Program & Featured Guests

Marina Urosevic holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication, Media, and Theatre and currently serves as Executive Administrative Assistant to the Principal. In this role, she provides essential support to school leadership, manages internal and external communications, and ensures the smooth, efficient operation of daily activities. Her background in education also includes roles as a Testing Coordinator and Literacy Center Assistant, where she supported student achievement and optimized school processes.

Alongside her work in education, Marina built a successful career spanning over 20 years in the beauty industry. She managed a thriving salon, worked with numerous high-profile clients, and earned recognition for her expertise in color, cutting, styling, and extensions.

Outside of her professional life, Marina is a dedicated mother of two and an active community volunteer, supporting Serbian Orthodox churches, St. Sava Academy, and other causes through event planning and fundraising.

Tanja Sokolovic, MBA is a Human Resources Business Partner Manager based in Chicago, currently working at Loadsmart. She has held previous positions at KPMG US, Minter Ellison, and Crowe Horwath LLP, gaining diverse experience across global organizations. She holds an MBA in Human Resources and a BBA in Business Administration and Management from the University of South Australia.

Outside of work, Tanja is a proud mother of two, with children active in SOKO Folklor and the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral—reflecting the family’s strong connection to cultural heritage and faith. Tanja is deeply committed to supporting children’s education and is passionate about giving back to the community that continually uplifts and supports one another.

Rev. Deacon Teodor Sokolovic has served as Treasurer of St. Sava Academy since 2019. During his tenure, the school has seen significant advancements, including curriculum enhancements, increased teacher compensation and benefits, and most recently, the purchase of a new school building.

Deacon Teodor is also an active member of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, where he has served since 2011. He regularly participates in the celebration of divine liturgies and other religious services, contributes to building committees, and volunteers in fundraising and athletic events.

Professionally, he is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), currently holding the position of Vice President of Global Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and Internal Audit Innovation at CNH Industrial Inc. With over 30 years of experience, he has led global organizations with a focus on financial controls, process optimization, and advancing the maturity of finance functions for several Fortune 500 companies.

Branko Bojovic, M.D., attended SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, having completed residencies in general surgery (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) and plastic surgery (Harvard Combined Program: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital and Shriners Children’s Boston), completing his formal training in 2010.

Dr. Bojovic then completed a craniofacial microsurgery fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in 2011. He has expertise in adult and pediatric craniofacial surgery and microsurgery. He has received numerous clinical and volunteer awards, and recognitions throughout his career. He also was a member of the team that performed the world’s most comprehensive facial transplantation to date, in March of 2012, at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.

In 2019, Dr. Bojovic was awarded the Order of Karađorđe’s Star for his achievements in medicine by the President of Serbia. This prestigious honor is recognized as Serbia’s highest civil or military decoration. In addition to medicine, honorees are selected for accomplishments in sports, military service, art, science and humanitarianism.

In 2023, Dr. Bojovic was named Chief of Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and director of the craniofacial surgery fellowship training program.

He enjoys spending his free time with his wife Tamara, children Iskra, Luka, and Nika, close family, and dear kumovi, friends, and colleagues.

Nikolina Vujcic is a first-generation Serbian-American, Registered Nurse in the Pediatric Emergency Department, and trauma-certified healthcare professional. Currently serving as Miss Illinois USA, she will proudly represent her state on the Miss USA stage. Holding her culture close, Nikolina is always eager to share it with others as a way to connect and inspire. 

Her compassion extends beyond the hospital walls—she has a deep passion for service, encouraging others to use their individual gifts and talents to create meaningful, lasting change in their communities. Looking ahead, she plans to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in fertility, with the goal of creating an empowering, supportive space for women on their journey to motherhood.

Vlado Zrnić, Serbian American Student-Athletes Association (SASAA)

Vlado Zrnić is an accomplished sales professional with expertise in manufacturing, business development, and client relations. He recently earned his MBA in Finance and Organizational Leadership. Before his business career, Vlado was an NCAA student-athlete, competing in college basketball at a high level and pursuing opportunities to play professionally overseas.

Passionate about community and mentorship, Vlado is actively involved in the Serbian American Student-Athletes Association (SASAA). This nonprofit is dedicated to empowering student-athletes of Serbian descent in the United States who are competing—or aspiring to compete—in collegiate sports. SASAA provides mentorship, guidance, and resources to help young athletes balance academics, athletics, and personal well-being. Its mission is to ease their transition, strengthen resilience, and celebrate the unique tenacity that defines Serbian athletes. The organization also serves as a platform for connection and networking, fostering community, honoring achievements, and inspiring the next generation of leaders and athletes of Serbian heritage.

