mr vera carina

Vera Carina, MA – Solo Singer, Chamber Music Professor, and Conductor

Vera Carina, MA, is a distinguished solo singer, chamber music professor, and conductor of the Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo

Education

Vera Carina, MA, was born in Pančevo on October 5, 1963. She graduated in 1991 from the State Conservatory The Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music in Kyiv, Ukraine, majoring in solo singing – chamber music, under the guidance of Professor Klaudija Pavlovna Radchenko, People’s Artist. 

During her studies, she specialized in piano performance under the guidance of Professor Rima Timofeyevna Golubjeva, a renowned concertmaster and People’s Artist. Additionally, Mrs. Vera Carina specialized in teaching the Russian language.

She also got her master’s degree from the same conservatory in 1998, under the guidance of People’s Artist Nikolai Kondratievich Kondratyuk, achieving five chamber recitals, ranging from early music to contemporary music of the 20th century.

Professional Career

After completing her vocal studies, Mrs. Carina actively performed concerts both nationally and internationally as a chamber music singer. She also worked as a vocal illustrator at The Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Russia, in collaboration with Professor Irina Osipova.

Mrs. Carina founded and led the vocal group Dionisis from 1981 to 1985. During the same period, she worked as a singer in the Artistic Ensemble of the Yugoslav People’s Army in Belgrade. Vera Carina conducted the Choir of the City of Pančevo from 2001 to 2004. From 2012 to 2014, she collaborated with a choir formed from individuals with intellectual disabilities residing in the “Srce” Home for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Jabuka.

Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo

Since 1981, she has been working closely with the Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo. She started as an accompanist for the Society twice, first from 1981 to 1983, and then again from 1991 to 1992. In 2000, she took on the role of conductor and artistic director of the Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo. Besides singing regularly at Liturgies at the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God in Pančevo, Mrs. Carina also performs with an ensemble at important choral events in the country and goes on tours and guest performances in various places such as the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Republika Srpska, Montenegro, Croatia, Greece, Austria, Belarus, and Italy. Their performances have earned them numerous prestigious awards and recognitions.

Mrs. Vera Carina was the artistic director and organizer of Christmas and Easter concerts from 2001 to 2010, as well as the International Festival “The Pančevo Days of Sacred Music”, which were city events. Additionally, she co-organized the event “The Days of Protoiereus Vasa”. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Society.

Mrs. Vera Carina has been a lecturer at several international conferences and seminars:

  • International Conference on Orthodox Church Music in Joensuu, Finland (organized by the International Society for Orthodox Church Music ISOCM, 2009); 
  • International Festival of Orthodox Music in Pomorie, Bulgaria (June 2010); 
  • Winter Spiritual Academy at the Lipovac Monastery (2010); 
  • Scientific conference commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Karlovci Metropolitanate; 
  • Several lectures on church music as part of “The Days of Protoiereus Vasa” and the The Pančevo Days of Sacred Music . 
  • She was a conductor at the Winter School of Church Music in memory of Kornelije in Prokuplje, 2003.
  • She authored the text “Serbian Church Choral Society of Pančevo as part of Serbian culture,” published in the musicological publication “Third International Conference on Orthodox Church Music” in English.

Mrs. Carina is a permanent collaborator of the Diocesan Spiritual Educational Center for Church Music Dimitrije I. Stefanović in Vienna, which has been operating under the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Austria and Switzerland since January 2023. She is an editor and author of numerous audio and music publications of choral spiritual music.

Important printed editions (editor and compiler):

  • Mita Topalović: The Liturgy for Two Voices (musical, reprint; Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo, 2006);
  • Mihovil Tomandl: The Commemorative Volume of the Serbian Church Singing Society of Pancevo 1838 – 1938 (reprint; Serbian Church Choral Society of Pančevo, 2008);
  • Music book and audio edition of the The Vespers on Great Friday, according to the tradition of the Church of the Holy Assumption in Pancevo  (Serbian Church Choral Society of Pančevo, 2010);
  • Liturgical music book Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo, 2007; revised and expanded edition 2013);
  • Liturgical music book Easter Matins (Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo 2009);
  • Monograph Fifteen Years of The Pančevo Days of Sacred Music (author).

Important audio releases:

  • Easter Concert, Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo, 2001 (author and conductor);
  • In the Name of God and Kinship, on the occasion of the 165th anniversary of the Serbian Church Choral Society of Pancevo, 2003 (author and conductor);
  • Audio editions of the best performances at The Pančevo Days of Sacred Music festival, multiple years (editor).

Major awards and recognitions:

  • Vojislav Ilić Award for Best Conductor, for research and performance of a seminal piece of contemporary Serbian Orthodox spiritual music at the Festival “Choirs Among Frescoes”, 2005;
  • Gramata – Award by the City of Pancevo for the contribution to culture and art, 2005;
  • Gramata – recognition to the best church choir at the Festival in 2005 – the International Festival of Orthodox Music “Virgin Mary – It is Truly Meet, Pomorje, Bulgaria, 2005;
  • Gold medal at the the International Festival of Orthodox Music “Virgin Mary – It is Truly Meet”, 2006, Pomorje, Bulgaria
  • Diploma and first prize of Vidovdan Choir Meetings in Ruma, Serbia, 2007
  • Special Award at the “Choirs Among Frescoes” festival, 2007;
  • Pro Futuro Charter for contributions to the development of multiculturalism and multi-ethnicity (awarded by In Medias Res);
  • Charter of the Serbian Church Choral Society of Pančevo, for exceptional merits to the Society acquired through the preservation and nurturing of Orthodox music, 2008;
  • Special Award at the “Choirs Among Frescoes” festival for performance of contemporary Serbian spiritual music, 2010;
  • Charter for achievements in the field of art – November Award of the City of Pančevo, 2010;
  • First Prize at the “Choirs Among Frescoes” festival, 2011;
  • Award for the best performance of a spiritual composition, Golden Fairy, Prijedor, Republic of Srpska, 2012.
  • Gramata, awarded by His Grace Bishop Nikanor of Banat. His Grace inducted Mrs Vera Carina into “the order of church benefactors, for demonstrated zeal, effort, and selfless love for spiritual music and holy services”, 2013.
  • Vojislav Ilić Award for Best Conductor at the 20th “Choirs Among Frescoes” festival, 2013;
  • Award for Best Choir at the International Choir Festival “Nis Choir Celebrations”, for the performance of the Fifth Garland (Peta rukovet) by Stevan Mokranjac– Grand Prix of the festival, 2014;
  • Special award and title of “Heavenly Singers” (award – statue) at the International Choir Festival “Niš Choir Fest”.
  • Laureate of the 1st degree at the 15th International Festival of Orthodox Choirs “Koložskij Blagovest” in Grodno, Belarus, 2016;
  • Special mention at the “Choirs Among Frescoes” festival, 2016; Grand Prix of the International Choir Competition “Razvigor” in Aleksinac;
  • Several times a jury member at festivals of church choir music: “Choirs Among Frescoes” in Belgrade; “Kornelije Choir Festival” in Sremski Karlovci (organized by the Eparchy of Srem, Serbian Orthodox Church).