Charge d' Affaires Hosts Kosovo Men's Choir

August 20, 2008

DCM Brush addresses the guests. (FoNet photo)

On August 14, U.S. Charge d' Affaires Jennifer Brush hosted a reception for Serbian government officials, representatives of civil society and members of the diplomatic corps in honor of the Kosovo Men's Choir from the U.S. state of Ohio which is traveling throughout the region this month.

The Serbian Men's Choir "Kosovo" of Northeastern Ohio is under the direction of Dr. Rick Zivic, DDS. Mr. Sam Rusnov of Youngstown, Ohio is president. The choir was organized in February 1994 with 11 men from several cities in the Greater Cleveland-Akron area. They took the name "Kosovo" in honor of, and to preserve the memory of Kosovo, the heart and cradle of Serbian Orthodoxy.

Since 1994, the Kosovo Choir has evolved into a regional choir with over 30 members whose repertoire consists of Orthodox liturgical music as well as Serbian and Slavic folk melodies. Not being musical professionals, and not all of Serbian national heritage, but all with a love of Serbian music and desire to sing and preserve Serbian cultural identity, they have kept together for more then 14 years. The Kosovo Choir has recorded four CDs, including liturgical and Serbian secular music and American National Hymns. They have been the recipients of numerous citations, including the prestigious 'Cultural Arts Appreciation Award' from the International Services Center and Cuyahoga County Commissioners for fostering, performing and preserving ethnographic songs.

They have performed across the U.S. and Canada and for such dignitaries as Patriarch Pavle, Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg, Russia, HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HRH Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, U.S. Senator George Voinovich and The Ohio National Guard.