American Serb History 101

 UNITED WE SING: 

St. Elijah Choir of Aliquippa, PA, helps Northern Neighbors celebrate the 59th Anniversary of St. Sava’s Choir in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

By Milana (Mim) Karlo Bizic,

October 24, 2014

Canada has always been special to me.  Ask any kid who has ever been to Shadeland Camp, and he or she will probably say the same, since every morning we sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” then “O Canada,” ending our morning flag ceremonies with “Boze Pravde.” 

It was exciting as a 12 year old to have an international pen pal, age 13, from Canada, and what a friend to have: the brilliant Olga B. Markovich, of Toronto, who was the 1986 SNF Woman of the Year for her unending research on the Serbian people of the USA, Canada and Serbia.  Our childhood penpal letters back and forth always shared a Serbian proverb or two, at Olga’s suggestion.

And because of Shadeland, my first love (one way!) was from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  At 15 years old, my American girlfriend, Barb, and I made a little green wax record at Conneaut Amusement Park (located 17 miles from Shadeland) singing, “Wake up Little Susie” and at the end, Barb excitedly finished our 3 minutes with only a second or two of recording time left in the little booth with a rushed,

“Mimi just saw Knobby at Shadeland and she’s all shook up!”  It’s fun to know I still have that record from almost six decades ago and the memories of Youth/Canada it holds.

Canada was special to me because as a 16 year old (1958?) on my first official choir trip to Canada with our St. Sava Philip Visnich Choir from Pittsburgh, I had the thrill of a lifetime.   Out from the curtains we proudly stepped onto the stage, to a packed audience in a local high school, with even the balconies filled to capacity.  Professor Boris Dobrovolsky

http://www.babamim.com/boris_dobrovolsky_professor_of_music)

received a big round of applause as he stepped forwards after us, as his directing abilities were recognized throughout Europe and North America. 

Up went his hands and we had only sung two words (“Dol-i-ne Tut-ne”) of Adam Popovich’s arrangement of “Ratne Pesme” out of our mouths, when the packed-hall audience erupted, rising from their seats, clapping and stomping their feet to our music!  It was phenomenal, and as you can see, my heart STILL remembers the intense feeling of joy for Canada.  I just LOVED it, thinking my heart would surely BURST from the excitement.

Who wouldn’t love Canada with all its great VIDOVDAN celebrations each year?  How many times as a child I traveled north with my Dad as he covered these events for the American SRBOBRAN, and a little later in life with my dear +Gus to enjoy the magnificent programs put on by the Canadian Shield Society under maestro Bora Dragasevich’s supervision, listening to Mica Petrovic and his Chetnik orchestra. 

Also very memorable was the day Alex Malich, young Peter Bizic and I traveled north to Niagara Falls, Vidovdan, to MAYBE do some matchmaking with a special Canadian Serbian girl named Colleen Payne, with the help of Alex’s sister, Christina Gacesa.  Hey!  It worked!  Instant rapport!  Yes siree, I’ve always had a special fondness for Canada!  We earned a whole new family for our efforts and little Amelia Bizic to boot!

So it was with great happiness I found myself traveling in Cheryl’s husband Tom’s new Honda on Friday afternoon, October 17, 2014, north on Rt. 79 from Pittsburgh, with driver Cheryl Leydig of the SNF and Laurene Maravich (our U.S. A. answer to Canada’s Lepa Jankovic!).

Our St. Elijah Choir of Aliquippa, PA, was the invited guest choir for St. Sava Choir’s 59th Anniversary.  Along with our St. Sava Canadian hosts, the Russian “Christ the Savior” Choir under the direction of Elena Eremeeva would also perform.

Joyfully we passed the American and Canadian flags on the Peace Bridge. And with only great memories as our baggage, we surrendered our passports and happily answered questions at the border.  “Who’s Milana Bizic?”  “I am!” I proudly announced!

Our hosts had arranged for us to stay at a nearby hotel, wherein I saw that my roommate, Marlene Shatlan Volitich, had already checked in.  Not surprisingly so, I  entered our 4th floor room to find Marlene ironing away, one of her first activities anywhere we travel. Grandson Mike Volitich always has the best looking pressed shirts, and our white (drat that wrinkled linen material!) choir blouses soon followed.  “Keep that iron on, Marlene!”

Then out to dinner we went, after Pittsburgh based-Canadian-born Sasa Trklja suggested to his Aunt Joanne and Uncle Bratso Wuchenich the local Serbian restaurant unceremoniously called McAdam Place Restaurant at 5659 McAdam Road.  Don’t let the name fool you.  The Serbian food was out of this world, great and plentiful.  And although there was only one fellow on the keyboard, it sounded like a whole band playing as we sang and danced along to many a recognizable song.  Highly recommended to all who travel to Mississauga!  Like cousin Jennifer Trklja beams, “It’s the BEST!”  We had a tremendous evening for our first night in Canada!

