Members of the jury of the international children’s music festival Voice of the Stars 2026
Nela (Antonela Đinđić) (Croatia)
Nela (Antonela Đinđić) is a Croatian singer and songwriter from Zagreb, whose artistic expression is defined by strong emotion, authenticity, and a distinctive vocal interpretation.
Music has been part of her identity since early childhood—she often points out that she began singing before she could speak. At the age of three, she joined a children’s choir, and at 15 she began formal musical education. She has been building her professional career since the age of 16.
She became widely known to the public through notable performances on the TV shows The Voice – Najljepši glas Hrvatske and A strana, after which she developed a strong artistic direction through her own songs and live performances.
In 2021, she released her debut album Melodrama, followed by successful singles such as Nebo gori, Nepokoriva, and Mogu i sama, the latter in collaboration with Nika Turković.
Her work has also been recognized by the music industry—she was nominated for the Porin in 2022 and is a recipient of the Cesarica, as well as the Zlatko Turkalj Award for young artists.
Through her music, Nela blends contemporary pop sensibility with intimate, diary-like storytelling, and her current artistic work is rounded off by her second conceptual album ARHIVIRANO.
Gorana Biondić Ruško (Croatia)
Gorana Biondić Ruško took her first singing steps and early successes under the mentorship of Prof. Vesna Coufal while attending the Franjo Kuhač Music School. She graduated in 2008 from the Academy of Music University of Zagreb in the class of Prof. Snježana Bujanović-Stanislav. She further refined her vocal technique with renowned pedagogues including Vitomir Marof, Paolo de Napoli, Silvia dalla Benetta, Sarah Jane Baker, Thomas Hampson, and Anna Pirozzi.
As one of the most talented representatives of her generation, she has performed in all major opera houses in Croatia. As an opera soloist, she has performed around 30 roles across numerous productions in Croatian theatres.
She made her debut in 2005 at the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc as Despina in Così fan tutte, and in 2011 performed Paulina and Gabrielle in La vie parisienne.
At the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb, alongside smaller roles, she achieved notable success in operas such as Dialogues of the Carmelites (Constance), Suor Angelica (Genovieffa), Gianni Schicchi (Nella), Falstaff (Nannetta), Parsifal (Blumenmädchen), Hamlet (Ophelia), L’elisir d’amore (Adina), and Don Giovanni (Zerlina), among others.
She has also performed as Musetta in La Bohème at the Croatian National Theatre Split, and debuted as the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute at the Croatian National Theatre Osijek, where she later became a soloist in 2017.
As a concert singer, she has built a rich career, collaborating with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cantus Ensemble. She has also performed extensively in children’s productions such as Hansel and Gretel and Puss in Boots.
She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Croatian Composers’ Society award at the Tribina Darko Lukić and the Marijana Radev Award for the 2012/2013 season for her roles as Adina and Ophelia.
In addition to her performing career, she has been a vocal professor since 2008, teaching in several institutions including music schools and academies in Croatia. Her students have won first prizes at competitions such as HDGPP Competition and Lav Mirski Competition.
She currently teaches at the Franjo Lučić Art School and has been a member of the Croatian Radiotelevision Choir since 2019.
In the same year, she founded the LA LA LA Music Center, which focuses on vocal training, music therapy, and early music education through colors. The center is unique in Croatia for holding a license for the Prodigies Music Program and for applying it in music therapy, especially in working with children with developmental difficulties.
Her students regularly perform at festivals in Croatia and abroad, often winning top prizes. The mission of the LA LA LA Music Center is to help children reach their full musical potential through music and public performance, guided by their motto: “The sky is the limit!”
Martina Klarić (Croatia)
Martina Klarić (Šibenik, 1983) is a Croatian soprano who graduated in singing from the Academy of Music University of Zagreb in 2007 in the class of Prof. Snježana Bujanović-Stanislav. In the same year, she continued her postgraduate artistic training under the same professor, completing it in 2010.
She is the recipient of two awards at the Croatian National Competition of Music and Dance Students: first prize in 2001 in the category for singers under 18, and second prize in 2009 in the postgraduate category. In 2004, she made her debut at the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb as the White Cat in L’enfant et les sortilèges.
Since 2006, she has been a freelance member of the choir of the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb, and since 2010 a full-time member of the Opera ensemble. She has appeared in numerous productions, including Suor Angelica, Rigoletto, Il trovatore, Don Carlo, Parsifal, Jenůfa, and Hansel and Gretel.
