Jerry Grcevich
Tambura Musician Honored in Washington, D.C.
Photo: Courtesy of Cedric Studios.
Op-ed: Please put the future tense into the past tense.
September 14, 2005
Western Pennsylvania tambura musician Jerry Grcevich (Lodge 146) will receive the United States’ highest honor for traditional artists—the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship. Grcevich will travel to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 for a four-day celebration. The festivities start with an orientation and welcoming ceremony. On Wednesday morning, Grcevich will be visiting the White House and attending a banquet with other NEA Fellowship recipients at the Library of Congress. On Thursday, the official presentation of the award will take place at the Cannon House Office Building, and Grcevich will meet with Pennsylvania Senators and Congressmen. On Friday, Grcevich, along with other NEA Fellows, will perform in a concert, free and open to the public, at 7:30 PM at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium.
Grcevich says, “When I am receiving this award and performing, I will be representing the Croatian Fraternal Union and all of the people who love tamburitza music. I am very proud of this. I would like to thank all of the people who have inspired me throughout the years—my parents, grandparents, and uncle.” Grcevich is also extremely grateful of the musicians that will be traveling to Washington D.C. with him: Vjeko Dimter of Philadelphia (Lodge 354), Robi Sestili of Chicago (Lodge 354), Steve Wagner of Pittsburgh (Lodge 1), Ken Kosovec of Detroit (Lodge 351), and Bob Sestili of Carnegie (Lodge 354). “I would like to thank them and all of the other musicians I have played with throughout the years,” says Grcevich.
To reserve tickets for the National Heritage Fellows concert, contact the National Council on Traditional Arts at 301-565-0654 ext. 14.
Also, you can find out more information about the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship at:
http://www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/Heritage05/Grcevich.html
Sincerely,
Julie
Julie Throckmorton-Meunier
Cultural Resources Specialist
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area
The Bost Building
623 East Eighth Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120
phone: 412-464-4020 ext. 45
fax: 412-464-4417
www.riversofsteel.com
