The Canadian Croatian Choral Society celebrates its sixth anniversary by performing to over 300 guests at Holy Trinity Croatian Catholic Church in Oakville, Ontario.
MPP Kevin Flynn and his wife Janice, Mayor Rob Burton and Andrea Javor, Consul General for the Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia joined singers and guest artists for the final spring concert, “Old City Songs” of the Canadian Croatian Choral Society with over 300 audience members at Holy Trinity Croatian Catholic Church.
The choir was accompanied by talented young musicians on trumpets, strings, flute and pipe organ as well as the ever-popular tamburaši quintet. The concert also featured performances by Trio Brinjak, charming young siblings dressed in magnificent national costumes, Danijela Hajdinjak, the CCCS’s 2018 Merit Award recipient and past Merit Award recipients.
This concert marked the CCCS’s sixth anniversary, explained President Mira Lorkovich Omura, as she welcomed guests and enthusistically announced CCCS’s plans to create a youth choir this fall under the dedicated leadership of Artistic Director Edward Mavrinac.
Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and Mayor Rob Burton both were on hand to congratulate the choir on its sixth anniversary. MPP Flynn then read greetings from the Honourable Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport responsible for the Ontario Trillium Foundation who was unable to attend. “This evening’s concert will touch hearts through the beauty of Croatia’s music, which contributes to our province’s rich multicultural mosaic. Our government is pleased to be the CCCS’s partner with funding through the OTF.”
Consul General Andrea Javor commented on the choir’s impressive growth since its inception in 2013 and commended its initiative to establish a youth choir to ensure that Croatian culture remains strong within the Canadian mosaic.
“We are so grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for a wonderful grant,” said President Mira Lorkovich Omura, “which has given us the opportunity to help preserve Croatian culture through choral music, promote and share our culture and support talented young musicians. It has enabled us to expand programming and increase community performances.”
Artistic Director Edward Mavrinac shared plans for a new youth choir this fall that will continue the CCCS’s mission of fostering a vibrant and enthusiastic choral community for all ages and cultural backgrounds that will allow members to grow artistically and spiritually and ultimately leave a legacy of love for Croatian music by encouraging and developing future generations of choristers.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario and one of Canada’s largest granting foundations. With a budget of over $136 million, OTF awards grants to some 1,000 projects every year to build healthy and vibrant Ontario communities. http://www.otf.ca
