Academy ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal School of Music) and the California Music Study Pro-gram CM (Certificate of Merit) next year.

She does competitive singing and is the youngest member of the Istocnik choir, joined at age 12.

While not singing, Nicole enjoys playing piano and tennis on her high school Varsity team.

Xuelin Huang was born on December 17, 2002. In 2012, Xuelin and her family relocated from China to USA, and she is now a sixth-grade student at Irvine University Park Elementary School. Very early on, Xuelin‘s showed love and interest in music, and she began taking

music lessons at the age of 4. Her talent and dedication to excel-lence in music earned Xuelin pro-fessional recognition and numer-ous awards. Most recently, in May 2014, Xuelin became Laureate/Gold Medalist at piano competi-tion ‚Contemporary Flare‘, held by Music Teacher‘s Association of California. Xuelin is looking for-ward to becoming a concert pia-

nist, and to further discovering the wonderful complexity of music un-der the guidance of her piano coach, Goryana Zekic.

Xuelin is also a gifted flutist and she loves playing volleyball.

Simona Rihter, age 12. Simona is at-tending 7th grade at Sierra Vista Middle school and she has been studying piano and singing with Goryana Zekic since 2008. Simona not only plays piano but five other instruments, including guitar, cello, and bass. She is prepar-ing for her next audition, and hopefully ad-mission into Orange County School of the Arts.

Ariana Rihter, age 14. Ariana is attend-ing 9th grade at Orange County School of Arts and she has been studying piano and singing with Goryana since 2008. Ariana loves to spend time in nature. Camping, hiking and reading are some of her favorite activities. Ariana wants to become a veterinarian and is learning about animals from home experi-ences with her mom.

Auction

„Jelek“ piece of Serbian national costume from KosovoHand made and embroidered with gold at the back and some in front

Inherited by five generations of Mira Mihajlovic from Belgrade.The actual value unknownBeginning price $3,000.00

The Living BreadBy Mario SimicDonated by Mario B. Simic Art GalleryValue $750.00Beginning price $375.00

Point Lobos ViewBy Mario SimicDonated by Mario B. SimicArt GalleryValue $950.00Beginning price $475.00

St. George The Great MartyrHand painted icon

Value $650.00Beginning price $550.00

California Landscape By Mario Simic

Donated by Mario B. SimicArt Gallery

Value $950.00Beginning price $475.00

Set of two horsesBronze

Value $2,300.Beginning price $600.00

St. Nicholas (small size)Hand painted icon

Value $250.00Beginning price $150.00

Jesus ChristHand painted iconValue $550.00Beginning price $450.00

Jesus Christ (small size)Hand painted icon

Value $250.00Beginning price $150.00

Slavski kolacSlavska Torta

Donated by Duska CvejicValue price for kolac $50.00

Beginning price $25.00Value price for torta $100.00

Beginning price $50.00

Two 2 CDs, Three BooksDonated by Milena KiticAuthographed by Biserka Cvejic & Milena KiticValue $300.00Begning price $150.00

St. NicholasHand painted icon

Value $550.00Beginning price $450.00

Bela Bodo“Pebble Beach”18x24, oil on canvasDonated by ClassicArt Gallery, Jovanand Saya MicovicValue $2,650Beginning price: $1,325.00

Once class of opera singingDonated by Milena Kiric

Value $300.00Beginning price $200.00

Unknown Artist“Scene in Paris, France”Oil on canvasDonated by Dr. Ivanka Srbinovska andDr. Milos BoskovicValue $200.00Beginning price: $100.00

Unknown Artist“Scene in Paris, France”

Oil on canvasDonated by Dr. Ivanka

Srbinovska andDr. Milos Boskovic

Value $200.00Beginning price: $100.00

The 2010 Aleksander is a wine of intensity, balance and structure, much like proprietor and two-time NBA Champion Sasha Vujacic. Composed primarily of Merlot grown on his family’s low-yield estate vineyard and blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, this full-bodied Paso Robles wine expresses the region’s award-winning, world-class character that derives from its long, warm summer days matched by crisp, cool nights. www.sgcaliforniaestate.comBoth bottles Value $170.00Beginning price $90.00

The Teeth WhiteningDonated by Dr. Ivanka Srbinovska

13372 Newport Avenue, Suite G,Tustin, CA 92780

www.TransormationDental.comValue $240.00

Beginning price $100.00

Platinum level

Nash Subotic, Chief Executive Officer750 B Street, Suite 2740  San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: 619.684.6400 Fax:      619.684.6410

Nemanja Selezan, MBA, Financial representative4275 Executive Square, Suite 1100 La Jolla, CA 92037 office: 858.251.0508 Cell:   858.610.6463 Fax:   858.251.0522nemanja_selezan@thewp2.com

Aleksandar Jakovljevic,Senior Vice President / Managing Director

4275 Executive Square, Suite 1100 La Jolla, CA 92037

Phone:  858.251.0550 Fax:       858.251.0522

Igor Puskic, Financial Representative677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 720, 

Honolulu , HI 96813office: 808.695.2125   cell:    808.397.9949fax:    808.695.2121

email: igor_puskic@thewsp.com

$100.00 gift card donated by Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails

2607 Main Street, Irvine, CA 92614 (949) 387-8887 www.andreisrestaurant.com

Mr. & Mrs. Marco Rasic

Alexander & Irene DanilychevMila & Andja Paunovic

Bronze level

General sponosrs

Nativity of the Most Holy TheotokosSerbian Orthodox Church in Orange County

Fr. Blasko Paraklis, Parish Priest2148 Michelson Drive

Irvine, CA 92612www.mostholytheotokos.com