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By GARRY J. MURDOCK Georgetown residents will soon been me in the community since Febru: See cement a conductor, and his wife, Dragana Krstic, a soprano singer for both Opera and Concert performances are going back to their homeland in three weeks. They came here not only to visit relatives, but to experience a coun- y they had only heard about. Most importantly, they had a * strong desire to learn about the Canadian music industry and how it functions. Singe February, they have spent a great deal of time sitting in on various rehearsals of different pro- fessional musical groups, including the Toronto Philharmonic Or- chestra and the Canadian Opera Company. As well, they have spent time meeting with many musical artists, including famous Canadian conductor Paul Robinson, who they first met two years ago in Yugoslavia. Both speak English fluently. “(The system)... of working, of organizing, is different here? Krstic said. ‘‘Conductors, members of the Orchestra, choir, everyone is a full time worker in Yugoslavia. Here (in Canada), it is tract?” This is good, she added, because it allows for variety, but it also has singers. Krstic started singing at the age of 14. Krstic had her first professional debut in a leading role at the age of 17 in a Comic Opera. But she didn’t always know singing was to be her life. “‘My father is a musician. He desperately needed me. So I started on the piano. Then I broke my hand and had to stop}’ she said with a smile. ‘‘Then, after, I broke my other hand. Piano was lost... Then the flute. But that lasted for only a few months. Then I met a teacher who wanted to teach me to sing, so I started to learn:’ Having completed her secondary schooling in music in 1986 and having graduated from the Music Academy in 1990 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Krstic has experienc- ed much successs in her profession at a young age, now only 25 years HALTON HILLS THIS WEEK 873-2254 old. She has spent two seasons with the National Opera Theatre in her homeland and has toured through Italy, Hungary and Romania. She loves Comic Opera because she feels no one should leave the theatre sad. Her husband, Janez Govednik, however, started to learn music much earlier in life, as a boy in Subotica, Yugoslavia. “He was different?” his wife said with another smile, ‘‘Other boys liked to run and play inthe streets. He liked to practice?’ And practice he did; the piano; the clarinet, the accordian. He graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in 1976 and com- pleted his post-graduate work at the Leningrad Conservatory, majoring in Ta and Symphonic conduc! During this time Govednik also Conservatory for four years. Since 1988, his position has been and still is the Conductor of the National Theatre, Opera ang Ballet, in Nova Sad, Yugoslav: “min pace ways, a teacher, an educator,’ he said. ‘‘Each person has a part, while I have to put everything together... I have to know what 2 ae what to expect, to change, This is poet amen when one realizes that for any one opera, Govednik may have to prepare up to two months in advance before the first rehearsal. As for the aes difficult part of his work, Govednik notes it the ats a of people he has to work ee is very difficult * tee with people sometimes. Up 00 at a time. Everybody sone i ir sals with their own pro! I. have to get them all feast 4 to think as one. They are expecting from me... I am not allowed to show my feelings. It is very difficult as I must be that focus?’ As for the highlight of his career, Govednik said, ‘‘every new produc- tion is a new highlight. I try to make each one better than the one before’’. “The people. They are nice, very friendly people?’ Govednik said of nada. TUITMAN'S GARDEN CENTRE Hwy 25 - 2km South of Acton 853-2480 * f HALTALARM SYSTEMS INC. e Security © Intercom & Vacuum Systems * HOME & BUSINESS 873-2500 +t Our Customers Are Our Best Advertising! 164 Guelph St., Halton Hills, Ont. L7G 4A6 ° Halton Hills This Week, Wednesday, July 1, 1992, Page 11 Musicians returning to Yugoslavia Janez Govednik and his wife Dragana Krstic soon return to Yugoslavia after staying in Gearon for the past few months. What impressed his wife Dragana more about this country, however, was the order and discipline of the music industry. “At the Canadian Opera Company, when they say rehearsal is at 2 p.m., it’s at two!”’ she said, “but in Yugoslavia, it is not like that. At two, people will still be drinking their coffee. I don’t like that. I like to go to work right away,” As for the highlight of her career, it was when she became the first young singer to perform in a concert in her hometown of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, that featured the music of Strausse. Only one young singer is picked every year and it is considered. quite an honour. “I feel ee after a perfor- mance, not tired}’ she said. She also pointed out how much different the education system is in Canada as opposed to her home- land. Schooling in Yugoslavia at the University level is free, and post-graduate work is usually covered by companies who like to their employees better themselves. This means, however, that com- petition is high and entrance exams are very, very difficult. The cut-off level for certain studies of pro- fessions (such as doctor, lawyer) is extremely severe. “But it’s never too, late’’ Govednik said. ‘‘If you work hard and ig really want it, you can succeed, The couple are thinking about opening a private music school back in Nova Sad, Yugoslavia, where they currently live and work. This was not possible before they left, but now because of the political changes that have occured in the country during their absence, they may have the ability to do so upon their return. As teachers, they will continue to work together as ey do now in the National Opera Theatre. As for sticking around in Canada, they have no plans to immigrate, nor will they return for a visit for probably a very-long tim “*We have jobs?’ Dragana said. “We've built so hard for what we left there. We can’t just leave and lose that?’ “Visiting is nice for a while’ Janez said, “‘but work makes it more nisenee, But we'll see. 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