Jelena Gavrilović is a distinguished Serbian actress with an extensive career spanning film, television, and theater. Her international work includes roles in the British feature film Gassed Up directed by George Amponsah, the MGM+ series Robin Hood (as the Saxon goddess), and the U.S. fantasy series The Outpost. She appeared alongside Salma Hayek in the American thriller Everly and starred in the Italian RAI Fiction film L’angelo di Sarajevo.

Jelena is also widely recognized for her voice work in animated films—most notably as the Serbian voice of Elsa in Disney’s Frozen. Her exceptional performance earned her recognition by Disney Studios as one of the top 25 voices for the role worldwide.

Her diverse filmography also includes the acclaimed horror film A Serbian Film. A multilingual performer, Jelena acts fluently in English, Russian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian.

Hailed by the UK's Daily Telegraph for his "searingly poetic lyricism",


Philippe Quint has established himself as one of America's preeminent violinists, enchanting audiences through his performances that seamlessly blend consummate musicianship with "breadth of tone and passion" The New York Times.


With multiple Grammy Award nominations to his name, Quint is celebrated for his distinctive approach to classical core repertoire, advocacy for contemporary music, rekindling of neglected repertoire, and original multimedia story-telling programs including: The Muse, Homage to J.S.Bach, Charlie Chaplin's Smile and The Legend of Astor Piazzolla with his Quint Quintet and members of the Joffrey Ballet.


Quint has soloed with some of the world's finest orchestras across the globe including the London


Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Marija Jelić is a Serbian soprano from Belgrade whose artistry has graced opera houses and concert halls across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. After earning her master’s degree in music, she continued her vocal studies with Nelson Calzi, Bruna Baglioni, and Fernando Cordeiro Opa. Since joining the Opera Studio of the Belgrade National Theatre in 2017, she has advanced to leading roles including Micaëla (Carmen), Stanka (At Dawn), Mimi (La Bohème), Aida (Aida), Tosca (Tosca), and Elisabeth (Don Carlo).

In 2021, Marija Jelić held a solo concert at Carnegie Hall with pianist Anthony Manoli, followed in 2022 by a performance of Britten’s Illuminations at the Ohrid Summer Festival.

Highlights from 2023 include Górecki’s Symphony No. 3 with the Belgrade Philharmonic under Gabriel Feltz, Aida in Cairo and at the National Opera of North Macedonia, Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Sofia Philharmonic, Countess in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Carolina (USA), Judith in Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle at Estonia’s Narva Opera Festival, a gala with the Toluca Philharmonic (Mexico), and Maddalena di Coigny in Andrea Chénier in Belgrade. She also performed Mimi in La Bohème at Seoul’s Lotte Concert Hall.

In 2024, she recorded Adolphe Adam’s Griseldis with the Sofia Philharmonic for Naxos, sang La Bohème in Taipei, Tosca in Skopje, debuted as Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana at the Heraklion Cultural Center (Greece), and opened Opera Carolina’s 75th season gala. In 2025, she performed Verdi’s Requiem in Bologna alongside Michele Pertusi and Fabio Armiliato.

She serves as President of the International Opera Foundation in Belgrade. Marija holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Belgrade, where she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. Critics praise her voice for its lyrical warmth and dramatic depth, describing her as “an artist who doesn’t follow the future — she sings it into being.”

Vladimir Kulenovic's leadership career spans wealth management and orchestral conducting, combining strategy, discipline, and creativity to deliver lasting impact. In his current role as Regional Director and Wealth Management Planner with Prudential Advisors, he leads high-performing teams to deliver transformative, client-focused solutions that empower clients to achieve the future they envision.

Winner of the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, Vladimir has held leadership positions with orchestras in the U.S., Serbia, and Japan. As a guest conductor, he has led performances in premier international venues, including New York’s Lincoln Center, Chicago Symphony Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Teatro Real Madrid, and the Taiwan National Concert Hall, showcasing the same precision, vision, and artistry that define his leadership in finance. In 2019, he was named Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Arts Council and received two GRAMMY nominations for his commercially released recordings.

Recognized as the Chicagoan of the Year in 2015 by the Chicago Tribune for his contributions to the community, Vladimir is deeply committed to giving back. Through his leadership and service, he supports nonprofit organizations that foster the arts, education, culture, and environmental initiatives in both the U.S. and Serbia, extending the impact of his professional and artistic leadership.