I am an opera singer from Ukraine, winner and finalist of many national and international competitions. I have performed in Mexico, Ukraine, Italy, and the United States. I have recorded two solo albums. Nowadays I still keep developing my solo career and give voice lessons at my home studio. Being a philanthropist by nature, I have helped different organizations to raise funds, including the Red Cross, SD Opera, and PLA Opera, as well as my own country Ukraine since 2022. Currently, I also serve on the Board of PLA Opera as their Executive Director.
About Anna
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have been raised in a family of doctors. My dad still lives and works in Ukraine as a surgeon in a local hospital. Interestingly, my parents hoped that one day I would become a doctor like them. But destiny has obviously made a different choice for me.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have graduated from two universities in Kyiv, Ukraine: Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and Kyiv Conservatory with two Master’s degrees: one in Linguistics as a Teacher/Interpreter and another one in Opera Performance as an Opera Singer. Nevertheless, I have decided to pursue a professional opera career. Unlike many acclaimed singers, I started my opera journey in Mexico, debuting with Opera de Tijuana and singing lots of concerts in local theaters. During that time I became a fluent speaker in Spanish and learned a great deal of Mexican music, which had a huge impact on me for the rest of my life. After four years there I moved to the US, where I had an opportunity to participate in many competitions, and work with renowned opera stars and teachers like Carol Neblett, Bill Shuman, and Brian Asawa, among many others. Here my career has received significant growth. I have sung with many orchestras like the San Diego Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, Grossmont Symphony, Los Angeles Balalaika Orchestra, etc., and performed numerous concerts. Up to today I keep developing my career and hope to bring it to a bigger level. In the last couple of years, I have become a big supporter of our second professional opera company in San Diego which is mainly targeted at nurturing a younger generation of opera singers – PLA Opera. Currently, I serve as their Executive Director for the Company. As far as what I love most about my career, is that it is extremely exciting!! They say: “Do what puts your soul on fire”. Well, I can say that about my career and everything that involves opera projects.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Please, do believe in yourself and follow your dreams no matter what.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
It’s always hard to see the future. I think, we build our future here and now. So, based on my reality, I hope I will sing more opera roles with big opera companies in the future, record another CD, and help PLA Opera become a successful and highly acclaimed company in Southern California.
Anna & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Tom Hams Light house, Brigantina, Coasterra, Il Sogno Italiano, etc.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
It’s almost 15 years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Of course, there are many interesting people in our community, who make so much difference for us. In my own experience so far, the most interesting person was tenor Daniel Hendrick. His deep, spiritual, and unconditional soul can lift anyone up to make you believe in yourself, become happier, and recharged with energy. Not to mention his powerful and resonant tenor voice, a true magic one has to experience!
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I believe it’s the people who make places unique and nostalgic after all.
I will always remember such restaurants as – Cicciotti’s in Cardiff and Cocina del Rancho in Rancho Santa Fe. Cicciotti’s will be a place to remember because tenor Daniel Hendrick used to sing there. Since 2017, when I discovered it, it was a place to have fun, unwind and celebrate every single holiday.
Cocina del Rancho will always be remembered in my history as a place, where I survived Covid. Back in 2019 it was the only restaurant that remained open in spite of Pandemia regulations. My close mentor and friend Daniel Hendrick used to sing there on Saturdays and lots of people, including myself, would come there to listen to him and cheer up. Together we all became like a brotherhood and remain close friends till today. “We are the champions of the world, and we keep on fighting till the end” – was our favorite song to sing!!
Another business that I would like to mention is a restaurant Il Sogno Italiano in the Gaslamp downtown area of San Diego. Since the first time I performed in that place in 2022, I fell in love with its atmosphere and amicable disposition of the owner. After almost two years, I still keep coming back to this restaurant, because it feels like home there. The owner was able to create a whole community around his business; we all became friends with each other and keep coming back there for holiday celebrations and more.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
What I like about our community is that it’s very lively, yet relaxed and laid back. Perhaps it is the combination of Sunny weather and ocean waves that influence our crowd.
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
I would like to have lunch with billionaire Danny Sanford. Danny is the founder of the First Premier Bank, a very successful businessman, and a well-known philanthropist. He has made so many donations across San Diego County. People like him always inspire me to make the world a better place. I would invite him to the Tom Hams Lighthouse.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
My favorite movie is Gladiator, Men of Honor, etc. I don’t watch TV shows, I think its a waste of time)
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
One interesting thing about me is that I absolutely love fashion and designing clothes. I honestly don’t have time, but always think about being a fashion designer. So many interesting designs come to my mind. I was fortunate to meet one talented designer and manufacturer from Ukraine, who helps me to create my own line. In fact, a lot of the clothes that I wear are made according to my own designs. Hoping one day to display my own fashion line, or I will just keep enjoying creating my own collection as part of my image and who I am.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
I would give it to the Meditation Garden in Encinitas as a perfect 10.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
I have a brilliant son, who has absolutely pure heart, an inquisitive mind, and a kind soul. He knows no jealousy, greed, or envy. This boy makes me laugh and always inspires me to be a better person. I am grateful to Destiny for bringing him into my life.
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
I admire all rotary clubs and nonprofit organizations, who have so much enthusiasm and ideas, that they want to share them with the whole world. They truly are humble warriors in our society, who try to improve our lives without conditions.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Not to pay attention to what other people think or say about me
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
I live in Rancho San Diego
What I love about my Neighborhood:
It’s a pretty, quiet, neat, and safe neighborhood. I like the idea of having a hiking trail right next to my street.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
For a San Diego weekend, I recommend you go to explore the Embarcadero area on Harbor Drive from the Star of India to the Seaport Village. And on Sunday you go to the Balboa Park and walk it all around. At 2 pm go to the outdoor biggest Organ Pavilion in the World for a free concert, and after have a nice dinner at the El Prado restaurant that is right there next to the Pavilion. Such a weekend in San Diego will be unforgettable, I promise!!
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Peace, Relaxation, Comfort. There is no place like home!!
