Summer Edition 2014

Serbian Singing Federation of America Jednom Pevač – Uvek Srbin! 26352 John R Road Madison Heights, Michigan 48071

S.S.F. Hi-Notes The Official Quarterly Publication of the Serbian Singing Federation of the USA and Canada Message from the Editor Physical Address: 26352 John R Road Madison Heights, Michigan 48071 Dear Singers,

Mailing Address: Summer has come and gone. I hope that all of P.O. Box 71007 you enjoyed it to the fullest. Since 2010, the sum- Madison Heights, Michigan 48071 mer issue has highlighted the current year’s S.S.F. www.serbiansingingfederation.org Choral Festival. This year’s Festival was hosted by Correspondence Email: [email protected] Hi-Notes Email: [email protected] the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I would like to Hi-Notes Staff: Stephanie Jakovljević personally thank their choir members, Festival Jelena Stojaković committee, and especially Co-Chairs Bob Topich Holly Goljić and Michelle Ivetić for all of their hard work. It Elizabeth Neskow was a wonderful weekend! Executive Board: As always, your comments and feedback are President: Jelena Stojaković [email protected] very welcome. 1st Vice President: Stephanie Jakovljević [email protected] Warmest Regards, 2nd Vice President: Tom Olsen Stephanie Jakovljević [email protected] Executive Secretary: Elizabeth Neskow [email protected] Assistant Executive Secretary: John Lukich [email protected] Treasurer: Mary Živić [email protected] Executive Secretary Emeritus: Paul S. Bielich [email protected]

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 71007, Madison Heights, Michigan 48071 [email protected] www.serbiansingingfederation.org From the President’s Desk

Dear S.S.F. member , singers, and friends, As always, it is my pleasure to greet you on behalf of the S.S.F. Executive Board. I hope that you have all had an enjoyable summer. It seems like we were all just at the S.S.F. Festival, when in actuality, that was three months ago and the summer is almost over. Thanks to social media, it is obvious that many of you had a fun-filled and adventurous past few months, along with singing for weddings, of course! After all the flurry of activities in preparation for the S.S.F.’s largest event, both on the continental and local level, the 73rd Annual S.S.F. Choral Festival has come and gone! For those who were in attendance, it is a precious and sweet memory. For our host, the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Choir of Pittsburgh, I’m sure it is a huge sigh of relief. Congratulations to HTC on a job well done! The Festival general chairs, Michelle Ivetić and Bob Topich, brought experience and optimal organization to the table. They led their team of volunteers diligently and capably, which was evident in the success of the event. Thank you to all of the S.S.F. member choirs who participated this year for your beautiful performances and for keeping the tradition of choral singing alive and well in the diaspora. I would like to acknowledge my choir, S.S.S. Branko Radichevich, who was the Honored Church Choir this year, for their angelic singing at the Divine Liturgy and for giving up their Saturday concert slot to accommodate one of the choirs who could only perform on Saturday. Thank you, Brankies! Your S.S.F. Board, led by Executive Secretary Elizabeth Neskow, did their best to schedule the choirs across the two concert days. Unfortunately, this past year, the majority of the choirs could and/or would only commit to a Saturday performance, which in turn created a very long concert on Saturday. It was evident that many choirs did not commit to the entire weekend’s events. This is a trend that has been more evident over the years. Thus, the Festival in its entirety will be a committee topic at this year’s convention. We encourage you to send delegates to advise the board on concert slotting, the silent auction, award presentations, and the banquet. It is our hope that the member choirs will bring constructive feedback and solutions to help make our largest event even more successful in the years to come. At the Festival this year, in lieu of collecting much needed funds for the Paul S. Bielich Scholarship Fund, we collected funds to send to for those afflicted by the floods of May 2014. The S.S.F. teamed up with Lifeline , who had representatives in Serbia during the time of the natural disaster as well as after offering aide and assistance to those in need. Stephanie Jakovljević, L-R: S.S.F. President Jelena Stojaković, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, HRH Crown Princess Katherine, S.S.F. 1st V.P. Stephanie Jakovljević

4 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition S.S.F. Executive Board 1st Vice President, led the collection effort. We are pleased to announce that $2,505.00 was collected. Thank you to all who donated. Lifeline Chicago has stayed in touch with the S.S.F. following the donation to inform us as to where the funds were used to bring relief. Stephanie and I attended a Lifeline event in June 2014 and presented the monies collected at the S.S.F. Festival. We were introduced to their Royal Highnesses, Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine Karadjordjević, who in turn thanked our organization for their kindness and effort. To quote Crown Prince Alexander, “You [the S.S.F.] did a good thing for the people of Serbia. Thank you!” As you know by now, the S.S.F. Choral Workshop will be held in October 2014 in Chicago, . It is one of the events of The Sky Was Filled with Stars, the four-part project that includes a symposium, choral workshop, concert, and Sunday Liturgy and Memorial organized by S.S.S. Branko Radichevich of Chicago to mark the 100th Anniversary of Stevan St. Mokranjac’s passing. The Brankies committee for the Workshop, as well as for the other events, has been working very hard since February L-R: 1st V.P. Stephanie Jakovljević, Exec. Sec’y. Elizabeth 2014 on creating a timeline, list of speakers, venues, Neskow, Asst. Exec. Sec’y. John Lukich, President Jelena Stojaković, Treasurer Mary Živić, 2nd V.P. Tom Olsen soliciting sponsors, creating a budget, and marketing the event. We are thrilled to be working with exciting speakers and experts in their fields. Please see details about speakers, topics, hotel information, and more in this issue of the Hi-Notes. Registration for the workshop is open and currently under way. Please encourage your singers and directors to attend at least one part of this exciting, educational opportunity as we pay homage to Serbia’s greatest modern . The 2014 Convention is being hosted by S.S.S. Gračanica of Windsor, Ontario, and will be in the new format, as requested by the delegates at the 2012 Convention in Joliet, Illinois. This new format is to encourage more choirs to send delegates to our annual working session, as it will decrease expenses involved to cover delegate travel, as well as delegates would not need to take off so much time from work. The board applauds the planning committee at S.S.S. Gračanica for embracing this new format and diligently working with the executive board to optimize time allotted to maximize effort and return for the good of the Federation. The board has made some headway in our larger projects such as the parking lot and website. In addition, we have met to strategize our mission and goals for the years ahead. We look forward to sharing our work with the delegates at this year’s convention. Safe travels to those travelling to Windsor. We hope to see some of you there and in Chicago in October. Sincerely, Jelena Stojaković President, Serbian Singing Federation

