From Your Board - Serbian Singing Federation

HI N TES
SERBIAN SINGING FEDERATION
SUMMER EDITION 2009
From Your Board
Since September of 2008 in Omaha, it has been a full – and fulfilling – year.
Many of our member choirs have hosted concerts, both Fall and Spring; many of you went caroling for
Christmas – a huge boost to those who may not or cannot attend church or choir events; and 19 choirs
attend the recent Festival in Joliet.
“Doin’ Time In Joliet” certainly was not a prison sentence. Instead, it was a soul-liberating weekend filled
with song and dance. We must commend the Mita Topalovich Choir, their members, committee-persons,
and their co-chairwomen Alexandra Starcevich and Michelle Efatoski for a successful festival. They did not
miss anything – from the housing to the food everything was well handled and smoothly run.
Congratulations to all of them and the Joliet community for their efforts. And a thank you to Fr. Ned
Lunich for so graciously opening his home to host the directors on Saturday evening.
A big thank you to all the participating choirs as well. Each choir performed well and with sincerity and
pride. Congratulations to each and every participating choir and to their directors and directresses. Events
such as the recent festival are one of the driving forces which keep the Serbian Singing Federation alive and
ready to push forward.
But don’t throw in the towel on 2009 yet! We still have the choral workshop in August which will be hosted
by the SSS Stevan Sijacki Choir of Milwaukee. Encourage your directors and your members to register and
attend this most-productive weekend. Your choirs will benefit in many ways from the lessons learned at
the workshop.
This will be followed by the annual convention which is in September and will be hosted by the SSS
Ravanica choir of Detroit. Please respond to the Call to Convention as soon as possible and be sure that
your delegates have completed their paperwork and are prepared to address the many important issues
which confront the SSF in the coming year.
We sincerely hope that each and every choir will be participating in a Fall concert, either as a host or as a
guest. These concerts keep the spirit of the Federation alive and they honor the spirit of those singers,
composers and directors who have gone before us. And, hopefully, non-singers will be encouraged to
support their local choirs and perhaps even join their local choir.
This is the last Hi-Notes for the current board. So, let us take this opportunity to thank all of your for your
votes of confidence, for your continued participation in the activities of the SSF, and for your support of
future endeavors. It has always been the wish of the board that we act as your representatives with the best
interests of the Federation and its member choir at heart. We hope we have succeeded.
Much success and good fortune to the Federation and to all of you in the future.
Sincerely,
Mary V. Paich, President
Vonnie Orlich, 2nd Vice President
Jelena Stojakovic, Asst. Executive Secretary
Mark Borato, 1st Vice President
Ljubi Hayden, Executive Secretary
Milka Chuk, Treasurer
UPCOMING S.S.F. EVENTS
S.S.F. Choral Workshop
69th Annual S.S.F. Convention
August 14 - 16, 2009 September 17 - 21, 2009
Hosts: S.S.S. Stevan Sijacki Choir Hosts: S.S.S. Ravanica
Milwaukee, WI
Detroit, MI
Page 1
“DOIN’ TIME IN JOLIET” CHOIR REPORT
We all did OUR TIME, we were
role models and we should all be
proud of our SERVICES
RENDERED! I along with each
Mita Topalovich Choir member
cannot express our thanks enough
to each of you for saying YES; I’ll
help wherever I can! In no
particular order I ACKNOWLEDGE EACH
NAME...MNOGO VAM HVALA!
