Nikolina Do Dominković

OPERA SINGER THEATER DIRECTOR DRAMA TEACHER

ABOUT NIKOLINA DO

SOPRANO, STAGE DIRECTOR AND DRAMA TEACHER

Nikolina Dominković was born on December 7, 1991, in Dubrovnik. She completed music theory (2010) and opera/solo singing (2012) at the Art School „Luka Sorkočević“. She performed at the Dubrovnik City Theatre „Marin Držić“, at the „Lero“ Theatre and participated in the choir during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival in Mozart's opera „Cosi fan tutte“.

During her studies at the Croatian Studies at the University of Zagreb, she appeared as an extra at the Croatian National Theatre (productions of „Le Nozze di Figaro“, „Manon Lescaut“, „La Boheme“), worked as a drama educator for children at the Knap Theatre and as a puppet actress at the Puppet Studio. Nikolina organized and led the Drama Group and the Choir of the Croatian Studies. She directed and adapted several plays at the Knap Theatre („Funky Snow White“, „Ghosts“, „Endgame“ and „Medieval Confession“). She received the Dean's Award for establishing the drama group, the Rector's Award for her authorial project „Endgame“ and the Croatian Studies Award for the best student in her class (highest GPA). She also received excellence scholarships for two consecutive years. In 2019, she earned her first degree: Master of Croatology and Education.

While studying opera singing at the Bern University of the Arts, under professor Barbara Locher, she performed in productions „Opernskizzen MythenTöne“, „Opernprojekt Natur und Oper“, „Die Brücke von San Luis Ray“(Theatre Orchestra Biel Solothurn: TOBS) and „DˋZeller Wiehnacht“ (TOBS). She collaborated with Mathias Behrends, Mladen Tarbuk, Christoph Campestrini, Facundo Agudin, Francis Benichou, Olivier Tambosi, among others. Among various concerts and recitals, she performed soprano in Pergolesi's „Stabat Mater“. In 2021, she was a semifinalist at the International Vocal Competition Gabriela Benackova in the Czech Republic. In cooperation with the HKB (Hochschule der Künste Bern), she created the concept of her own dreams, the authorial project „Das Unheimliche“ and the project „Qui est Micaëla?“ She adapted „Das Unheimliche“ into a short experimental film, which received honorable mentions at the Tokyo Film Festival (best short film category) and Eastern European Film Festival (best director category) and was selected for the Lift off Festival in Hollywood in 2022. In 2023, Nikolina completed her third degree, the Expanded Theater program at the University of Bern. There, she realized several authorial projects, notably the play „Forever Yours“ (questioning social conventions) a performance in Black Light Theater technique and an authorial project on folklore and mythology of the island of Mljet titled „The Grey Falcon Flies to the Fairy“. In her master's project „This is Nikolina Do“, she presented her autobiography composed of fictional information, turning herself into a famous figure, including even her fictional perfume with the scent of theater. She also continued participating in numerous concerts as a producer, singer, choir member and soloist. Her professional directing career began with the direction of the drag queen show „Zucker, Brot und Peitsche“ in Zurich, directing the musical for Upstage „A New Brain“ at the Kӓfigturm Theatre in Bern and directing the project „50 shades of love“ in Lucerne. Nikolina Do has appeared in numerous musical and theatrical productions in Switzerland and Croatia, in roles such as opera and jazz singer, director, puppeteer, actress, assistant and producer. Nikolina Do Dominković aims to connect classical music with specific theatrical expressions such as physical theater, Black Light, adult puppet theater or experimental theater inspired by themes of the subconscious, dreams, rituals, witchcraft incorporating aesthetics of naturalism, surrealism, horror and grotesque. She also sees herself in singing roles in musicals and rock operas, dubbing cartoons and directing music videos. Nikolina also aims to work in the field of educational theater, especially puppet and musical theater for children and youth. Motivated by her goals, she organized the children's drama festival „Mali otok Mljet“ (Little Island of Mljet) on the island of Mljet. The goal is to introduce the island's children to music and drama culture and inspire them to artistic expression. Nikolina also holds a blue belt in Judo.