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 5 The Secretary’s Corner

Can You Make a Commitment?

reetings S.S.F. member choirs! The 2014 Festival is behind us and what a wonderful festival it was! The Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Choir deserves huge applause for their outstanding work and superb organization and Gplanning skills in making the event as terrific and enjoyable as it was. Special kudos to Bob Topich, Michelle Ivetić, and their marvelous Committees! It seems the Executive Secretary never has a moment of rest. There are many things on my plate, but the next most important one is the S.S.F. Convention, September 19th through the 21st in Windsor, Ontario. Having been a delegate to this event numerous times in the past, I recognize the importance of attending a convention. It is the one place where each choir has a voice in defining the future of the S.S.F., and that is a daunting responsibility! We all have the opportunity to help the board better define what’s important and what is not; where to focus efforts; perhaps even some ideas on how to do things better, quicker, and more effectively! Are you all willing to make this commitment and attend the Convention? We are all busy, choirs have many events planned, and time is precious. So is the S.S.F. Make a commitment! Send your delegates to the convention. The S.S.S. Gračanica is preparing a wonderful weekend for delegates to meet people, relax after a day’s work, and have a bit of fun and good food. Let’s make this a positive event – send us your delegates! Let’s not forget to get out there and raise funds for the Paul S. Bielich Scholarship Fund. This fund has been depleted and desperately needs everyone’s help so that our youth can continue to receive scholarships. The Scholarship Committee, Petra Koprivica (Detroit) and Mary Lynn Ricci (Steubenville), did a masterful job in hunting down previous recipients, hoping to get donations from those who were helped in the past. Please be generous! Make a commitment to donate to the Paul S. Bielich Scholarship Fund! I have been very involved in the 2014 S.S.F. Choral Workshop. We recently received a huge “Thank You” from His Grace Bishop +IRINEJ, who will be one of the speakers at the workshop/ symposium. He stated that in September, the Patriarch will be serving a special Liturgy and Parastos in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Stevan St. Mokranjac’s death. This year’s workshop is dedicated to that centennial. His Grace said that we are to be commended for holding this important commemoration in the diaspora. We are honored that Dr. Danica Petrović, Dr. Nikola Resanović, Dr. Peter Jermihov, Fr. Dr. Vasilije Vranić, among others, will be presenting topics all focused around Mokranjac and his work. You will always learn something new and exciting! Make a commitment to register and participate in the S.S.F. Choral Workshop!

Elizabeth Neskow S.S.F. Executive Secretary

6 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition DONATIONS TO THE SERBIAN SINGING FEDERATION MAY 1, 2014 to AUGUST 31, 2014

GENERAL FUND Bob Anderson in Memory of Michael Hutnik $25 Total donations for the General Fund – $25

PAUL S. BIELICH SCHOLARSHIP FUND Melissa and Nicholas Srećković $25 Julie Devere $50 Jerry and MaryLynn Ricci $25 Rick & Mary Živić $200 Jovo and Nada Potkonjak (pending receipt of check) $50 Total donations for Paul S. Bielich Scholarship Fund $350

TOTAL DONATIONS MAY 1 TO AUGUST 31, 2014 – $375

LifeLine Chicago Flood Victims Relief collected at Festival $2,505

SERBIAN SINGING FEDERATION - 2014 DUES The following choirs have paid dues for 2014

Dr. Laza Kostich (Midland, PA) St. Sava Serbian Church Choir (San Gabriel, CA) St. Elijah Serbian Church Choir (Aliquippa, PA) S.S.S. Petar Krstich (Steubenville, OH) Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Choir St. Sava Serbian Church Choir (St. Petersburg, FL) (Pittsburgh, PA) S.S.S. Ravanica (Detroit, MI) St. George Choir St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Choir (Mississauga, ON) (Niagara Falls, ON) S.S.S. Sloboda (Lansing, IL) S.S.S. Gračanica (Windsor, ON) St. Stevens Serbian Orthodox Choir (Alhambra, CA) St. George Serbian Singing Society (Duluth, MN) S.S.S. St. George (Lenexa, KS) S.S.S. Branko Radichevich (Chicago, IL) Stevan Hristich Serbian Choir (Phoenix, AZ) St. George Serbian Singing Society (San Diego, CA) S.S.S. St. Nicholas (Omaha, NE) S.S.S. Josif Marinkovich (Steelton, PA) Sts. Peter & Paul Serbian Orthodox Church Choir St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church Choir (Atlanta, GA) (Monroeville, PA) Serbian Men’s Choir “” (OH) S.S.S. Mita Topalovich (Joliet, IL) Tsar Lazar Male Choir (PA) St. Nicholas Serbian Church Choir (Johnstown, PA) Serbian Orthodox Church Choir Roman the Melod S.S.S. Njegosh (Cleveland, OH) (Kitchener, ON)

Please contact [email protected] for any inquiries regarding dues.