Gayle and Paul Shimek; Becky, Dan, Eliya, Theodore and
Matthew Prieboy; Nancy, Natalie, Nick and Mike Cora;
Chrissy, Craig and Niko Vercelote; Natalya, Nina, Simo and
Sam Starcevich; Lori Piazza; Ray Wilson; Dan Jovanovich
Jr.; Bob Jakovich; Vicki, Erin, Ryan and Danilo Dorsey; Greg
Grubisich; Diane,; Don, Peter, San and Olivia Grubisich;
Pete Grubisich; Chrissy, Eva, Eli and Jack Book, Jr.; Nick
Srechkovich; Melissa Condon; Ertan Efatoski; Kirk
Stapinski; Greg Ristich; Delores and Steve Malinovich;
Nancy and Richard Jovanovich; Dolly and Jack Book, Sr.;
Mary Lou Suitca; Judy Lockwood; Patti Mancke; Bob
Orlovich; Bill Cleary; Sue Condon; Kathy and Danny
Petkovich; Stefanie and Nenad Jackovljevic; Marty,
Anthony and Bill Seemann; Zoe and Zack Evans; Kathy
Harper; Helen and Nick Malinovich; Annette O’Leary;
Anka, Nancy and Pete Laketa; Darlene and Radovan
Jovanovich; Millie Skoryi; Bosilka Kovacevich; Milka
Grubisich; Nadine Pakustys; Bonnie and David Dauer;
Bertha O’Brien; Sophie Anderson; Cheryl and Rachel
Ferguson; Dr. Howard Grundy; Jackie DeChamps; Neddie
Astorino; Gen Ostoich; Liz Protich; Ely Grubisich; Kevin
from Kansas. Last but not least to Father Ned for his faith
and support and our chairladies Alexandra Starcevich and
Michelle Efatoski. To the SSF Board, Mary Paich, Mark
Borato, Vonnie Orlich, Ljubi Hayden, Milka Chuk, Jelena
Stojakovich and Webmaster Holly Jovanovich Goljic.
Thank you for your trust!
Special thanks to each of you that supported our Ad/
Program Book with your participation. We are so grateful
adn this project yielded a fantastic profit! Overall some
outstanding invoices are still pending; however the bottom
line looks good! To those that attended and filled our Social
Center, thank you so very much for being with us on a
memorable weekend.
Alex will still be creating and taking order for the “Zivio”
shot glasses. You may place an order with her by calling
708-301-1186. They were a great hit at the festival both in
appeal and profit, as she withstood the entire expense and
artistic talent! Uncle Bob and Aunt Martha Vuicich so
graciously designed, crafted and painted the glass carriers
in various design and colors. Order are also being taken for
them, and again, they withstanding the entire time and
expense. Sincere
gratitude Martha and Bob!
BYE BYE, DOVIDJENA, FESTIVAL Until next time!
Our choir will be taking a short summer break and then it’s
up and at it again! There will be a choral workshop in
Milwaukee in August and then the Annual S.S.F.
Convention in Detroit to which we will be sending delegate
to in September. We will also be doing concert appearances
in neighboring colonies and then our 50th Anniversary in
November. Chairladies Becky, Cheryl and Bonnie have
begun the plans along with the rest of us. Stay tuned for
information.
We wish our member Nick Cora the best of everything as
he begins his college career at U of I in Champaign.
Congratulations to him on receiving an S.S.F. Scholarship
along with his many other awards. We are proud of you
and we shall certainly miss you. It was great to have
Natalya Starcevich and Anthony Seemann with us for the
summer. Best to both of you at NIU and in the work world.
Congratulations to Eliya Prieboy on his graduation from
Troy Middle School. Eliya will be entering Joliet West with
some tough classes. Eva Book graduated from the
Eisenhower Academy with awards and will also be
entering Joliet West. aybe sometimes when you do not
have “Wednesday night homework”, do come down for
choir practice. Remember young teens, the choir welcomes
you at age fourteen, and there are so mnay of you in the
choir loft on Sundays and it is so rewarding and awesome
to see you there. Keep the choir in your “plans for church
life”, it is a good path to follow. Thanks to Kathy Petkovich
who does a wonderful job of “musical encouragement” to
the young up and coming singers. Summer in the choir loft
can get “light in attendance”. Sophie and Alex take turns at
the directors stand but you are needed.
