Young Students Shine at the Lincoln Center

Remarkably, two young MKA students can currently be seen on the stages of the Lincoln Center in New York.

Life under a spotlight has come early to Montclair Kimberley Academy third grader Kiki Porter who recently made her debut at the New York Metropolitan Opera with a solo performance in Puccini’s La Boheme.  At the suggestion of her voice teacher, Kiki auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus in July 2007 and was accepted on the spot.  One month later she was also accepted into the Lee Strasberg Film and Theatre Institute’s Young Actor’s Program.  As well as performing with the Met, Kiki has performed at the Paper Mill Playhouse and can currently be seen on the stage at Brookside performing with the third grade Bellringers.  Described by her mother as being “passionate about her love of singing,” Kiki also enjoys playing the piano, playing tennis and Club Penguin.

While Kiki is singing, MKA fourth grader Kristina Hadjipetkov can be seen dancing as a toy soldier in The New York City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.  Kristina, who started dancing at 2 years old, attends the School of American Ballet and has also performed at the Paper Mill Playhouse.  Invited by her ballet teacher to have a part in The Nutcracker, Kristina dances in half the performances that run from late November to early January.   She is also an accomplished musician, and plays the violin with the MKA Strings Ensemble, directed by her father, Dimitri Hadjipetkov