The Canadian Croatian Choral Society was honoured to perform for approximately 170 seniors in four Oakville residences in the spring of 2018. The choir visited Palermo Village Retirement Home, Chartwell Oakville Retirement Residence, Sunrise of Oakville Seniors’ Residence and West Oak Long-Term Care Home.
CCCS Director Ed Mavrinac kicked off the entertainment with a performance on the piano and was then accompanied by Natalie O’Donnell, who gave a stunning trumpet solo. The audience was treated to a traditional Croatian choral repertoire as well as two other popular pieces: Daisy Daisy (Bicycle Built for Two) and Lili Marleen. The audience joyfully participated, enthusiastically singing along to these well-loved pieces. One of the highlights, at Palermo, saw a couple who had been married for 60 years spontaneously get up and dance to a warm applause and a few tears of joy from their fellow residents and choristers alike. Although at West Oak the choral presentation did not go on fully due to internal circumstances at the residence, CCCS performed and enjoyed a touching and meaningful private performance with a resident who reminisced about the songs of her youth.
As the all the performances drew to a close, the CCCS President Mira Lorkovich Omura shared a printed flyer of “Ten Centuries of Croatian Music” and explained that the performance was made possible thanks to a funding grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The audiences truly enjoyed the uplifting entertainment and are already looking forward to a return visit from the choir as are the choir members alike.
