Concert of Mak Ambassador Office for Grgić and Nejc Visits SI Abroad Kuhar at NGA Boston, MA Public Tender page 3 > page 4 > page 7 > NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 29, 2013, VOLUME 9, NUMBER 43 A Taste of Slovenia with International Club of DC On Friday, November 22, the Embassy of Slovenia, in cooperation with the International Club of DC, organized a cultural evening that featured Slovenian Nejc Kuhar and Mak Grgić presented contemporary film music and culture, art, music, cuisine, compositions by Nejc Kuhar himself. and wine. The well-attended event culture, nature, tourism, and The highlight of the began with hors d’oeuvres, trade. More than one hundred evening was a concert by two of where guests could enjoy a glass attendees were also greeted Slovenia’s talented and promising or two of Slovenian wine from by the president and founder young guitarists, Nejc Kuhar the Štajersko region, before of International Club of DC, Mr. and Mak Grgić, who presented attending a short presentation Sanjaya Hettihewa, President themselves with interpretations of Slovenia, given by the and Founder of International of contemporary film music, Deputy Chief of Mission Ms. Club of DC, which promotes and compositions by Nejc Ondina Blokar Drobič, followed cross-cultural connections and Kuhar himself. After the exciting by a short movie depicting international understanding performance, the attendees the enchanting Slovenian through various programs and were invited to enjoy a buffet of events. traditional Slovenian delicacies like Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOinUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA washington.embassy.si Carnolian sausage with cabbage, trout, potato salad, Prekmurska gibanica cake, Bled cream cake, along with drinks from the open bar. The evening concluded in a pleasant atmosphere of lively conversation among International Club of DC members, other guests, and the diplomatic personnel of the Embassy of Slovenia. The event was attended by more than one hundred guests. EMBASSY ADOPTION PROGRAM Visit to Janney Elementary School Within the Embassy Adoption Program, on Monday, November 25, 2013, Nuška Zakrajšek and Tina Rušt from the Embassy of Slovenia made their third visit to a fifth-grade class at Janney Elementary School. To refresh the students’ memory, a short movie about Slovenia was shown, after which the students were presented with a short quiz to see how much they have already learned about their adopted country. During the lesson, the students also discussed with the embassy representatives numerous hot and mineral springs continental species live in Slovenia, the Karst phenomena, learned in Slovenia. The children also which places Slovenia among the about the Proteus (human fish) found out that over 1% of living most biologically rich and diverse and the Lipizzaner horses, and organisms on Earth and 2% of all areas in Europe. At the end of the lesson, they were presented with souvenirs bearing Slovenia’s logo ”I feel Slovenia”. As part of the “Slovenian New Year’s decoration in our home” project by Slovenian graphic and fashion designer Nina Nemec, the students of Janney Elementary School also made winter ornaments that will be sent to and displayed in Slovenia. Ornaments will be displayed in Slovenia. NOVEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 2 EVENTS Concert of Mak Grgič and Nejc Kuhar at the National Gallery of Art Internationally recognized Slovenian musicians Mak Grgić and Nejc Kuhar performed in concert on Sunday, November 24 at the National Gallery of Art West Garden Court within the NGA Seventy-Second Concert Series. Born in Slovenia, Mak Grgić is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the USC Thornton School of Music in California as a student of Prof. Scott Tennant. Invited to venues worldwide, he has performed at major performing arts centers, Standing ovations for Mak Grgić and Nejc Kuhar at the NGA. and this was his second evening concert at the National Gallery of Art in Washington during which he excellent guitarist but also as Water”, which was praised by performed music by J.S. Bach and a distinguished composer. His the Washington Post: »Kuhar’s Slovenian composers. composition “Six Miniatures, for two pieces — “Niagara Falls With The concert, well-attended each season one” has won him Water” and “Carpe GuiCell” — by around three hundred people, 1st prizes in two international were eclectic and fun, the former world-premiered a composition competitions and, in 2009, his involving some hand percussion by the young Slovenian composer ensemble piece was awarded 3rd and performance art (two players Nina Šenk titled …entourer II…., prize at the prestigious Gustav on one instrument, then one in which Grgić was joined on stage Mahler Competition in Austria. player moving through the hall), by cellist Jay Campbell. Grgić and Mak Grgić and Nejc Kuhar the latter a homage to the 18th Campbell also performed Kuhar’s jointly perform as guitar Duo