To our Church and Executive Board, our thanks for
allowing us to host this SSF Festival. We hope that e eased a
little of the financial burden that befalls the social center by
reciprocating half of the janitorial fees and extra waste pickup. The choir was complimented by the Kitchen Managers
for leaving the entire premises in very clean and organized
order. Thank you Milly and Milka for your support and
assistance. Our Bar Manager, Paul Shimek, who so
graciously donated several beverages to put into a basket of
cheers for our auction gift for the SSF undraiser. Paul also
went the extra mile along with Dan Prieboy in the bar
service. We were able to award the ASSC with a substantial
cut of profit that of course is eventaully turned into our
church treasury. This shows how one hand helps the other,
and why our St. George organizations are successful. Our
church community works together.
Until the next publication, I remain, so appreciatively,
Darelene Jovanovich
Choir President
GREETINGS
FROM
75th
SERBIAN SINGING SOCIETY
JOSIF MARINKOVICH
of
St. Nicholas Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church
Steelton, PA
President…………………Patricia Hernjak
Vice-President……………….Cheryl Klipa
Treasurer………………….Diane Cashman
Secretary…………………Yovanka Hoover
Financial Secretary….….Helen Miscevich
Anniversary
Directress……..Nadine Klipa
Celebrating our 75th Anniversary –
October 24-25, 2009
Guest choir –
Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir of Pittsburgh, PA
Happy
Summer
from
Aliquippa
Happy
Birthday
to
you,
Happy
Birthday
to
you!
Our
June
babies!
Hello
everyone
we
hope
your
summer
is
going
well!
Like
always,
we
have
been
keeping
busy
since
we
all
“Did
Time
in
Joliet.”
We
arrived
on
Friday
(as
usual
we
never
want
to
miss
anything),
we
quickly
checked
into
our
hotel
and
headed
to
the
hall
for
dinner,
a
beverage
(or
two),
and
a
chance
to
spend
Cme
with
all
the
early
arrivals.
We
could
not
wait
to
listen
and
sing
with
our
friends
the
Bajich
Brothers
from
Kansas
City
aka
Lenexa,
Kansas.
When
the
music
stopped,
we
headed
back
to
our
hotel
to
conCnue
the
party
in
our
usual
party
room.
A
fun
Cme
was
had
by
all,
especially
for
those
who
could
remember!
!
L‐R
George
Milosh
who
sang
the
solo
in
the
Fi[h
Rukovet
at
the
FesCval;
Pete
Samardzia
who
has
to
be
one
of
the
oldest
members
of
the
SSF!
Pete
sings
faithfully
every
Sunday
in
the
St.
Elijah
Choir
lo[
when
he
is
not
in
his
winter
home
in
Florida;
Melissa
Ridjaneck
our
social
buVerfly
who
always
makes
everyone
happy;
and
John
Buffalini
who
works
Crelessly
at
his
young
age
for
the
SNF
while
a
student
at
Washington
&
Jefferson.
You
should
hear
John
sing
his
“Kol
Slaven”
solo.
Just
as
Georgie
sings
the
Oce
Nas.
Saturday
we
relaxed
in
the
hot
tub
and
at
the
pool
unCl
we
had
our
pracCce
session
in
our
room.
30
singer’s
+
one
room
=
priceless
memories!
Upon
compleCon
of
pracCce
we
got
ready
for
the
concert.
It
was
great
to
see
everyone
and
to
watch
an
enjoyable
program.
We
would
like
to
take
a
minute
to
congratulate
Mildred
Beaver,
our
neighbor
from
Midland,
on
being
honored
as
the
Director
of
the
Year.
Many
of
us
have
had
the
opportunity
to
sing
under
her
direcCon
at
pomens
and
vesper
services.
May
God
Bless
you
with
many
more
years
dear
friend.
Sunday
we
all
were
up,
had
breakfast,
aVended
liturgy,
and
were
off
for
another
pleasurable
performance
by
the
choirs
on
Sunday’s
Program;
it
was
delighZully
entertaining
as
well.
A[er
the
Sunday
concert,
it
was
back
to
singing,
dancing,
and
creaCng
new
memories,
especially
with
the
picture
of
all
of
us
“behind
bars!”
We
would
be
remiss
not
to
congratulate
our
hosts
this
year
the
Mita
Topalovich
Choir
and
their
enCre
community
for
sharing
all
of
their
talents
with
us
to
enjoy.
