The stage has been a long-time friend of Ivana Kotov (aka IvanaK) practically since she could walk. Born 1977 in Serbia, a child of Serbian, Spanish, Italian and Russian heritage , Ivana first discovered a LUUUV of SANGIN when she was just a toddler. Living in poverty in Belgrade, Ivanas talent shone at the tender age of 4 when she auditioned 4 the National Childrens Choir and became its youngest soloist, performing weekly on National Television. A year later, she was making her first professional recordings on a childrens albums off of which two singles were released.Ivana's talent triumphed over her hardships, and by age 10, with a foundation of classical piano and music theory behind her, Ivana started her long career of winning numerous vocal competitions all around the country and wrote her first songs, winning prizes for her lyrics. At the dawn of her preteen years, she initially attended a classical music school, but found her heart belonged to jazz and switched schools. By 19, she was already launching her jazz career singing in clubs and national festivals.But in 1999, Ivana suddenly saw her world crumble again as Belgrade was seized by war and she watched her childhood apartment get bombed. During countless hours spent in basements and bomb shelters, Ivana dreamed of her escape: she dreamed of attending the prestigious BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC in Boston. When the war was over, Ivana scraped the money together to go to Greece and auditioned, winning the highest scholarship in Europe among 1000 other candidates. With no resources but her very talent to usher her through, Ivana sold her cherished piano among many of her prized possessions in exchange for a plane ticket that brought her across the Atlantic to Boston, so that she could study at Berklee.Since attending Berklee, Ivana has continued to evolve as a musician as she has become a part of its rich diverse musical community.Ivana has won much media attention on her native soil and public acclaim performing on national television, radio broadcasts and jazz festivals. In 2003, Ivana finished her first demo album of entirely original material entitled, SOUL PRINCESS (the samples that u listen on Ivana's myspace page)...But the whole project went under reconstruction...Ivana needed more time to focus on her music, and decided to work on it gradualy and on her own:)Travelin between USA and Serbia, Ivana continued to gather young talented vocalists - to -be, teaching private lessons and workshops concentrated in contemporary styles of singing and the art of embellishments, proper breathing, performance ear training and preaching about the beauty of gospel-soul-rnb music in african american culture. Among many outstanding students, Ivana made a tight selection of 3 young ladies (Sandy,M'Rina and Anya) as her official backvocal group called "SOULSISTAS".In 2005 Ivana reestablished her long time collab with Jovan Maljokovic quintet. Album "Zauvek" released for PGP RTS is a showcase of latin, jazz and soul vibes, where ivana contributed with 3 original songs and arrangements. Ivana also brought "SoulSistas" in the game, backing up with their soultry vocals, both in the studio and on the performances around the country.In the fall of 2005, Ivana started touring as a background vocalist with Yugoslavia's biggest pop star Vlado Georgiev. In 2006, on Vlado's request, Ivana invited her Berklee friends, a gospel group of 5 outstanding vocalists (Mark aka Sing- Sing, Kevin Ross, Belinda, Shannon and Minister of Music Dennis Montgomery III), to fly over to Belgrade and work with Vlado Georgiev on his upcoming album. You can see the DMS (dennis Montgomery Singers) in the video for the single "Do Svitanja":)In october 2007, Ivana started collab with renown "Soul Lady" Alexandra Kovac. "SoulSistas" were invited to back up Alexandra on her VIP tour across Serbia. Rehearsing and preparing backvocal arrangements for this tour, Ivana and SoulSistas appeared with AK on the stages in Nish, Subotica, Belgrade and Novi Sad:)In march 2008, Ivana was a member of the Music Production Team that organized mesmerizing Gospel event in prestigious "Sava Centar" concert hall, sponosred by American Embassy in Belgrade. Ivana was performing with Berklee Gospel group "Overjoyed", National Big band, National Choir and Children's Choir "Kolibri". It was the first time ever that Serbia experienced the real feel of african american gospel!Amazingly but true, In 2008, Ivana luckily won the USA Green Card Lottery and will be issued American Green Card that allows her immediately to work and live in the USA!Today @ age of 29, Ivana is spendin her time travelin, performin, teachin and livin on the road between USA, Europe and Serbia.Above it all, This year Ivana plans to focuse on her original music... Rearranging old, composing new and preparing a NEW SOULPRINCESS project for its release... sometime in the summer 2008 , Ivana is going back to da studio 2 put some finishing touches on new "SoulPrincess" album.
FRESH SOUND is coming out VERY SOON ! Stay tuned y'all!Peace, luv, happiness n music, Ivana Kay.
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