century, consisting of a somber composition “Carpe GuiCell”, Prokofiev. The duo presented at pavane followed by a gentle since Kuhar is acknowledged the National Gallery Kuhar’s own Slovenian waltz. « all over Europe not only as an composition “Niagara Falls with INFORMATION Agreement on Social Security Upon request by some Parliamentary Foreign Relations with the United States. The two of our readers, the embassy Committee have both agreed to sides are planning to meet and wishes to inform you that the the proposal to conclude and start negotiations as soon as Government of Slovenia and the Agreement on social security possible. NOVEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 3 AMBASSADOR’S AGENDA Ambassador Dr. Cerar Speaks at the ASEEES Annual Convention The Society for Slovene Studies, which in 2013 celebrates its 40th anniversary, held its annual conference in Boston, November 21-24, 2013. The meeting, which was held in conjunction with that of the Association for Slavic, East European, & Eurasian Studies, featured four Slovene panels* and six others, in which Slovene- themed papers were presented. A roundtable held on While in Boston, Ambassador Cerar met with a group of young Slovenian November 22, titled “Current professionals, Ph.D. students and entrepreneurs. (Photo credit: David Fartek) Developments in Slovenian Foreign Policy: Croatia, E.U. of Slovenia’s foreign relations, well as with young Slovene Enlargement, and Other expanding particularly on professionals and entrepreneurs Challenges,” brought together Slovenian- Croatian relations in in the Boston area. Toby Applegate, a geographer; the last decade. Dr. Gow took Charles Bukowski, Director of the discussion to Slovene-Serb *The three not mentioned the Institute of International relations, which he maintained here are: “Children at War Studies at Bradley University; were improving since the fall and Revolution;”The Promises James Gow of King’s College, of Milošević. The speakers’ and Realities of ‘Europe’: London, where he is Professor presentations brought lively Minorities, Migrant Laborers and of International Peace and discussion with the audience, Democratization in Slovenia and Security Studies, and Slovenia’s which spilled over from the Croatia;” “The Space of Slovene Ambassador to Washington, allotted time. Literary Culture.” The paper Dr. Božo Cerar. The roundtable Later in the afternoon, titles and presenters’ names moderator was Dr. Carole Rogel, Ambassador Cerar addressed a may be found in the Convention a historian from Ohio State special meeting of the Society for program and also in the current University. Slovene Studies members where Society for Slovene Studies Dr. Bukowski presented he talked about the possibility newsletter #73. See SSS an overview of developments of introducing a literary award website: www.slovenestudies. since the last foreign policy in the U.S. in the name of the com. roundtable held in Washington, Slovene-American writer Louis DC, two years ago. He assessed Adamic (1898-1951). While them in terms of more than visiting Boston, Ambassador a decade of foreign policy Dr. Cerar also met with Slovene highlights relating to Slovenia. scientist Dr. Anton Mavretič, who Dr. Applegate introduced aspects worked for the MIT Center for of cultural geography into the Space Research under contract conversation. Ambassador Dr. for NASA from 1972 to 1979 Cerar elaborated on the larger and contributed to the Voyager trends and accomplishments 1 and Voyager 2 projects, as NOVEMBER 29, 2013, PAGE 4 TOURISM Lesce Lesce is an industrial town in the municipality of Radovljica in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. Lying at an altitude of 493 m (1613 ft.), it has approximately 2800 inhabitants, and is second largest town in the municipality. Lesce. (Source of the photos and the text: Krajevna skupnost Lesce at http:// Lesce is one of the earliest- www.lesce.si/) mentioned settlements in the frescoes on its exterior, it was In 1850, there were only region, first noted in a Bishops extensively changed in the 17th about 10 houses in Lesce. But of Brixen document from the century in the Baroque style. The when in 1870 the railway came year 1004, alongside Bled and church is known for its frescoes into the town, that was the Bohinj. in the dome of the presbytery, start of tourism in Lesce, mainly In the center of the old painted by Franc Jelovšek. The because of its location near town, there is a three-nave bell tower stands separate from Bled, which at that time was pilgrimage church, dedicated to the church, which makes it a popular spa town in central the Assumption of the Virgin. unique, since in Slovenian sacral Europe, promoted by a Swiss Originally a Gothic church architecture almost every bell hydropath, Arnold Rikli. In 1923, with remnants of 14th-century tower is attached to the church. the chain factory Veriga was opened in Lesce, which brought about a significant increase in the town’s population In the late 1950s, the Šobec campground was opened.