Great
job!
The
highlight
for
the
evening
was
singing
Peta
Rukovet
not
only
on
stage
at
the
program
on
Saturday,
but
a[er
the
concert
at
the
corner
of
the
bar
with
all
who
knew
not
only
this
composiCon
but
Makedonska
Humoreska
as
well.
These
two
wonderful
composiCons
brought
back
many
memories
to
all
those
who
parCcipated.
There
are
no
words
to
describe
the
sound,
the
excitement,
and
just
plain
enjoyment
of
the
combined
voices
from
all
over
the
United
States
and
Canada,
thanks
for
the
memory!
One
more
round
of
hosCng
all
of
our
friends
back
at
the
hotel
talking,
singing,
dancing,
and
laughing,!
So
ended
another
FesCval,
the
weekend
went
by
so
fast
and
thanks
be
to
God,
we
all
arrived
safe
and
sound
back
in
Aliquippa
early
Monday
evening.
One
week
off
and
we
were
back
pracCcing
for
our
long
awaited
trip
to
Lenexa,
Kansas
September
11th‐13th;
and
the
following
weekend
(September
19th
&
20th)
we
will
host
our
79th
Annual
Concert
Weekend
with
our
honored
guests
the
SSS
Josif
Marinkovich
Choir
from
Steelton,
PA
who
will
also
be
bringing
along
the
Sviraj
Orchestra
to
entertain
us
for
the
weekend.
So
if
you
are
free
either
of
these
two
weekends,
please
come
and
join
us
we
would
love
to
see
you!
CongratulaCons
to
our
graduate
George
Milosh
who
will
be
leaving
in
the
fall
to
aVend
the
Boston
Conservatory
of
Music.
Good
luck,
George!
ConCnued
“stay
healthy
wishes”
go
out
to
our
Tootsie
Everly,
Pat
Butler,
Mileva
Cyanovich,
Mileva
Mervis
and
Courtney
Casto.
Keep
up
the
good
work
ladies!
“Special
wishes”
for
a
conCnued
recovery
to
our
Fr.
Stevan,
within
in
a
week
he
was
back
serving
liturgy
a[er
having
surgery
in
June.
May
God
keep
all
of
you
in
His
care.
Birthday
greeCngs
to
all
of
our
June,
July,
and
August
babies
especially
the
youngest
member
of
our
choir
Pete
Samardzia
who
just
turned
a
young
95!
God
Bless
you
Pero!
Have
a
fun
and
safe
summer
and
we
hope
to
see
all
of
you
somewhere
down
those
“Hunky
Roads”
in
the
near
future!
Here’s the “BUZZ” on the convention...
Serbian Singing Federation of America
And
S.S.S. Ravanica - Detroit, Michigan
Look forward to seeing you in Detroit
at the Annual SSF Convention
September 17-21, 2009
All events will be held at the Somerset Inn in Troy, located at
2601 West Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084,
adjacent to the famous Somerset Malls!
Room Rates:
Check-in Time:
Check-out Time:
Reservations:
$90 - $100, plus 13.3% tax
3:00 p.m.
Noon
248/643-7800 or 800/228-8769
Please be sure to mention the special rate under the
reservations of Serbian Singing Federation.
Reservations must be made by 09/04/09.
Thursday, 9/17
Welcome Reception
Friday, 9/18
Convention Proceedings, 9-5 p.m.
Committee Break-out Meetings – in the p.m.
Saturday, 9/19
Convention Proceedings, 9-5 p.m.
A Special Fieldtrip is being planned!
Evening festivities – to be announced!
Sunday, 9/20
St. Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
“Ravanica” - Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.
Parastos for all deceased singers immediately
following liturgy. Lunch available at the
American Serbian Memorial Hall.
