Situated from inside the 1979, Kitka began just like the a grassroots number of amateur singers out-of diverse backgrounds exactly who came across on a regular basis to express its passion for the beautiful dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, in depth ornamentation, rich harmonies, and you will resonant electricity regarding Eastern Western european women’s singing songs. In assistance regarding Bon Artist away from 1981 in order to 1996, Kitka blossomed to your a refined elite ensemble getting international renown having their art, versatility, and you may expertise of your own requiring process of conventional and you may modern Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian vocal styling. Under the co-recommendations away from Shira Cion, Juliana Graffagna, and you will Janet Kutulas due to the fact 1997, Kitka is continuing to grow to make identification on the National Endowment to have the fresh new Arts, Chorus The usa, and the Western Choral Directors’ Association among it state’s largest taking a trip singing ensembles. On the other hand, of several international tunes regulators envision Kitka the main interpreter away from Balkan and Slavic choral repertoire involved in the us.

Inside 2002, Kitka entered Le Mystere de l’ensemble des Voix Bulgares while the “in the world travelers regarding honor” for this world-distinguished choir’s 50th Wedding Gala at the National Castle regarding Society inside Sofia, Bulgaria

Inside the 2005, backed by a primary offer on the Trust getting Shared Expertise, Kitka journeyed to Ukraine for a series of performances, around the globe artist-replace meetings, broadcast and television broadcasts, and you will search outings in the rural communities. Kitka’s vocalists continuously conduct fieldwork during the cultural teams during The usa once the well while the abroad. Individual Kitka people provides researched and you will amassed songs in the Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Georgia, Russia, Poultry, and you can Ukraine. Many of Kitka’s vocalists are talented composers and you may arrangers who would brand-new configurations off musical he’s gained around.

Inside 2000, Kitka obtained significant gives in the National Endowment to the Arts in addition to Rockefeller Foundation’s Chart Loans so you can release the new Folksongs Commissioning Investment, and therefore activates a few of the most exciting voices for the modern-day tunes to enter the fresh new works one use Kitka’s greater-varying sound palette

Kitka’s novel voice and you can inming provides lead to all those most other productive collaborations, ranging from a repair of your gothic Carmina Burana pageant getting CalPerformances, (Thomas Binkley, director), to work well with Hollywood composers and you may independent motion picture-suppliers into flick soundtracks and additionally Braveheart, Jacob’s Hierarchy, and you may Queen of Damned. Other collaborations from note were creating the newest role of one’s Greek Chorus/Troerican Conservatory Theater’s around three vitally-applauded abilities operates of Hecuba (Carey Perloff, Director) for which Kitka received a drama Critic’s Circle Prize nomination; the creation of Ladies in Black colored, a multi-disciplinary functions determined from the international Feamales in Black colored Facing War Path (Thais Mazur, choreographer; Katrina Wreede author) for which Kitka acquired an Izzie prize nomination to possess top audio share to help you a dance system; and you may Tunes from Mama’s Table, a celebration of your commonalties and you may contrasts anywhere between Balkan, Slavic and you can Dark colored ladies singing way of living having Grammy nominees Linda Tillery in addition to Cultural Heritage Choir. Inside the , Kitka, together with composer Dan Cantrell, Yiddish everyone musician, multi-instrumentalist and performer Michael Alpert; Balkan Romani multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Rumen Sali Shopov; and phase movie director Aaron Davidman premiered Musical Fortunes, another type of track stage inspired because of the intersection out of East Eu Jewish and Romani (“Gypsy”) countries.

The new Folksongs income premiered so far become arrangements from the Pauline Oliveros, Chen Yi, Dan Cantrell, Marcel Khalife, Janet Kutulas, David Lang, Linda Tillery, Sara Michael, Daniel Hoffman, Raif Hyseni, Thilo Reinhardt, Roy Whelden, Vladimir Zenevitch, , Kitka began work with it’s very challenging commissioning investment yet: This new Rusalka Stage: Musical Within Planets, a new vocal-theater enterprise brought from the Ellen Sebastian Chang, with original sounds by the Ukrainian author and you can individuals artist Mariana Sadovska. Weaving old Slavic myths also contemporary layouts, Brand new Rusalka Cycle’s prime shows took place so you’re able to over the top social acclaim at the Oakland’s Malonga Cardio from inside the . This new Rusalka Period is revived inside the San francisco bay area within the and next toured into the Revolutions Worldwide Movie theater Festival in the Albuquerque, NM. An excellent Eu concert tour of the Rusalka Stage try slated for , having shows in the significant festivals and you can sites within the Germany, Poland senior match randki, and you will Ukraine. In the , Kitka commonly prime Richard Einhorn’s The foundation, a different oratorio co-accredited of the ARTSwego at the SUNY Oswegomemorating the 200th Anniversary of Darwin’s beginning, plus the 150th anniversary of the book of Resource away from Types, The foundation is scored for Kitka, symphony band and you can chorus which have movie projections by honor-profitable movies artist Statement Morrision.