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 7 Thank You from the S.S.F. 73rd Annual Choir Festival Host – Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Choir of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir wishes to thank all of the participating choirs and guests for joining us for a great weekend of fellowship and song at the 2014 S.S.F. Festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We are thrilled that you all choose to spend your time with us. We are honored to have been your hosts and look forward to enjoying your company again in , , for the 2015 S.S.F. Festival!

Valarie Tassari, President of Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir

Very Reverend Rajko Kosić, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

8 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 73rd Annual Choral Festival of the Serbian Singing Federation Hosted by Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

S.S.F. President Jelena Stojaković

S.S.F. Executive Secretary and Mistress of Ceremonies Elizabeth Neskow introducing the Mass Chorus

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 9 73rd Annual Choral Festival of the Serbian Singing Federation

Nataša Lazich (Monroeville), Stevie Pejić (Hamilton), and two other ladies from Carica Milica Choir, who made their debut at the Festival

Current S.S.F. President Jelena Stojaković presenting Past S.S.F. President Vonnie Orlich with the Past President’s Award

Three generations: Nino Karas, director of Petar Krstich Serbian Choir of Steubenville, Ohio; Nick “Kutz” Karas, who celebrated his 99th birthday; and Nicodemus Karas. Sin, Deda i unuk!

10 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 73rd Annual Choral Festival of the Serbian Singing Federation

The honored guest choir of the weekend S.S.S. Branko Radichevich of Chicago, Illinois, under the direction of Popadija Jelena Vranić

Guest Speaker Dr. Danica Petrović giving a presentation on the life and works of Stevan St. Mokranjac

Serbian Men’s Choir “Kosovo” under the direction of Dr. Stevan “Rick” Živić

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 11 73rd Annual Choral Festival of the Serbian Singing Federation

12 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 73rd Annual Choral Festival of the Serbian Singing Federation

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 13 73rd Annual Choral Festival of the Serbian Singing Federation

14 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 73rd Annual Choral Festival of the Serbian Singing Federation

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 15 Petar and Minnie Sekulovich Scholarship Recipients

KRISTINA BIJELIĆ, St. George Serbian Orthodox Church Choir, Niagara Falls, ON. Kristina will be attending the Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. She will be studying for a Master’s Degree in Contemporary Performance.

SARAH MAMULA, Petar Krstich Serbian Choir, Steubenville, OH. Sarah will be attending the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music.

16 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition Petar and Minnie Sekulovich Scholarship Recipients

JULIANA MISICH-RAPPER, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church Choir, Mississauga, ON. Juliana has been accepted at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and at Wilfred Laurier University in Toronto. She will be pursuing a double major in the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences with Music and Political Science as her majors.

Paul S. Bielich Scholarship Recipients

ELIJAH BOOK, S.S.S. Mita Topalovich, Joliet, IL. Elijah will be attending Bradley University in Peoria, IL, and working on a degree in finance and economics from the Foster College of Business.

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 17 Paul S. Bielich Scholarship Recipients

ALYSSA VOLITICH KNAPP, St. Elijah Serbian Church Choir, Aliquippa, PA. Alyssa will be attending Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA, where she will major in Early Childhood Education and Special Education.

ANDJELKA POTKONJAK, S.S.S. Stevan Šijački, Milwaukee, WI. Andjelka will be attending the University of Pittsburgh in the Swanson School of Engineering. She will be pursuing a degree in Bioengineering.

18 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition Paul S. Bielich Scholarship Recipients

KATHERINE ANNE TAKACS, S.S.S. Stevan Šijački, Milwaukee, WI. Katherine will be attending the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she will pursue a degree in Orthodontics.

MARINA RADANOVIĆ, S.S.S. Josif Marinkovich, Steelton, PA. Marina will be attending California University of Pennsylvania where she will be working on a degree in Graphic Design.

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 19 2 0 1 4 50-Year PIN RECIPIENTS

he S.S.F. wishes to congratulate the recipients of the 50-Year Pin Award. Your years of service and support of your local choirs, as well as the S.S.F., shows great dedication to and Tlove of choral singing. In addition, your participation in the endeavors of your local choirs and continued support of the work of the S.S.F. is exemplary. We commend you and wish you many more years of singing and active involvement! Živele – na mnogaja ljeta!

S.S.S. Sloboda – Lansing, Illinois • Melanie Evancevich • Janice Jaksich • Ljubi Hayden • Yvonne Orlich

Petar Krstich Serbian Choir – Steubenville, Ohio • Barbara Zori • Sonja Zelich DiAngelo

L-R: Yvonne Orlich, Ljubi Hayden L-R: Barbara Zori, Sonja Zelich DiAngelo

20 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition Greetings from Mississauga

It was just a couple of months ago that we were all together at the 73rd Annual S.S.F. Festival in Pittsburgh. The Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir showed us all true, Serbian “domacinstvo” and the St. Sava Choir of Mississauga, Canada sends a big “Hvala” in appreciation for all their hard work.

While all our choir members had a wonderful time, our youngest member, Juliana Rapper, will always remember this festival. She was the recipient of one of the +Sekulovich Scholarships. Juliana is part of the Misich family who has three generations of its family singing in our choir.