Check back for further updates on the SSF Website
serbiansingingfederation.org
DONATIONS TO THE SERBIAN SINGING FEDERATION
April 5, 2009 to June 30, 2009
GENERAL DONATIONS
Danilo Yarich
$20
TOTAL GENERAL
DONATIONS
$20
PHONE-A-THON APPEAL
Dolores M. Arlow Bozidar Bajich
Peter & Donna Bajich
Lillanna Bajich Bock
Rev. Aleksandar Bugarin Rada Campbell
Lisa & Andrew Gribble III Brad Hijaz Jovanka Jovanovic Albert & Phyllis Kulics
George & Mickey Martich Jelena Miller John Monshil
Milan & Eileen Mrkal
Ray Popovich
Pero & Mila Prpa SSS Branko Radicevich Jason Semovoski Beverly Sobotka St. Sava Serbian Orthodox
Cathedral, Cleveland
Marco & Mitza Trbovich Ray Zakovich
SSS Josif Marinkovich
St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox
Church, Oberlin, PA
TOTAL PHONE-A-THON
DONATIONS
$25
$100
$100
$20
$5
$20
$50
$10
$20
$50
$50
$50
$50
$25
$25
$150
$673
$20
$45
$248
$100
$10
$350
$350
$2,546
OTHER DONATIONS
A heartfelt “Thank You” is extended to Kosta and Sophia Papich for donating the “Kostana Opera Score”
to the S.S.F.
We are also grateful to the St. Nicholas Choir of Hamilton, ON for their donation to the S.S.F. Library for
the following books by Milutin S. Tasic:
Dositej Obradovic
Saint Sava
Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic
Petar II Petrovic Njegos
S.S.S. Gracanica
Windsor, Ontario
Celebrating
I hope that everyone is having a wonderful, safe and relaxing summer.
S.S.S. Gracanica is pleased to announce that we will be celebrating our 60th Anniversary this
Fall. The 60th Anniversary Fall Concert will be held on November 14 and 15, 2009 with the
Festivities at the Serbian Centre, 6770 Tecumseh Rd., East. I anticipate that most of you have
been at the Serbian Centre at some point, but if not, make it a point to be there on November
14.
It gives us pleasure to advise that The St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Choir, Hamilton,
Ontario and St George Serbian Orthodox Church Choir, Niagara Falls, Ontario have accepted
our invitation as honoured guest choirs for the 60th anniversary concert weekend. In addition
we anticipate that our neighbours and friends from Ravanica Choir, Detroit, will participate in the
Concert as well as our own Junior Choir.
We are delighted that LIRA ORCHESTRA from Detroit Michigan was available and will provide
music for our dancing and singing pleasure. Lira has a long association with Gracanica Choir,
with a former choir member in the band, so it is only fitting that they help us celebrate this
special occasion.
A number of rooms, at discount pricing, are held at the Travelodge Hotel, 33 Riverside Dr., E,
519-258-7774, and if you would like a room reserved please email Anne Dube, Choir Secretary
at, [email protected]. You may be interested to know that the Travel Lodge is very close to
Caesar’s Casino for those who like to roll the dice or pull the lever.
A 60th Anniversary Planning Committee has been formed, however, due to summer vacations
and summer break from Choir practice, the Committee has not formally met. Some preliminary
planning is in the works via emails and the one thing we are hoping for is that former members
from across U.S. and Canada will come back to Windsor for November 14 and 15 and reunite
with their Gracanica choir members. We will be putting together a commemorative 60th
Anniversary book, and advertising will be solicited in the near future.
Therefore, please commit November 14 and 15 on your calendar to be in Windsor, Ontario and
as plans progress, we will communicate them via email and further articles in the HiNotes.
Best Regards,
Anne Dube
S.S.S Gracanica
Corresponding Secretary
S.S.S. “Branko
Radichevich”
Spring and Summer News
S.S.S. “Branko Radichevich”
continued their full 2009
schedule this spring at their
Slava celebration commemorating St. George the
Greatmartyr and Victor by hosting a banquet after
Divine Liturgy on May 10th, which despite also being
Mothers’ Day, brought a large group of supporters
gathered with choir members to celebrate the
occasion. For their many years of support to
Brankies, honored Kumovi were Very Reverend
Stavrophor Dennis Pavichevich, retired Dean of Holy
Resurrection Cathedral, Protinica Jeannie and her
mother, Protinica Radojka Popovich. Choir
president Jelena Stojakovic spoke of the solid group
of members making up the choir, announcing our
plans to sing at the SSF Festival Memorial Day
weekend and the SOCA Festival two weeks after that.
