From Chapman University, to the Halls of Congress, European Union, and a high-profile position as channel manager of KOCE-TV’s OC Channel – activist, humanitarian, and businesswoman, Brenda Brkusic (left), has been named to OC Metro Business magazine’s list of “Top 40 Business Executives and Entrepreneurs Under 40 years old.”
Year: 2008
Croatian-American Day in Chicago May 8-11, 2008
Klapa Grdelin (left) will be performing at several venues in celebration of Chicago’s annual Croatian-American Day. Several events are being planned throught the city to celebrate Croatian culture and heritage.
New York City Escape from Despair book promotion May 16, 2008
Katarina Tepesh, will promote her new book, Escape from Despair: A Croatian Family’s Survival (left), at the Histria American Women’s Association on May 16, 2008 at 7:30 pm at Istria Sport Club, Inc.
From Pazin to Paris – Luigi Dallapiccola's Opera Ill Prigioniero featured in the NYT
Many directors of American opera companies would never even consider presenting Luigi Dallapiccola’s one-act “Prigioniero,” a bleak, 12-tone, boldly modernistic work about a despairing prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition. But unlike many of his timid counterparts, Gerard Mortier, the director of the Paris National Opera, has faith in audiences.
Stjepan Hauser performed for Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace on April 23 2008
We are happy to announce that Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser, one of the most promising upcoming instrumentalist today, performed for Prince Charles at the Buckingham Palace on April 23rd, 2008.
Robert Belinić – Guitar performs in New York City on April 29th, 2008
Young Concert Artists will present Croatian guitarist Robert Belinić’s New York concerto debut on April 29, 2008 with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s conducted by Michael Stern. “Robert Belinic displayed charm, musicality, virtuosity and spirit. He performed the Bach Chaconne with an astonishingly warm and evocative tone, full of feeling.”
Dr. Drago Štambuk on an official visit to Kobe, Japan
Dr. Drago Štambuk, Croatian Ambassador to Japan, was warmly welcomed at the Kwansei Gakuin University during his official visit to Kobe. One of the best Japanese choirs sang in his honour U Boj, u boj in Croatian language. This Croatian tune is well known throughout Japan, sung in this country since 1919!
Niko Dzapo will be racing for Team USA in China May 29 – June 1, 2008
Great success by young Niko Dzapo (left). Niko will be racing as part of the Team USA at the UCI BMX World Championship in Taiyaun China which will be held on May 29 – June 1, 2008. This has been a dream come true for Niko to represent the USA. Niko’s motto is “keep trying, you have nothing to lose”.
Study the Croatian language in Croatia this summer
Zagreb University (left) is host to one of two programs to study the Croatian language this summer. Sponsored by the Croatian Heritage Foundation, these summer courses allow people born outside of Croatia to learn Croatian language and culture in two intensive courses.
Leo Majich in memoriam 1925 – 2008
Leo Anthony Majich, age 82, was born July 17, 1925 in Los Angeles and died April 10, 2008 in Pasadena after a brief illness. He was a founding member of the Croatian American Association as well as the National Federation of Croatian Americans, serving several terms as its Western Region vice-president.
Melita Spahic Dance in London
Melita Spahic Dance is a meeting point for dance, theatre and video artists, composers and musicians to share their passion for the collaborative performance by developing their ideas and skills through various dance related projects.
Croatia-based WHW named curator for 11th International Istanbul Biennial
The 11th International Istanbul Biennial, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and sponsored by Koc Holding is set for 12 September-8 November 2009, under the curatorship of Zagreb-based What, How & for Whom / WHW.
Charles Billich prepares for The Olympic Games in China 2008
Charles Billich, outstanding Croatian painter living in Australia, created the Bing Mah Yong cycle of paintings for the needs of the 2008 Beijing Olympiade. So well received has this work been that his paintings are represented on a collection of 16 postage stamps currently in circulation in China.
Sanja Jovanović wins gold by breaking her own world record in 50m backstroke
Sanja Jovanović broke her own world record on 50m backstroke swimming at the World Swimming Championships Manchester 2008, UK. Her new world record time is 26.37. With Duje Draganja’s world record the other day this is one of the greatest achievements in the history of Croatian sport. They won two gold and two bronze medals, first time ever.
Duje Draganja, the fastest swimming man on the planet Earth
Croatian Superman, Duje Draganja, the fastest swimming man on the planet conquers world record on 50 meters free style in Manchester, England on April 11th 2008. The Croatian swimmer, wearing Speedo’s LZR Racer suit, finished in 20.81 seconds.
Croatia – Land of World Swimming Record Holders
Two world swimming records are an achievement not even larger and stronger countries, than our “little” Croatia, can afford. But at this moment Croatians are celebrating and bragging with such achievements, thanks to Duje Draganja and Sanja Jovanovic, young swimmers who brought the world’s swimming to its knees.
Velimir Trnski painting the 1671 love story of Petar and Katarina Zrinski
Velimir Trnski, Croatian painter, transformed the most famous Croatian love letter – Moje drago zercze, My Dear Soul , into a series of remarkable frames in which the sensual figure of the young wife is consistently kept in the foreground. One of the most deeply moving Croatian historic dramas has been presented in a most contemporary, provocative and attractive way.
Festival favorite Random Lunacy is on the road again! April 14 – June 5, 2008
Home Team Productions is proud to announce five upcoming screenings of “Random Lunacy: videos from the road less traveled.” Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers says of this documentary, “Prepare to be wowed!” The film follows the radically itinerant Poppa Neutrino and his family of street performers over the course of twenty adventurous years of living homeless by choice.
Pandora.com The Music Genome Project plays Nenad Bach music from March 28th
We set out to capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. We ended up assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or “genes” into a very large Music Genome. Everything from melody, harmony and rhythm, to instrumentation, orchestration, arrangement, lyrics, and of course the rich world of singing and vocal harmony. It’s not about “looks” or “genre”.
Damir Spanic – Artist of the Week – Photographer for Life
It was the turning point of trying to capture the essence of the person, after arrival of an idea that all people are beautiful for no reason related to their outside appearance but more to inner qualities. Now I am a stock and lifestyle photographer with the strongest point in portraits and emotive portraits. I license my images through a Canadian agency, subsidiary of Getty.