With many choir members scheduling holidays during the summer months, it is a little challenging meeting our obligations of singing at Sunday liturgy, and singing at weddings at our church. However, we are managing to get the job done.

Our St. Sava Choir wishes all singers and their families a safe and happy summer. We also want to extend an invitation to you all to join us on October 18th for our 59th Annual Concert. Our guest choir this year is the St. Elijah Choir of Aliquippa. Dobro Nam Dosli!

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 21 Serbian Singing Society Gračanica is thrilled to be hosting the 2014 S.S.F. Convention. We are long-standing members of the S.S.F., active in our church and community, and dedicated to Orthodox liturgical music and our faith. We are honoured to assist in the improvement and progress of the S.S.F. We hope all of you will join us! The new format event is set for Friday evening and all day Saturday in Windsor, Ontario. The meet- ings will be held at our Serbian Community Centre. Registration begins Friday at 4pm with dinner and meetings to follow and commences again 8am Saturday morning followed by an impressive day of ideas, development, and unity. Accommodations have been made with The Comfort Inn-Dougall Avenue. Please book your rooms by September 1st at the pre-determined group rate, under code: “Serbian Singing Federation.” Numerous rooms have been blocked off and your comfort is a priority to us. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or allergies. As is our hospitable Serbian / Canadian nature, we plan to serve and entertain for your pleasure and enjoyment. Passports are required to enter the country. Remember to allot a few weeks for renewal processing if your passport has expired. Directions to the various facilities as well as itinerary information will be posted online. Consider sending your delegates to this year’s Convention! We look forward to sharing this experience with each and every one of our friends in the Serbian Singing Federation.

For further details as they develop, go to: www.gracanicawindsor.com under “Choir” and/or facebook “Serbian Singing Society Gracanica”

Serbian Singing Society Gračanica Convention Committee Serbian Community Centre – 6770 Tecumseh Rd. E., Windsor, Ontario N8T 1E6

22 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition Congratulations to the May 2014 and July 2014 Raffle Winners

The winner of the st1 drawing, held at the S.S.F. Festival in Pittsburgh, was Larissa Petrović of New York, NY. Jelena Stojaković drew the winning ticket #0201

The winner of the nd2 drawing, held in Omaha, was Zora Kecman of Troy, MI. The winning ticket is #0197.

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 23 Angelic Voices Singing to the Glory of God

n Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 2014, the St. George Children’s Choir of Schererville, Indiana, participated in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at OGračanica Monastery in Grayslake, Illinois. The children sang the bulk of the Liturgy, with the Gračanica Pontifical Choir filling in where needed with pieces such as the Cherubic Hymn and parts of the Canon of the Eucharist. The choir is directed by Tijana Samardzija, who is no stranger to choral singing or to the S.S.F. world. She has been working with the children of St. George parish for the past few years teaching them liturgical responses and Serbian folk songs. They started on August 19, on the holy day of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with the goal of preparing a program in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the St. George parish. Besides singing for Holy Liturgy in the church, the choir performs every year at a Christmas Concert, St. Sava Day, Church , and Dražin Dan. They rehearse every Friday. Tijana mentioned that she could not do this without the help of Protinica Jelena Milunović, who was on hand to help with the children. Protinica Jelena, along with Prota Dobrivoje, organizes all of their events. An upcoming event for them in 2014 is to perform at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago for the Christmas Around the World program along with the students of St. Sava Academy, the parochial school of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago. Bishop Longin warmly greeted the children and thanked them for lending their angelic voices to beautify the Liturgy. His Grace encouraged the children to keep singing the praises of God and to sing with their senior choir once they are old enough, as the senior choirs need their help. Bishop Longin acknowledged both choir directors present, Tijana Samardzija and Marija Savich Milicich. He praised their parents, especially their fathers who were clergyman, the late Prota Milan Bajich and Prota Milan Savich for raising their children as faithful servants of the Church, so that they in turn are now giving back by donating their time and God-given talent. His Grace presented Tijana Samardzija and all of the children with an icon for taking part in the Liturgy. One thing was evident, the children love to sing. They stood the entire Liturgy, as there are no pews in the monastery, and did not tire. They actually gained momentum when they sang various hymns while the clergy were preparing and partaking in communion. One can only hope that they will continue singing as adults and join the senior choir, whether it is S.S.S. Bishop Stefan Lastavica of Schererville or one of the other S.S.F. choirs. May God grant them many years! Осy се небо звездама The Sky Was Filled with Stars

A Celebration of Stevan St. Mokranjac (1856-1914) on the Centennial of His Death

Co-Sponsored by the Serbian Singing Federation of America, USA and Canada and the Serbian Singing Society Branko Radichevich

October 3-5 & 12, 2014

Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral and Social Hall 5701 N. Redwood Dr., Chicago, IL 60631

Information at www.serbiansingingfederation.org Questions: [email protected] he Sky Was Filled with Stars aims to present the breadth and depth of the musical genius of Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac in a program of intellectual considerations, hands-on workshop T experience, an a cappella choral concert, and Mokranjac’s Liturgy and Opelo. This four-part program will be of interest to musicians as well as the general public, introducing non- to stunning choral compositions and expanding Serb-Americans’ knowledge and understanding of their own cultural heritage.

Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac, the Serbian composer, conductor, and pedagogue, left a lasting mark on the music world of Serbia and the entire Balkan region during the decades of the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries. Well versed in traditional Serbian music, both sacred and folk, he collected melodies from Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Dalmatia (Croatia). He wrote musical arrangements of Hungarian, Turkish, Romanian, and Ukrainian songs. His a capella choral compositions and songs for voice and piano present melodies and characteristics of diverse folk songs. Mokranjac shaped and enriched their beauty and diversity of musical expression using harmonic and polyphonic compositional techniques of classical European music. Through his creative and directorial contributions, Mokranjac became a unique presence in the Balkans and his works continue to engage and transport audiences today. The legacy of this great artist continues, for Mokranjac left a deep impression on the musical creativity of both his contemporaries and his successors in the entire region.