Brankies’ director Elizabeth Neskow rehearsed “Oce
Nas” arranged by early 20th Century Serb Composer
Stanislav Binicki with the choir this spring in
preparation for the SSF Festival in Joliet. The
festival marked the choir’s debut of this
arrangement. The composer arranged the Lord’s
Prayer into three unique sections, much like the
arrangements by Stevan Mokranjac and, in his
concert arrangement, Josif Marinkovich. Brankies
opened their performance at the festival’s Sunday
concert with the Mokranjac arrangement of the
Akathist Hymn sung between all the verses chanted
at this beautiful service. This year Brankies also sang
a middle number, an anonymous arrangement of
“Svjete Tihi” that was made popular by some choirs
in Serbia recently. Brankies closed their
performance with the fabulous Dragana Velickovic
arrangement of Tamo Daleko. A number which
always stirs our patriotic Serbian soul. While Joilet
was a “home game” as far as festival locales, many
Brankies members and friends made it down to Joliet
for one or more nights to “serve time” as was the
festival’s theme this year. To all accounts, nobody
sought parole from their sentence nor relished the
idea of being “sprung” that Sunday evening.
June 12 through 14 found many Brankies in Florida’s
Bay Area for the Serbian Orthodox Choral
Association Festival hosted by the St. George Serbian
Orthodox Church in Clearwater. This afforded
much sought-after time in the sun and in warmth
from what was up until then one of the coldest
Chicago springs on record. While some members
stationed themselves in Clearwater Beach, most of
the gang stayed at the Stojakovic compound on
Longboat Key, where Jelena hosted a cookout for
everyone that Friday night. Bass Joe Puhar skillfully
prepared grilled treats which everyone devoured.
Saturday’s concert was held at the St. George church
hall, where a combined choir of Brankies and Stevan
Mokranjac choir members from Holy Resurrection
Church performed on the program. It was nice to see
our friends from Cudahy, Hamilton, Toronto and
both churches in the Tampa/St.Pete/Clearwater area.
A mass choir joyously sang responses for Divine
Liturgy culminating with a thunderous rendition by
the Bass section of Bortnyansky’s “Budi Imja” at the
end. The director that morning was John Vukovich
from the Stevan Mokranjac choir of Hamilton, who,
sadly, passed away suddenly just two days later.
Vecnaja Pamjat!
Brankies next appearance outside of Holy
Resurrection Cathedral will be at St. Sava
Monastery, the see of the newly-created
Metropolitanate of Chicago and Libertyville for the
annual St. Bishop Nikolai Pilgrimage where they will
sing responses for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
In just two more weeks after that, most choir
members will roll up their sleeves the weekend of
July 31, August 1st and 2nd for Holy Resurrection
Cathedral’s Annual Serbfest to ensure it is a success.
Everyone is welcome!
Brankies will hold their annual Golf Outing on
Saturday, September 12th at nearby Indian Boundary
Golf Course and at Holy Resurrection Cathedral’s
well known lounge. This event grows bigger and
better each year for golfers and tambura lovers alike.
Save the date!
Rehearsals will be underway for a long-awaited trip
in October to Omaha to be the honored guests of St.
Nicholas Choir at their annual concert and for
Brankies’ annual Fall concert the weekend of
November 9th and 10th. Honored guests will be the
Kosovo Men’s Choir of Northeast Ohio/Northwest
Pennsylvania. This will be Kosovo choir’s Chicago
debut and is not to be missed!
Other choir news…IT’S BOYS!!!…for Soprano
Vanya Zogovic, mother of Danilo and for Alto Valerie
Vojcanin, mother of George Andrew …
CONGRATULATIONS…to Altos Natalie Mitrovic
and Natalija Djordjevic who both graduated from
high school this spring. Natalie, the recipient of a
Paul S. Bielich Scholarship, will be attending the
Illinois Institute of Technology this fall and Natalija
will be attending the University of Iowa. …
CONGRATULATIONS to Marko Savatic on
graduating from University in North Dakota with a
Bachelor of Science in Air Traffic Control.
