Slovak Classical Musicians Score Triumph in Florida and Pittsburgh Programs

November 10, 2008

Three young Slovak musicians performed works by three Slovak composers -- Suchoň, Trnavský and Martinček -- in a series of concerts on Florida's east coast and in Pittsburgh November 6-10. On November 7, they performed at the newly opened Nova Southeastern University Division of Performing and Fine Arts and were interviewed by local media. On Saturday November 8 they presented a concert for the Czech-Slovak Club and the Florida Society of Czechoslovak Arts and Sciences and received standing ovations. The group then participated in an event commemorating the 250th anniversary of Pittsburgh on November 9 at the Heinz History Center and workshop the following day at Duquesne University music department. The US tour was sponsored by Hudobné centrum (Music Center) with assistance from the American Embassy. The three musicians for the project are: Daniel Buranovský, Slovak pianist and educator, and two professional singers, Andrea Čajová and Ondrej Šaling. Their hosts in the U.S. were Slovak Honorary Consuls: Cecilia Rokusek of Fort Lauderdale and Joseph Senko of Pittsburgh. This year, Slovakia celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Slovak composer of the 20th century, Eugen Suchoň. The Music Center created a special program of Suchoň vocal and piano works, with contributions by two other Slovak composers, exclusively for this tour.