The Choral Workshop will be dedicated to the performance of Mokranjac’s work. It will focus on practical aspects of directing and singing using his compositions as examples as well as on the interpretation of the maestro’s pieces. By the end of the workshop, participants should have a much greater understanding not only of the essence and the practice of these important choral masterpieces, but also of directing and singing techniques that will enhance any choral ensemble’s performance.

The Symposium will offer insight into the life and work of Mokranjac, the impact of his sacred compositions on spiritual, theological, and liturgical considerations, and the importance of his oeuvre to Serbs in the Diaspora.

The Concert of Mokranjac’s choral works will be performed by the S.S.S. Branko Radichevich. Dr. Danica Petrović, the renowned musicologist, will offer insights into the significance of Mokranjac’s work for musical and cultural expression in Serbia, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, a body of work that reverberates around the world. We will come to understand how and why Mokranjac’s work heralded the beginning of a new artistic scene in the Balkans, one in which the musical creations and talents of small European nations was affirmed.

Participants will have the opportunity to sing choral pieces by the master during the workshop sessions, for Saturday Vespers, and for the October 5th Hierarchical Liturgy. They will also enjoy hearing both sacred and secular choral music by Mokranjac at the concert and during the liturgy and memorial service for Mokranjac, for which the S.S.S. Branko Radichevich will sing Mokranjac’s own Liturgy and Opelo. EVENT INFORMATION SUMMARY

2014 CHORAL WORKSHOP & SYMPOSIUM PRESENTERS

Choral Workshop Dr. Nikola Resanović Dr. Peter Jermihov Jelena Vranić

Symposium His Grace Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand Dr. Danica Petrović Rev. Dr. Vasilije Vranić Elizabeth Neskow

Schedule at a Glance Friday, October 3, 2014: Meet & Greet; Lecture: The History of Serbian Music Prior to Mokranjac Saturday, October 4, 2014: Workshop, Vespers, Symposium Sunday, October 5, 2014: Hierarchical Liturgy, Concert, & Commentary Sunday, October 12, 2014: Hierarchical Liturgy, Memorial Service, & Banquet

Location Concert and all Services in Cathedral Workshop, Symposium, & Banquet in Social Hall

Fees Workshop: $75/S.S.F. Choir Member; $100/Non-S.S.F. Member All other events are free. Donations gratefully accepted.

Hotel Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel 8500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60631 Special rate for “Branko Radichevich Choir” available until September 26, 2014 $112/night, includes breakfast, internet, & parking; see site below for more details For reservations, call: 1-800-468-3571 or 1-773-380-9600

Further information & workshop registration form at www.serbiansingingfederation.org

Questions: [email protected]

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition Осy се небо звездама • The Sky Was Filled with Stars 2727 CHORAL WORKSHOP: Session Descriptions

Church Slavonic to English Adaptation: The Mokranjac Osmoglasnik as a Template for Serbian Chant in the New World Dr. Nikola Resanovic A look at the issues, challenges, and changes that are involved when adapting Serbian chant to the English language by way of examples taken from Stevan Mokranjac’s Osmoglasnik and the published adaptations of Nikola Resanović. Dr. Resanović will direct the Choral Workshop participants in chants at Vespers on Saturday.

Conducting Technique as a Means for Expressive Singing in Select Works of Serbian Master Composer Stevan St. Mokranjac Dr. Peter Jermihov Conducting technique, like any skill, is a means toward the realization of a product—the performance of music. There are, to be sure, general precepts by which conductors attain musical results, such as a well-established conducting apparatus, an effective manner of beating time within structured patterns, purposeful and clear preparatory beats, and expressive gestures that elicit musical results—phrasing, articulation, tone quality, and character of the music at hand. But, paradoxically, some conductors with well-developed conducting techniques attain less than desirable products, while some conductors with little or no mastery of conducting technique attain sublime results. What causes this paradox and what are some axiomatic principles that govern expressive singing in response to a conductor’s gestures? The purpose of this presentation will be to illustrate a conductor’s gestures that attain musical results with singers, using select works by Stevan Mokranjac.

Interpreting Sacred Music by Stevan St. Mokranjac in the Contemporary Liturgical Setting Jelena Vranić Interpreting any piece of music demands full and thorough understanding of the score, and all the layers of musical ideas and emotions it contains. This understanding is achieved through careful observation and analysis of the score, and emotional responsiveness to what’s observed. Historical awareness is another important aspect of the in-depth understanding of the score. However, in the attempt to authentically recreate a sacred piece of music, understanding of its liturgical function is likewise crucial. This presentation will explore the importance of understanding the historical context and liturgical function of select sacred works of Stevan Mokranjac, especially the Divine Liturgy, and provide suggestions for its meaningful and appropriate interpretation, both in concert and in the church service. It will also touch upon specific challenges choir directors and singers face when performing Mokranjac’s music in a dual-language liturgical setting.

