Adriana Zaharijevic is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer based in Vancouver, BC. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Opera Performance from UBC’s School of Music.
During her time at UBC, Adriana performed in a wide range of opera productions, including Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, Puccini’s Tosca, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Rota’s Il cappello di paglia di Firenze (The Florentine Straw Hat), Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. One of her most memorable roles was portraying the wicked stepsister Dorothée in Massenet’s Cendrillon.
Her musical journey began at age 3 with Suzuki piano lessons at the Vancouver Academy of Music. By age 4, she joined the Vancouver Children’s Bach Choir, where she spent over 13 years performing challenging repertoire and soloing in major concerts, including Carmina Burana and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at the Orpheum Theatre. In 2017, a pivotal moment at a musical theatre camp led her to begin voice lessons with Marisa Gaetanne, who later became her mentor at UBC.
Adriana completed RCM Voice Levels 7 through 10 and studied piano, voice, and music theory at the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. She began singing at Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church at age 10 and was appointed choir conductor from 2022. She also served as a rehearsal assistant for the Vancouver Bach Choir’s youngest ensemble, the Piccolos.
In addition to her classical training and performance work, Adriana is an active vocal coach with Orenda Artists, where she helps emerging singers develop their technique and artistry. She is also a familiar voice at UBC varsity events, serving as the university’s primary anthem singer for over seven years, and performed at the Whitecaps FC’s College Night in 2023.
Adriana’s passion goes beyond singing, performing, and conducting; she also aspires to teach music to youth and share her skills and knowledge. She believes that every child should be exposed to music at an early age.