The next morning we took a stroll to the local mall and I was dumbfounded at the high prices of everything.  No wonder why the Canadians love shopping in the lower USA! 

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As soon as we entered the hall, we were so 
Then it was on to “All Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church” complex where our St. Sava Choir hosts were awaiting us at Noon. 
Adam Loverich and I first went to check out the church.  Oh the beauty!  I was in such awe from the moment we opened the metal doors with all of the saints beckoning us inside, to the vastness of the sanctuary in front of us that quickly put me in mind of our beloved monasteries in Kosovo. 
 This was a new Gracanica, but with brighter colors not muted by the centuries, and with saints that didn’t have their eyes gouged out from Kosovo Albanians.  It was so breathtaking beautiful, my eyes didn’t know where to look first, and I just crossed myself in pure joy and happiness.   I hope the attached photos give a glimpse of that magnificence.

Then it was onto the hall itself, a grand lady with historical importance.   She started life as a schoolhouse for the agrarian society there in the 1930’s, then became the auto-driver’s licensing center in the ‘60’s, complete with a huge driving course that now serves as a great parking lot.  In the 1980’s, the Serbs were far-sighted enough to purchase the property.  And what property it is, right along Queen Elizabeth Highway. 
You can’t miss it, coming from the USA, it’s on the left-hand side, with the two flag posts proudly flying the Canadian and Serbian flags.  And for double measure, in between the flags, there is an elevated, HUGE horizontal wooden flag painted with the Serbian tri-colors with a golden cross and the 4 C’s, atop the playground area for the children! 

On leaving St. Sava’s late on Sunday afternoon, I loved watching the young ones on the see-saws joyfully playing and counting away, over and over:“Jedan, dva, tri….” under those flags and the golden cross. Oh my heart, my Serbian heart!  It was a moment for sure to remember!☺ But I’m getting ahead of myself!

Just minutes later, we were surprised by a magnificent food spread in the adjoining room.  My gosh, was this lunch AND supper?  It sure looked like that, but you know Serbs!  How we were laughing saying we were going to BURST in Canada!  Not only from joyous friendship and patriotism on display, but also from the food!  (See photos).

Back to the hotel we went for a quick rehearsal with our director, the talented Snezana Lazich,then we changed into our choral costumes, and back to the hall, that was now starting to fill with guests from many surrounding areas of Toronto, Kitchener, Hamilton, etc. 

Before long, the hall was filled in anticipation and we were happy to see so many familiar faces everywhere we looked.  Niko Nema!  Niko!

But first we ate again!  And this time, a whole pig graced the middle of the sumptuous table!  It was better than any Thanksgiving feast!  The amount of food prepared was beyond description, just look at the photos to see!

Draga Dragasevich, always one of my favorite Canadian teachers (think Bora, Olga Markovich, Paul Pavlovich, Ambassador James Bissett, Scott Taylor) was Mistress of Ceremonies, and the program got underway just a little after 5:30 PM with the singing of the three national anthems, this time with the Canadian one being first!   

 We (St. Elijah Choir) stayed on stage as the others filed off, going first on the program as the guest choir.   Although we didn’t have our full choir with us due to a big wedding in Aliquippa that day, I’m sure with our appreciation for all our Canadian hosts did for us that day, we poured out hearts out under the direction of Snezana, who is such a delight to watch!  Her eyes, her hands, her hips are all in full motion, urging us to give our best. And we tried to deliver! “Ko pjeva, Zlo ne misli!”  Who sings, thinks no evil.   

Who would not feel elevated singing “Sej Den” (This is the Day that the Lord hath made) and “Svi Jazici”  with the angels flapping their wings in joy?  And the now familiar St. Bishop Nikolai’s “Znas  Li Ko Te Ljubi Silno” and Mokranjac’s “Kada Mi Se Radoslave.”

Vinska Pesma and More!

All choirs sang familiar liturgical hymns and starosrbijanske pesme, those songs that make you feel as if you’re part of a larger Slavonic world.

  
There were many heads in the audience singing along with our ending number of the happy “Vinska Pesma “by Isidor Bajic and Dragie Cuculjevich.  Bring that wine glass here! ☺

 Our host choir, under the very capable direction of Janez Govednik, who at one time served as a conductor of Moscow Conservatory’s Opera Studio, and later the Belgrade Opera House, and conductor of the National Theater (opera and ballet!) in Novi Sad, and Assistant Conductor to the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, sang “Hvalite Imja Gospodnje,” (Aleksandar Arhangelski)  “Dostonjo Jest” by Cornelije Stankovic, and “Dve Starosrbijanske Pesme” by Marko Tajcevic before ending with a rousing “Aliluja” by Janez Govednik.  You could FEEL the joy they brought to this anniversary concert!

The Russian Orthodox Choir sang familiar tunes to us:  “Vidihom Svet Istinji,” “Angel Vopijase,” “Dostono Jest’, and the “Ballad of the 12 Razboinikov” before the soprano conductor, Elena Eremeeva sang a solo. 