She has also performed as a vocal soloist in Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, as the Second Lady in The Magic Flute, Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Berta in The Barber of Seville, and Jelena in Nikola Šubić Zrinjski.
At the Croatian National Theatre Šibenik, she performed the role of Monika in The Medium, for which she was nominated for the Croatian Theatre Award in 2011 in the category of outstanding achievement by a young artist under 30.
In co-production with Croatian National Theatre Šibenik and Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc, she participated in the Croatian premiere of The Turn of the Screw in the role of Flora.
She has also released a recording with the Responsorium Ensemble under Croatia Records, and is co-author of the children’s performance MaLoLu, created for preschool children and their parents.
Adela Golac Rilović (Croatia)
Adela Golac Rilović graduated in solo singing from the Academy of Music University of Zagreb in the class of Prof. Snježana Bujanović-Stanislav, and later earned her master’s degree under the mentorship of Prof. Dunja Vejzović. She further refined her vocal artistry through studies and masterclasses with renowned international pedagogues, including Mirella Freni, Sena Jurinac, Zlatomira Nikolova, Biserka Cvejić, Olivera Miljaković, Franca Mattiucci, and Paolo de Napoli.
She made her debut in 1999 as Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare and has since performed numerous leading operatic roles at major Croatian theatres, including the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb (where she is a principal opera soloist), as well as in Split, Rijeka, and Osijek. Her repertoire is particularly distinguished in Italian bel canto roles such as Violetta, Gilda, Luisa Miller, Amina, Aida, Leonora, Amelia (Simon Boccanegra), Norma, Adina, Marie, Giulietta, Nedda, Giorgetta, and Cio-Cio-San.
As her career progressed, she expanded her repertoire to include Slavic and German composers, gaining particular acclaim for roles such as Jenůfa and Elsa, and achieving international success with roles like Maria (Mazepa) and Chrysothemis (Elektra).
In addition to opera stages, she regularly performs at major festivals such as the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Split Summer Festival, Rijeka Summer Nights, Zadar Summer Theatre Festival, and the Tiroler Festspiele Erl.
She has also performed extensively as a concert artist with ensembles such as the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Zagreb Soloists, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of both Croatian and international conductors.
Her discography includes recordings such as Croatian Mass and Noon Symphony by Boris Papandopulo, for which she received the Porin in 2002 for best classical performance. She has also recorded Preghiera by Gino Marinuzzi with the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, and performed as a soloist in Requiem at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl, where a live recording was produced.
For her artistic achievements, she has received multiple awards, including the Marijana Radev Award for her roles as Mirjana in the opera Mirjana (2007/2008 season) and Helena in Les vêpres siciliennes (2015/2016 season).
Tea Mudrovčić (Croatia)
This artist gained her first singing experience at the age of nine by performing at the children’s Dora, and began more serious vocal training at fifteen by enrolling in the solo singing program at the Vatroslav Lisinski Music School. She continued her education at the Academy of Music University of Zagreb, where she graduated in 2021 in the class of Prof. Renata Pokupić.
During her studies, she won numerous national and international awards in classical music and received the Rector’s Award for her participation in opera projects such as The Cunning Little Vixen (Croatian National Theatre Zagreb, 2017) and Suor Angelica et autres soeurs (2021). She further developed her skills through masterclasses with distinguished artists and participated in projects at the Komedija Theatre.
Her professional experience includes working as a vocal coach at the Vatroslav Lisinski Music School, the Zlatko Baloković Music School, and the Medley Theatre Education Center. In addition to classical singing, she is also active in popular music, performing as a soloist, backing vocalist, and as a member of the gospel ensemble The Messengers. She has collaborated with numerous renowned artists in studio recordings and live performances.
As a member of the Medley Theatre, she performed the role of Antigone in the rock musical Antigona – Prokletstvo roda.
Vesna Kovačić, mag. mus. (Croatia)
Vesna Kovačić graduated in solo singing from the Academy of Music University of Zagreb.
During her performing career, she appeared at the Croatian National Theatre Zagreb, participating in several opera productions in supporting roles.
She was a long-time member of the Croatian Radiotelevision Choir as well as the Ivan Filipović Chamber Choir. She continuously refined her artistic skills through numerous seminars with distinguished vocal pedagogues.
She began her teaching career at a music school in Virovitica, and today works as a professor of solo singing at the Franjo Lučić Art School.