Mila Vocal Ensemble
Your Passport to the World

Mila is a professional women's vocal ensemble committed to the authentic reproduction of vocal traditions from over 30 countries in more than a dozen distinct vocal styles. While grounded in the harmonic traditions of Eastern Europe, Mila's repertoire also includes music from Central and Western Europe, Asia and the Americas. Mila has performed to international acclaim, always pushing the boundaries of rhythm, harmony and styling.
Training
Mila's ten singers all hail from unique musical backgrounds and have studied with renowned vocalists from Bul-garia, France, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, Spain and Ukraine. Mila owes its accuracy and authenticity to passion-ate research and rigorous training with native speakers and performers, including current and former members. Between them, the singers of Mila speak nearly a dozen languages.
Performance
Mila has performed at prestigious international festivals in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France and Hungary and has made three appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. This versatile ensemble typically performs a cappella but frequently performs and records with instrumental musicians. Mila performs at community stages, parties, corporate and private events, schools, festivals and churches and also leads vocal and cultural workshops.
Passion
Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Mila’s presentation is imbued with over 30 years of performance, dedication and passion that has connected generations with music from the homeland.
The name Mila has beautiful connotations—including dear one, love and celebration —in many of the languages represented in its repertoire; it is also a common women's name in many Eastern European countries. Through the integrity of its songs and stories, Mila celebrates the beauty of the world’s cultures.
Recent Projects
Touted as the best authentic Eastern European vocal ensemble in the U.S., Mila has had the opportunity to work with world-renowned musicians, music educators and performing ensembles at home and throughout the world. Recent highlights include:

Theotokos songs and stories for Advent with singer, songwriter, actress Ruth MacKenzie, 2007
Leb i Sol (With Bread and Salt) CD Release Party with the Niks, SPCO Center, St. Paul, MN, 2007
Songs for a Summer Day, Mila & the Niks, presented by North Shore Music Assoc., Grand Marais, MN, 2007
Soundtrack for Dragonlance, a feature length animated film, recorded at Winterland Studios, Minneapolis, MN, 2007 (released to DVD January 2008)
Singing the Good Life: V'Gradinata (To the Garden) CD Release Party, Cowles Conservatory, Walker Art Center, Mpls, MN 2006
Milwaukee Art Museum, presented by Present Music, Milwaukee, WI 2006
AOSA Conference, featured performance, Birmingham, AL 2005
Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion 2005 (3 appearances, rebroadcast in 2006 and 2007)
Folk festival spotlight performances in Bulgaria (Koprivshtitsa, Varna, Sofia), Czech Republic (Cerveny Kostelec), France (Oloron-Ste. Marie), Hungary (Szeged), Serbia (Belgrade) and the United States (Minnesota, Wisconsin) ongoing