Buga Marija Šimić is a Croatian mezzo- soprano who obtained her masters degrees in opera singing at the Bern University of Arts, Switzerland and Music Academy of Zagreb, Croatia. 

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Born and raised in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, Buga was involved in theatre from her childhood. She performed roles in several professional theatres, including The Croatian National Theatre, and dubbed a few movies, such as Charlotte's web and Coraline. 

 

Her interest for opera began around the age of 16 and in 2012 she enrolled at the Academy of Music in Zagreb, where she will obtain her Master's degree in vocal performance in June 2017. She is also a part of the Swiss Opera Studio since September 2016 where she will stay until June 2018. 

 

Buga made her professional debut in the Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn in Biel, Switzerland with the role of Arbate in Mitridate, re di Ponto in April 2018. 

 

Since starting her high education, Buga has performed both as a soloist ( Le nozze di Figaro as Susanna; Il matrimonio segreto as Carolina and Elisetta) and as a part of a chorus (Orfeo ed Euridice; Le Rossignol etc). in student productions as well as professional ones (Così fan tutte - chorus).

 

Besides developing in the academical surroundings, Buga has participated in several masterclasses where she has worked with vocal coaches and teachers such as Darina Takova, Eva Blahova, Gerhard Zeller, Peter Maus, Snežana Brzaković, Tomislav Mužek etc. 

 

She has also been awarded several prizes in different international competitions, including Lazar Jovanović in Belgrade and Bruna Špiler in Montenegro. 

 

Buga speaks Croatian, German, English, Spanish and Italian. She can also play violin and piano and enjoys trying to tap dance.