28 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition SYMPOSIUM: Presentation Descriptions

Music in Orthodoxy: A Transfigured Reality His Grace Bishop Irinej Music, sacred and secular, is an essential locus for transformation. As a dynamic event of beauty, music is a transfigurative art that mystically reveals “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1). In Orthodoxy, music, i.e., sacred song and sound, is theology transcribed in lyrics and melody, a modus for transfiguration within liturgical time and space and beyond. To fulfill itself in worship is to fulfill itself in its very nature as an offering evoking cosmic grace and elevating the heart from the sensory to the sublime. Therefore, the sacred purpose of music is to transcend the ephemeral and to manifest the horizons of the eternal by passing through the door of beauty into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Kornelije Stanković and Stevan Mokranjac—Milestones of Serbian Music in the 19th Century Dr. Danica Petrović This year is the centennial of the death of Stevan Mokranjac and next year marks 150 years since the death of Kornelije Stanković. These anniversaries have inspired me to share my observations on the place of these two musicians in the history of Serbian music. The older Stanković was in essence the first Serbian musician to be widely educated in a European sense while Mokranjac was a composer who created works of significant artistic value, works that today have found their place in the repertoires of choirs worldwide. This presentation will cover the origins and youth of the two , their education, their work as composers and educators, the impact abroad of their creative output, and the lasting presence of their works locally and among their successors. Stanković was born and lived as a subject of the Habsburg Monarchy; Mokranjac lived and worked in the . Each, in his own way, adopted the musical language of European schools and connected it with traditional music, both sacred and secular, mostly Serbian but also of other Balkan peoples. The former opened the door to Europe while the latter, taking the model of this predecessor, came onto the music scenes of Russia, , today’s Hungary, Balkan countries, and Turkey.

Sacred Music as Education of Souls: The Work of Stevan St. Mokranjac on Orthodox Hymnody as Contextualized Theology Rev. Dr. Vasilije Vranić From the outset, Christian hymnody occupied an important role in the church’s worship. Hymnody served the purpose of facilitating worship by virtue of its esthetic potential. The second, and equally, important purpose of hymnody is didactic; namely, the theological content of the hymns served as a powerful instructional tool in the church’s doctrine. The two purposes of Orthodox hymnody are evident in the work of Stevan St. Mokranjac in preserving and enriching the sacred music of the Serbian Orthodox Church with original choral arrangements. I argue that Mokranjac’s opus of sacred music of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which is marked by a

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 29 fortunate balance between didactic power and restrained esthetic sensibility, is a noteworthy illustration of the successful process of contextualizing theology, as a means of augmented missionary efficiency.

The Role of the Serbian Singing Federation in Promoting Mokranjac’s Work Elizabeth Neskow The organized proliferation of Mokranjac’s music in the United States began in 1931 with the founding of the Serbian Singing Federation, which has played a significant role in that proliferation. However, much of that music in the past was of dubious provenance and the authenticity of the scores was questionable. This had a significant impact on the quality of Mokranjac pieces performed by Serbian choirs in the United States and Canada. In turn, the inaccurate translation of his works had a negative effect on the quality of music and the cultural heritage that Serbs in the Diaspora enjoy. Happily, that is changing today.

CHORAL WORKSHOP PRESENTERS

Nikola Resanović, DMA, is a composer and professor of music. His musical works have been performed at hundreds of professional music festivals and concerts throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa, including the 2005 International Clarinet Festival in Tokyo, Japan; the 2005 International Festival of Music in Xian, China; the 2010 Festival International de Musique de Campina Grade, Brazil; the 2012 National Flute Association Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada; and most recently the 2014 International Clarifest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His compositions have been performed by the Cleveland Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Cairo (Egypt) National Symphony, Odessa (Ukraine) Symphony, Ludwig Symphony (Atlanta), Toledo Symphony, Greater-Palm Beach Symphony, Akron Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, Akron Youth Symphony, Solaris wind quintet, Chicago Brass Choir, the Australian Ensemble Liaison, the Grammy-nominated Imani Winds, and numerous professional ensembles and individual performing artists around the world. Numerous compositions by Dr. Resanović have been published by the Serbian Singing Federation and performed by various Serbian choirs in the United States and Canada. He has translated the chants of Stevan St. Mokranjac from Church Slavonic into English and is a foremost expert on Serbian liturgical chant. Born in Derby, England, in 1955, Nikola Resanović has lived in the United States since 1966. He is a graduate of the University of Akron, School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied music composition with Donald Erb. He is the recipient of numerous commissions, grants, and awards, including the 2003 Cleveland Arts Prize. Dr. Resanović is presently Professor of Music at the University of Akron, where he has taught music Composition and Theory since 1983.

