Dr. Milica Jelača Jovanović
Assistant Professor of Music
Piano Area Coordinator
PAC 172; (360) 650-2870
Milica.Jelacajovanovic@wwu.edu
Degrees:
- Doctorate of Musical Arts: University of Michigan
- Master of Music: Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory
- Bachelor of Music: University of Belgrade
Born into a family of accomplished musicians in Belgrade, Serbia, Milica Jelača Jovanović began giving recitals at the early age of 8. Hailed “a pianist of great energy and charisma,” she has concertized as a solo recitalist and chamber musician in the US, Canada, as well as throughout Europe, in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia, and the UK, including the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert series in Chicago, Les AMIS concert series in Toronto, as well as the Festivals “Novosadsko Muzičko Leto“ in Novi Sad, XXXI “BEMUS” in Belgrade, and the XXXI “Mokranjčevi dani” in Negotin, Serbia. Besides winning numerous Serbian and Yugoslavian national piano competitions, Ms. Jelača Jovanović won prizes at several international competitions, including at the inaugural 2005 Iowa International Piano Competition and the First Prize at the 23rd Bartók-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Piano Competition in Virginia in 2003.
Ms. Jelača Jovanović has appeared as soloist with the RTV Belgrade Symphonic Orchestra, “Stanislav Binički” Symphonic Orchestra, “Josip Slavenski” Baroque Orchestra and WWU Student Symphony Orchestra among others. She has been interviewed and has recorded for various radio and television programs in the US, Serbia and Russia, and was profiled along with other musicians of note in a book by Gordana Krajačić entitled “Muzička Pinakoteka”. In 2006 she organized the “Schumann Madness Festival“ in Bellingham to mark the 150th anniversary of Robert Schumann's death, where she performed in several solo and chamber recitals, and as soloist with the orchestra.
Following her studies in Belgrade, Ms. Jelača Jovanović earned her Master of Music Degree and Artist Diploma at the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory in Moscow under Mikhail Voskresensky and Elena Kuznietzova, and her Doctorate in Piano Performance at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor under Logan Skelton. She has also worked with Penelope Crawford, Jerome Lowenthal, Yong Hi Moon, Karl Ulrich Schnabel, and Earl Wild. From 1998–2001, Dr. Jelača Jovanović held an assistant professorship of piano at the University of Belgrade Academy of Music, and from 2001–2004 was an instructor for piano at the University of Michigan School of Music. Since 2004, she has been an Assistant Professor of Piano and Coordinator of the Keyboard Area at Western Washington University. Dr. Jelača Jovanović has given master classes and workshops for piano teachers and students in the US and Russia, and was adjudicator at many piano competitions, including the Vancouver Women's Musical Society Piano Scholarship Competition in Vancouver, BC, the US Open Piano Competition in Oakland, CA and the Chopin Northwest Festival in Seattle.
A few press quotes:
“Magnificent feeling of every tone…deeply experienced performance… testified to the richness of the young pianist’s ideas, creating a spectrum of sonorities…” G.K. Koncertni Blic, Beograd.
“Magnificent and Inspired…[The performance]…confirmed a deep understanding and experience of the work, splendid concentration, memory and spiritual energy possessed by young artists which she unselfishly gives, resulting in the most complete artistic experience.“ V.M. Jedinstvo, Pristina.
“The special quality of her interpretation lies in an excellent communication with the orchestra, and in the possession of a refined musicality and sparkling virtuosity, which is never an aim in itself but is woven into the entire work with skill and discernment.” G.K. Casopis Vojske Jugoslavije, Beograd
Milica's performance of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto with the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra is available here via youtube:
