Cleo Mitilineou, Founder of Sing Along Kids

  • 31 Aug 2018 4:36 PM
Cleo Mitilineou, Founder of  Sing Along Kids
1. What’s been happening at work and at home since your first Xpat Interview?

Click here to read her first interview

I am a Mom now to two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. Due to this fact I  had to leave the opera stage as we don't have family here and I wanted to be there for them at all times.  It wasn't an easy decision but it was for the best.

My husband is a doctor, works long hours and I knew I had to make that decision. I don't regret it, not for a second . Of course at times I miss all that euphoria due to singing and the applause, but then again I didn't give up neither on music nor on singing.

It’s because of my children that i came up with the Sing along Kids program- singing and movement classes for babies and toddlers in various locations all over Budapest. The idea came to me when my son was born but i was only able to make it happen after the birth of my daughter.   I started the program when Lulu was 22 months old and i was having her with me during the class. Slowly slowly the number of classes increased as we received huge love and support from both Expat and Local Moms.

Moms were happy to find an activity for both themselves and their children. The program is basically an introduction to early music education and also gives the chance to Moms whose first language is not English to practice their language  skills through socializing during and after the class. 

With this occasion I would like to thank all the Moms who joined the program for their love and support.

After two years of running the classes I can now say we have grown into a wonderful supportive Sing along Kids Community.

The Moms apart from joining the program they also support our charity work  and we couldn't have made it without their generosity.

At the moment the program runs in 4 locations with 4 morning classes and we are launching a new bilingual gym/music class for preschoolers in September, also during the morning .

We used to have an afternoon class as well, but had to give it up when my son started school.  He goes to a Hungarian school and as he is four-lingual and none of us parents are Hungarian we really had to keep our afternoons free so we can do our homework and devote time for his studies. 

Another reason why I don't offer any afternoon Sing along Kids class is that  I teach piano privately for children 4+.

2. On a scale of 1 to 10 how happy are you with your life in Hungary, and why?
Oh I am more than happy here, so it’s a 10 for me. Hungary is my second home, is my chosen home, and I live so many years here that I can’t think of going somewhere else. I originally came to study music, singing and opera, and after I got my Masters I had my debut in the Opera house as Juliette in Gounod's Romeo et Juliette.  I feel that this country gave me the opportunity to evolve as an opera singer, an artist and a person. I met my husband here and our children were born here. Our home, our friends, our work is here. Budapest is an amazing city and we just love living it to the full.


3. What’s the best party you’ve been to while in Hungary, and why? 
Haha it was a New Year’s Eve party in Váci utca, then to Portside pub and I met my husband on that night, so for me that was the best party ever.

4. What’s your favourite drink?
I don't really drink alcohol but I love cocktails.

5. What hidden talents do you have?
Well if I tell, then they won’t be hidden any more will they?  seriously speaking I might write a book one day.

6. What was the most interesting travel trip you have ever taken? 
I had the chance to visit Egypt, Cairo and Alexandria several times for concerts, and I loved singing in the freshly renovated famous library of Alexandria.  Alexandria is full with the Greek spirit so it was quite an emotional trip for me.

7. If you were given a wish that could come true, what would you ask for? 
As I am a typical Mediterranean woman my wish would be to eat whatever I want and not to put on weight :)

8. What’s the last book you read, and movie you watched?
Adultery by Coelho and Bad Moms

9. If someone wrote a biography about you, what would the title be? 
Mozarella and rucola.

11. If you could trade places with any other person for a week, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
Oprah

12. On a scale of 1 to 10 how unusual are you, and why? 
Hm you better ask my husband and friends for that.  I have at times the need to be alone, to think, to evaluate myself and situations. I am not the party girl, never really been, and now that I am a Mom I think I'm pretty normal.

13. What’s the best website you’ve ever visited, and why?
 www.singalongkidsbudapest.hu if you check it you will see why!

14. Who do you admire the most, and why?
Maja Aggelou because she was a fighter.

15. What do you like best and least about living in Hungary?
I love the Danube, the bridges, the architecture, the cultural life, but at times I'm frustrated from the bad customer service.

16. What has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?
The birth of my children. I realized that being tired and busy means nothing until you get to have your own children. Another thing is that my kids and their needs are more important than mine. I believe that children are the future, if only we can love them unconditionally and teach them about love, respect and acceptance of others.

17. If you won USD 30 million, what would you do with the money?
I would secure my children and then give the rest to charity, mainly to support education for young girls.

18. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
I love you, you love me (theme song from Barney tv program for children)

19. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
On a Greek island.

20. In ten years from now what will you be doing?
I hope to be well to take care of my family, keep teaching piano, give concerts from time to time, and be able to offer Budapest Moms the opportunity to socialize and make new friends. As far as their children to be introduce them to early music education and baby English, through the Sing along Kids program.

 

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