30 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition Peter Jermihov, DMusA, conductor and teacher, was born in Chicago of Russian émigré parents. An advocate of the Russian School of Conducting, he has cultivated a versatile career by combining professional conducting engagements with teaching appointments, choral with orchestral conducting, and music-making with research. As an internationally recognized specialist in Russian music and Orthodox liturgical music, Dr. Jermihov is also a devoted proponent of east-west cultural exchange. In the United States, he has promoted the music of many Russian and Eastern European composers. In Soviet Russia, he conducted premiere performances of works by Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, and Charles Ives with the country’s leading orchestras. In post-1991 Russia, he introduced the compositions of numerous American and British composers, such as Ben Johnston, , Kurt Sander, Phillip Schroeder, John Tavener, and Tikey Zes. Dr. Jermihov’s doctoral dissertation was dedicated to Georgy Sviridov, whose music he continues to champion in the west. Dr. Jermihov went to the St. Petersburg State Conservatory as a Fulbright–Hays Fellow and Interna­ tional Research and Exchanges Board Scholar to study orchestral conducting under the legendary master teacher Ilya Musin. He was invited to guest-conduct the country’s top ensembles: the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Petersburg and Moscow Chamber Choirs, among others. He has guest-conducted with major orchestras in the Far East and Europe. At the historic 1988 celebration A Thousand Years of Christianity in Russia, he conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Symphony No. 5. He continues to guest-conduct internationally acclaimed choirs and orchestras in the Far East, Eastern Europe, Russia, and the United States. During his formative years, Dr. Jermihov studied conducting under such renowned choral masters as Eric Erickson of Sweden, Vladimir Minin of Russia, and Helmuth Rilling of Germany. He was invited to the Tanglewood Music Center under Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa as a Conducting Fellow, and to the American Orchestra League’s Conducting Seminars under Kurt Masur and Leonard Slatkin as an Active Participant. Dr. Jermihov had the privilege of preparing choruses for performance with such noted conductors as James Conlon, Nicholas McGegan, and Vladimir Minin and served as assistant conductor to Robert Shaw, preparing Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem at the 2nd World Symposium on Choral Music in Stockholm. Dr. Jermihov has served as director of choral and orchestral activities at several major state universities and private colleges. His articles and editions of choral music have appeared in the Choral Journal, International Federation of Choral Music Journal, Musica Russica, Inc., PSALM Music Press, and numerous other publications. His translation of Ilya Musin’s landmark book On Educating a Conductor is being prepared for publication.

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 31 Jelena Vranić, director of Serbian Singing Society Branko Radichevich (“Brankies,” Chicago), holds a degree in music education and theory from the Faculty of Music, University of Arts, , Serbia, where she also completed graduate courses before moving to the United States. Mrs. Vranić has been directing children’s and adult choirs in Serbia and the United States since 2001 and has taught general music and piano since she moved to the United States in 2005. Mrs. Vranić was assistant director of the renowned children’s choir “Kolibri” and from 2001 to 2005 she directed the Choir of St. George Church in Belgrade. Besides singing responses for church services, the choir performed many concerts in Serbia, Austria, and Hungary. Before becoming director of Brankies in 2013, she was the choral ensemble’s associate director (2011–2013). She has introduced new compositions to the choir and has written arrangements for a number of choral works. A passionate advocate of Orthodox music, Mrs. Vranić has worked on several publications of Serbian church music, including co-editing Serbian Orthodox Church Chant for Mixed and Male Choirs by Tihomir Ostojić, and proofreading the church chant portions of the Collected Works of Stevan Mokranjac. Over the last 20 years, Mrs. Vranić has also sung with a number of choirs, including the Choir of the Institute of Musicology of the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, the professional choral ensemble “Servikon,” “Stefan Dečanski” choir, and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. She currently sings with the St. Romanos Choir.

SYMPOSIUM PRESENTERS

His Grace the Right Reverend Irinej, is Bishop of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Born in Cleveland, he earned a Licentiate in Theology,maxima cum laude, from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and a M.Div. from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. He has studied art history at the Cleveland Institute of Art with private tutelage in Byzantine Iconography and Japanese Sumi-e painting. He has been lecturer at Loyola University in Chicago and at the Theological Faculty of the . Until his election as Bishop of Australia and New Zealand, he was the Consultant to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on International and Interchurch Affairs. He was also Coordinator of the newly created Kosovo and Metohija Office of the Holy Assembly of Bishops at the Patriarchate in Belgrade. Among his many appointments, Bishop Irinej represents the Serbian Orthodox Church to the World Council of Churches Central Committee and is a member of the Jasenovac Committee, the Permanent Missions Board of the Holy Synod of Bishops, the Advisory Council of the Njegoš Endowment for Serbian Studies at Columbia University, and Chairman of the National Heads of Churches of Australia.

32 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition Bishop Irinej has previously held the position of Editor-in-Charge of the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Executive Director of the Office of External Affairs of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada (Washington, DC), among other posts. He has served on the Board of Directors of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), the Executive Council of The United States Conference of Religions for Peace, the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs in Chicago, and the Chicago Human Rights Commission.

Danica Petrović, Ph.D., the noted Serbian musicologist, graduated from the Belgrade Music Academy and received her doctorate, with a dissertation on Octoechos in the Musical Tradition of South Slavs, from the University of Ljubljana. During her doctoral work, she also studied at Oxford University, under Egon Wellesz, and with Ivan von Gardner in and Maurus Pfapf in Beuron. Since 1970, Dr. Petrović has worked at the Institute of Musicology of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, where she became a full research fellow in 1995 and director of the Institute from 2001 until her retirement in 2012. A professor of national music history at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad since 1993, Petrović initiated the course on the History of Church Music at the Department of Church Music of the Music Academy in East Sarajevo. In the last twenty years she has organized 35 summer courses devoted to different traditions of Orthodox music for church cantors, choir sings, and directors in Serbia and Hungary. Dr. Petrović has edited three books of church singing by composer Kornelije Stanković, two chant collections of Nenad Barački, and the chant collection of Tihomir Ostojić. A key collaborator in the compilation of the ten-volume Collected Works of Stevan Mokranjac, she authored the collection’s critical editions of Mokranjac’s transcriptions of Serbian church chant. These include analytical studies, critical commentary, hymn texts, and indexes in Church Slavonic, as well as translations into Serbian and English. Her book Founders of Hilandar in Orthodox Chant, published in Serbian and English and accompanied by CD recordings, was awarded the 1999 Vuk Foundation’s annual prize for science. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the First Belgrade Singing Society, she prepared the exhibition and published a book co-authored by two younger associates. She is the initiator and the editor-in-chief of the Complete Works of Kornelije Stanković. Dr. Petrović has published about 250 works in Serbian, English, German, French, Russian, Bulgarian, and Hungarian. She has written texts for various domestic and foreign lexicographical publications. For her contributions to the Russian Orthodox Encyclopedia (Православная Энциклопедия) she received the Grammata award from Russian Patriarch Alexei II. Dr. Petrović has participated in numerous conferences in Serbia and the former Yugoslavia as well as in many countries of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, and the United States. She has organized many seminars and edited proceedings of various conferences and workshops organized by the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and by Matica Srpska, the oldest cultural and scientific institution in Serbia. One of the co-founders of the Study Choir of the Institute of Musicology, she was also an active member of the choir for three decades. Dr. Petrović has been featured in numerous radio programs in Serbia and abroad and has made several television programs as well as a four-part series about the development of Serbian church music. The basis of Dr. Petrović’s research has been the study of Slavonic liturgical manuscripts of the 15th through the 19th centuries and the archival material related to the history of Serbian music. She specialized

