Ana & the Strings

Ana Kovacevic

soprano

Ana Kovacevic is a Serbian opera singer and vocal pedagogue currently based in Abu Dhabi. She is the Head of Singing at The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK) in Abu Dhabi, where she teaches, directs the community choir Al Khubairat Singers, and performs as a soloist and chamber musician.

Kovacevic has performed at various prestigious events, including The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship 2023 and EXPO 2020, where she premiered works with The Firdaus Orchestra, The Arabian Philharmonic, and Steve Sidwell’s “Sounds of Nature”.

Kovacevic has performed lead roles in many operas in Austria, Germany, and Serbia, such as Ariadne in Martinu's "Ariadne," Norina in Donizetti's "Don Pasquale," Pamina and Papagena in Mozart's "Magic Flute," and Corilla in Donizetti's "Viva la mamma," among others.

She was the Serbian representative at The World Youth Choir, performing at the opening of the Olympic Games (China), the European Cantat festival (Netherlands), and The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony (Norway). Kovacevic holds a Master's Degree from The University of Performing Arts, Graz, Austria.

Kalana De Silva

guitar

Kalana De Silva is a talented guitarist and passionate music educator based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. As the Head of Guitar at the British School Al Khubairat, he is renowned for his innovative teaching techniques and has helped to foster a community of qualified and competitive guitarists in the region. With a Fellow of Trinity College London (FTCL) qualification as his highest guitar qualification, Kalana is a trailblazer in his field and the only Sri Lankan guitarist to have achieved this distinction.

Kalana is a versatile musician who has worked on a range of musical projects and bands over the years. He is a regular performer with the Abu Dhabi Big Band and Little Band, enchanting audiences at venues across the UAE and overseas. He also performs with the Saadiyath Big Band and is the bass guitarist for a band called The Collective.

In addition to his performance and teaching work, Kalana has a passion for creating music and is currently working on developing a guitar method with his teacher and mentor, Mr. Jude Peris. He also manages his own website where he shares his compositions and arrangements free of charge, further demonstrating his commitment to sharing his passion for music with others.

Most recently, Kalana has discovered a love for opera and now writes transcriptions for our unique ensemble of soprano, cello, and guitar. He is dedicated to sharing his passion for music with audiences and is thrilled to be a part of our musical journey.

Milan Jankovic

cello

Milan Jankovic, a highly accomplished cellist from Serbia with a passion for chamber music. Milan's musical journey began at the Faculty of Arts - University of Nis, Serbia, where he earned his degree in Cello Performing. It was during high school that Milan discovered his love for chamber music and formed the string quartet "MOND", which went on to achieve remarkable results at national and international competitions.

Throughout his studies, Milan played in several chamber ensembles, including the acclaimed groups ''BLISS'', "Concertante", "Hybrid", "Corona", "Con Fuoco", and "Black Widows". As the leader of the Cello section, he performed in successful concerts across Serbia, Italy, Russia, Greece, and Montenegro.

After completing his studies, Milan turned to pedagogical work, teaching Cello at the Music School in Niš and Negotin, Serbia, and playing as a member of the Niš Symphony Orchestra. Today, Milan is based in Abu Dhabi and is a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the chamber ensemble "Al Awtar". He is also a dedicated Cello teacher at the British School Al Khubairat, inspiring the next generation of musicians with his knowledge and passion for music.