WEDDING BELLS…are coming up September 26th
for Soprano Holly Jovanovich and Zoran Goljic at
Holy Resurrection Cathedral. Holly is the immediate
past president of the Serbian Singing Federation.
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY…to Joe Puhar of the
bass section, whose father +Branko Puhar passed
away on July 4th at the age of 83. The combined
forces of SSS Branko Radichevich and Stevan
Mokranjac directed by Liz Neskow sang responses
for the pomen and for the opelo the following
morning: a fitting tribute to a Chetnik, “borac za
slobodu,” and the father whose children belong to
several choirs throughout the United States. Vecnaja
Pamjat!
-submitted by Brankies reporter
David Sekicky
SINGERS MOURN DEATH OF
+PROTINICA LJUBICA VUCKOVICH
SSF singers throughout the U.S. and Canada were saddened to learn of the
death of +Protinica Ljubica Vuckovich of South Bend, Indiana.
+Protinica Ljubica and her husband the late V. Rev. Djuro Vuckovich were staunch supporters of the
SSF and choirs, and there wasn’t a Serbian choir concert in the area where they were not present.
Choirs who were weekend guests of the South Bend, S.S.S. Aleksa Shantich always received a special
treat. Every year after Sunday Divine Liturgy the guest choir was invited to the parish home on
Kendall Street where they were warmly received by +Pop Djuro and +Protinica Ljubica and the
South Bend Choir. The house was filled with the inviting aroma from the kitchen as +Protinica
Ljubica feasted the guests with the wonderful Serbian delicacies she had prepared. +Pop Djuro
would then uncork bottles of his famous home-made wine and everyone enjoyed their special and
warm hospitality. Of course, the wine and food would not go without a chorus or two of everyone
joining in to the tunes of Aleksa Shantich’s “Pijemo Vino” or Isidor Bajich’s “Vinska Pesma”.
Oh, such wonderful memories.
+Protinica Ljubica was cut from the cloth of that “old guard” of Popadije and Protinice who, alongside
their husbands, served the parish and worked for its prosperity and betterment in addition to serving
as proper and true “domacice.” She rarely missed a church or choir function where her infectious
smile would be ever present along with what became her famous greeting – “Nice see you!” Her
wonderfully warm personality shall truly be missed by all singers but will certainly never be forgotten.
All singers will cherish the fond memories we have of +Protinica Ljubica and those of us who knew
her well will never be able to think about South Bend without remembering such a grand and
wonderful individual. “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Vjecnaja Pamjat.
Paul S. Bielich
SSF Executive Secretary Emeritus
DONATION FORM
MY CONTRIBUTION TO
THE SERBIAN SINGING FEDERATION
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Amount of Donation: $_________________________________
Please return this form and make checks payable to the
SERBIAN SINGING FEDERATION
Mail to:
Serbian Singing Federation
P.O. Box 71007
Madison Heights, MI 48071
Donations will be acknowledged and an official tax receipt issued for the full amount.
Thank you in advance for your continued support of the
Serbian Singing Federation!
!
DENISE
Dear Denise,
A few months earlier you informed the SSF board you would be
retiring as Editor of the SSF Hi Notes after the 2009 Summer Edition.
We understand and appreciate your desire to have more time to spend
with your daughters as they become more involved in school and
church activities. We know how quickly our children grow. Soon all
we have are the memories of them growing into young adults’ right
before our eyes.
Thank you, HVALA, is still the best way to express ones feelings. On
behalf of the Executive Board and Member Choirs of the Serbian
Singing Federation of the USA and Canada, we are grateful to you,
your talent and time you shared unselfishly in the production of each
issue of the Hi Notes these past 2 years.
Again, THANK YOU!
From the SSF Executive Board and Member Choirs,
Mary Paich, President