“Homegrown” Tambura Musician to Perform at Kennedy Center

November 5, 2004

Western Pennsylvania native and tambura musician Jerry Grcevich has been chosen by the American Folklife Center and the Music Division at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. to participate in the Homegrown 2004: The Music of America concert series. Grcevich will perform on December 8, 2004 at noon in Coolidge Auditorium (located in the Library of Congress), and then again at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at 6 PM. Grcevich has the honor of being the first tambura musician to play in the Homegrown concert series. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 551-7328, (703) 573-7328, or (202) 397-7328.

Grcevich is well-known in both the United States and Croatia. He has performed in many tamburitza groups over the years, including Sviraj of Harrisburg, Slanina of Chicago, and the Yesta Brothers of Los Angeles. In 1980, he began composing and recording his own pieces and won a prestigious award for his album, New Traditions, at the 1994 Golden Strings Festival in Croatia. In 1993, he formed his own orchestra in Pittsburgh, The Jerry Grcevich Orchestra, which brings together the most promising talent in western Pennsylvania. Grcevich performs with different musicians at events both inside and outside of the Croatian community: at Croatian weddings, graduation parties, anniversary and private parties, funerals, Balkan folk dance festivals, and Croatian ethnic festivals and club dances (the Orchestra was asked to play at the l00th Anniversary of the Croatian Fraternal Union in 1994). He also has performed at these events in Croatia, as well as at concerts and many benefits. In 2001, Grcevich received a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship in the Folk and Traditional Arts, the highest award a folk and traditional artist can receive in the State of Pennsylvania. He plays both traditional and contemporary music, often his own compositions, and it will be a mix of these selections that he will feature at the December 8 concerts.

For additional information about the Library of Congress’ Homegrown 2004: The Music of America concert series and/or Jerry Grcevich, please contact the Music Division at the Library of Congress at (202) 707-5502.

Contact: Jan Dofner   (412) 464-4020