In between all of the songs, St. Sava Mississauga surprised us all with Radomir Micich reciting “Cerska Bitka” in memory of the 100th Anniversary of the first victory of WWI by the Serbian soldiers at the Battle of Cer.  He was magnificent in his delivery, and I couldn’t help but think of how much he must have delighted his audiences (AND his teachers!) at his St. Sava’s Day recitations (Declamatcias) every January 2 7 when he was a young lad!  Superb.  So wonderful! 

And then M.C. Draga Dragasevich turned to the audience, asking all of us to stand and to join in the singing of “Tamo Daleko!” with the choir’s orchestra.  Oh, what a crowd pleaser that was!
And the rest of the evening proved likewise as the popular orchestra “Boemi” (Bohemians) played for our listening and dancing pleasure.  It was such a delight to see really large kolo circles sometimes three and four people deep circling the floor and singing along to popular tunes.  Everyone was so happy!

Sunday morning we were up early, enjoyed the breakfast our hosts provided at the hotel, lit our candles in the church’s sanctuary down below, and then it was onto the high climb up the stairs to the choir loft that reminded me of being in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh, wherein the priests and parishioners look like a miniature scene below. No, you wouldn’t need a Kleenex for a nose bleed, but perhaps to wipe away a tear or two as you behold the magnificence of the beautiful icon walls surrounding you, enveloping you, helping you really live the Bible’s story with every turn of your head.  Icons are called “Windows to Heaven,” and we were as close to being in Heaven as could be!

The parishioners below thought they were in Heaven listening to George Milosh sing his famous “Oce Nas” solo while Donna August directed for George, who otherwise directed us that morning.  We are so lucky to have such talented members step forth, just like John Lukich, Marina Milojevic-Daoust and Bosiljka Paich do for St. Sava’s Choir of the “All Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church.”

Was it time to eat AGAIN?  Who could believe that another feast for the eyes awaited us?  What phenomenal hosts our Mississauga people were! 

 Again, Draga Dragasevich acted as hostess for the little program that followed, with Bora Dragasevich being a speaker on behalf of the choir.  He praised the association our two countries had because of the formidable cohesiveness of the Serbian Singing Federation, thanks to the foresightedness of Vlajko Lugonja, Paul Bielich, and those who followed.  He spoke of their choir’s traveling to Pittsburgh and Aliquippa for the SSF Concerts in the past, and the camaraderie that always followed.  

A little more about Bora is a must!  I was thrilled when Bora gave me a photo of himself bedecked in all the recent medals and honors he received from HRH Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevich  (the Order of the Crown with the Great Cross, First Degree (blue sash, medal on his chest, medal at his hip!) and with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal with the red ribbon, authorized in the Queen’s name by the Governor General of Canada and presented to Bora by a Greek Canadian Member of Parliament at a reception in the Consulate of the Republic of Serbia in December, 2012.  Above the red ribbon is the pin of the Srpska Narodna Odbrana (the Serbian National Shield Society).  These are orders of the FIRST CLASS, and usually reserved for Serbian Kings, Princes, Prime Ministers, Diplomats, and NIKOLA TESLA! 

Congratulations, Bora, and Draga too.  Together, they have worked as a team to provide the latest and historical information about the Serbian people in both Serbian and English through their work with the radio program, Serbian Day, the newspaper “Glas Kanadskih Srba,” lectures, etc.  Congratulations Sir Bora and Dame Draga Dragasevich!

Bora is also the author of the book “Stopama Predaka” or “In the Footsteps of my Forefathers: Autobiography.”  The work has received high praise in both the new and OLD country.  While we were having Sunday lunch, Bora received word that all 500 of the books sent to Serbia were already sold out! 

Speaking of Serbia, be sure to read the book, JOHAN’S SERBIAN HEART available on the Internet at Amazon.   http://www.amazon.com/JOHANS-SERBIAN-HEART-Mico-Popovic-ebook/dp/B00IQWSB82. 

(I purchased this book in the hall, and read parts of it aloud on the way home.)  Emir Kostunica is making a movie based on this true story, and hence, has become a person non grata in today’s Albanian Kosovo, an honor he wears proudly.)
Diane Volitich, president of our St. Elijah Church Choir presented our hosts with a small check to help with the cost of our stay and enthusiastically thanked all for the exceptional hospitality shown.

A happy “Ziveli” followed!  But it didn‘t end! As we were leaving, we each received a CD of St. Sava Choir’s wonderful Christmas CD and a bag full of delicious beef, ham and cheese sandwiches and SO many cookies to eat on the way home!  Everyone who had anything to do with hosting us, and even escorting us to our cars like Alex and Mira Brkic, should earn an ABCD Award!  “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty!”  Thank you, Mississauga!  We had a great time!  Thank you!