SERBIAN SINGING SOCIETY JOSIF MARINKOVICH
According
to various past histories, the first attempt to organize a choir in Steelton
was made in 1905 through the efforts of Dmitar Kajganich and Dusan Kojicic.
It was the first Serbian choir in the United States and Canada. The
beginning was difficult, and it was reorganized formally in July 1906 with
Djuro Milosavljevich, Vojinom Kutjevac, and Petrom Kosovanom as the driving
forces. Mr. Milosvaljevich, who was the church canter and later ordained
a priest, assumed the duties of choir director.
The choir, named for Branko Radicevich, the great Serbian poet, ceased
to function in 1912 for various reasons. Subsequently, it was revived
but never very active. After many years, through the initiative of
Stevo Bakich, Stevo Suzic, and Svetozar Nenadovich, action was taken to
reactivate the choir.
In 1933, the choir was organized under the name of “Serbian-American Civic
and Education Club” with Stevo Bakich serving as the first president.
Membership was composed of active singers and their supporters. When
Prohibition was repealed, the Club decided to obtain a license for dispensing
malt beverages. As the interest of the non-singers slowly turned
to becoming a social club, the active singing members felt that they should
be a separate organization. As it was customary in those days to
dramatize Serbian plays at almost all their functions, the singers organized
the Serbian Social and Dramatic Club.
The choir then engaged the services of Vlado Konstantinovich of New York
City to serve as its first choir director. In early 1935, Mr. Konstantinovich
found it necessary to resign the position. Stephen Cordas, a life-long
member of the St. Nicholas parish, became the director and continued in
that capacity until his retirement in November 1988. Ms. Nadine Klipa,
also a life-long member of the parish, was appointed director in December
1988.
When the Serbian Singing Federation of America was organized by Vlajko
Lugonja, he visited Steelton and encouraged the choir to join the Federation.
The Federation is an organization composed of all Serbian choirs in America
and Canada. Upon joining the Federation, each choir received the
name of a famous Serbian composer, author, or poet. In 1934, the
choir joined the Federation and was given the name of Djuro Yaksich, a
poet. After a few years, it selected the name of Josif Marinkovich,
a composer. To this day, the choir is known as the “Serbian Singing
Society Marinkovich.”
In 1938, as a member of the Serbian Singing Federation, the choir competed
in its first singing festival. For the next nine years or so, the
festivals remained competitive. However, after it was confirmed that
some choirs in the Federation were using talents from outside their respective
church choirs in order to win, the festivals ceased to be competitive and
merely became a concert-type affair. The choir’s most recent participation
in a festival was Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1975.
Guest appearances of the choir included Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh, the
Yugoslav Embassy in Washington, D. C. (prior to World War II), St. Sava
Cathedral in New York City, and the Milwaukee Cathedral in Wisconsin.
The choir also shared liturgical responses with the Russian Metropolitan
Male Chorus of New York and presented a concert at the Gettysburg College
Seminary in Gettysburg, PA. In addition, the choir has made reciprocating
guest appearances with neighboring choirs such as Johnstown, Midland, Lackawanna,
Wilmerding, etc.
One of the great moments in recent choir history occurred in September
1985, during the testimonial weekend held for “Prof” Cordas recognizing
his 50 years as our director. For this occasion, all former choir
members were invited to participate in the weekend and to sing responses
with the present choir during the liturgy. On September 29, 1985,
history was made when the choir was professionally recorded and produced
their very first tape.
In addition to their musical contributions, the choir has supported the
church with financial contributions and by donating the baptismal font,
the church bells, and the stained-glass (rosette) circular window located
at the top front of the church and situated in the choir loft.
The present choir membership is comprised of some very talented singers
which include two charter members: Edward Marijan, who has 70 years
of continuous service, and Dorothy Matich with 67 years of service.
With hard work and dedication, we hope that our choir will prosper for
years to come and will continue the tradition of singing our beautiful
liturgical and folk music. It is a privilege and an honor to belong
to an organization which so faithfully serves the church.
KO PJEVA ZLO NE MISLI!
- Patricia Hernjak