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 33 in the Byzantine foundations of Serbian church music, traditional Serbian folk church chant, 18th-century Russian-Serbian and Greek-Slavonic cultural bonds, and the connections between Serbian and European music in the 19th century. Dr. Petrović is a member of the International Society of Orthodox Church Music, the American Society of Byzantine Music and Hymnology, and Cantus Planus of the International Musicological Society.

Rev. Vasilije Vranić, Ph.D., born in Sarajevo, began his university studies at the St. Sava Seminary in Belgrade. At the invitation of Hilandar Monastery, he transferred to Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy on the Holy Mountain, from which he graduated with honors. He studied German at the Goethe Institute in Sibiu (Romania) and later taught Modern Greek at the Public University “Božidar Adžija” in Belgrade. Fr. Vasilije holds a degree in theology from the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology (Libertyville, IL), an M.A. in Theology from Anglia Ruskin University (Cambridge Theological Federation, Cambridge, UK), and an M.Phil. in Church History from the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge (UK). He received his Ph.D. in Religious Studies (Historical Theology) from Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI). At Marquette, Fr. Vasilije held the post of Lecturer in the Department of Theology. He is Assistant Professor in Canon Law at the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology. He serves at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago, IL) as the priest of the Northern parish. As Director of Religious Education of the Metropolitanate of Midwestern America and, recently, of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, Fr. Vasilije has been active in organizing many educational and cultural programs. As his reputation has expanded worldwide, he has been asked to speak at numerous international conferences, including at Oxford University.

Elizabeth Neskow, Director Emerita of Serbian Singing Society Branko Radichevich (“Brankies”), has for four decades been a leading player on the Serbian choral stage of the United States and Canada. She introduced choral compositions never before heard in North America to the repertoire of Brankies and, at choral festivals of the Serbian Singing Federation, to other Serbian choirs on this continent. Ms. Neskow has been honored with several Grammata awards for her services to spiritual choral singing by the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade. In 2013 upon her retirement from directing Brankies, she received the Tsaritsa Milica award from the Patriarchate, the only such honor bestowed upon anyone in North America and one of only 200 ever conferred. Ms. Neskow continues to be an active member of and singer with the Brankies. She directs the octet for Pesma, a program of Serbian poetry and song, for which she curates the musical selections. She currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the Serbian Singing Federation. Ms. Neskow is a graduate of Northwestern University and trained musically at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, where she earned her degree in theory and composition with honors. She has received awards from various music organizations for distinction in her performances at piano recitals and competitions. She also holds other degrees.

34 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition SCHEDULE

Friday, October 3, 2014

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Meet and Greet 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Lecture by Dr. Danica Petrović: The History of Serbian Music Prior to Mokranjac

Saturday, October 4, 2014

9:00 am – 10:50 am: Workshop with Dr. Peter Jermihov 11:00 am – 12:50 pm: Workshop with Jelena Vranić 12:50 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Workshop with Dr. Nikola Resanovic 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Vespers directed by Dr. Nikola Resanović chanted by Workshop Participants 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Symposium

Sunday, October 5, 2014

9:30 am – 11:30 am: Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Concert & Commentary S.S.S. Branko Radichevich Speaker: Dr. Danica Petrović 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Reception

Sunday, October 12, 2014

9:30 am – 11:30 am: Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Parastos (Memorial Service for Mokranjac) 12:30 pm: Banquet

Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition 35 Serbian Singing Federation of America, USA and Canada, and S.S.S. Branko Radichevich p r e s e n t Осу се небо звездама The Sky Was Filled with Stars A Celebration of Stevan St. Mokranjac (1856-1914) on the Centennial of his Death

~ Friday-Sunday, October 3-5, 2014 ~ Symposium and Choral Workshop Co-sponsored and organized under the auspices of the S.S.F. Symposium Speakers: Workshop Presenters: His Grace Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand Dr. Nikola Resanović Dr. Danica Petrović Dr. Peter Jermihov Rev. Dr. Vasilije Vranić Jelena Vranić Elizabeth Neskow ~ Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 5pm ~ Concert and Commentary S.S.S. Branko Radichevich Conductor: Jelena Vranić Speaker: Prof. Dr. Danica Petrović (Belgrade)

~ Sunday, October 12, 2014 ~ Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Parastos Responses: Stevan St. Mokranjac Divine Liturgy and Opelo Banquet to follow

All events to be held at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral and Social Hall 5701 N. Redwood Dr., Chicago, IL 60631

To register or for further information, please contact us at [email protected] 36 Serbian Singing Federation e Hi-Notes e Summer 2014 Edition or visit the SSF website at www.serbiansingingfederation.org