Tucked away in a dimly lit booth with headphones over his ears and his fingers on the sound board, ACC audio professor Milan Sretenovic is in his element.
“I’m out there doing this thing every single night, every single day,” says Milan.
The recording studio is where Milan feels most at home, but it wasn’t how he started his career.
“I spent 12 years in marketing before I finally decided to follow my passion. Making that change was scary. I was leaving everything I’d known behind,” says Milan.
Milan was born and lived in Serbia when he decided to make a move to Austin, the Music Capital of the World.
“I started at square one, school. I came to ACC.”
Milan earned his associate degree in commercial music business and quickly immersed himself into Austin’s live music scene. His success soared. He established his own recording studio Minja’Sound, and worked as a live sound engineer with artists such as Tito Puente Jr., Band of Horses, Sara Bareilles, Alpha Rev and Blind Date.
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Through it all, Milan never lost touch with his ACC professors. Years later, when asked if he would share his knowledge with students, the answer was easy.
“They gave me an opportunity to improve on every single aspect of my career,” says Sretenovic. “I just wanted to give back.”
Between his own recordings, Milan teaches the next generation of live sound engineers.
“What I’m actually trying to do is get them ready so that as soon as they leave the classroom they can actually start doing this, start making some money, and make their own living in this World,” says Milan. “The opportunities are there. You just have to have the determination.”
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By Rita Banninger March 6, 2015 - 3:00 am
Good to know even in far off Serbia, Austin’s place in the world is firm! “Music capital of the world!” How great Milan followed his dream and ACC could help it along, and now he’s playing it forward. Ha, I made a pun.
By Stephon Brown March 6, 2015 - 12:23 pm
Where does he teach? He have a contact?
By Pete Johnson March 6, 2015 - 6:14 pm
Milan teaches Live Sound I, II and Audio I for the Music Business, Performance and Technology Department, located at the Northridge Campus.
By Teresa March 6, 2015 - 3:49 pm
Thank you for sharing, it is an inspiring story.
By Patti Singleton March 6, 2015 - 4:22 pm
Awesome story! I always tell my students “Figure out your passion, then always do what you love”! Thank you for sharing your story
By Anisa Moyo March 8, 2015 - 8:47 pm
I took Milan’s Audio Engineering I class in Fall 2012. The concepts he presented were straightforward. He made time as an instructor to encourage all of his students, regardless of varying degrees of previous technical experience, to get comfortable with the mixing board and other equipment. I am inspired by his journey from Serbia to his current career as an instructor at ACC and live sound engineer in Austin.
By deaundra rivers March 25, 2015 - 2:56 pm
I am a former student at the acc highland campus and right now im going to school for my ged I am wanting to continue my dream in music because I write music as long as would like to produce and I am very interested in seeing if I could come to check out the studio some times.
By April March 25, 2015 - 8:30 pm
Milan is one of the most inspiring and motivating, and HELPFUL teachers I’ve ever had in my life. Thanks to him, I’ve been able to find work as a sound engineer. He does have an amazing story.