Philip Simmons, Music Director
MELODIES OF EUROPE
Saturday, NOVEMBER 11
3:30PM
Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church
739 N Oakley Blvd, Chicago
PROGRAM
Introductory talk by Amb. Jonathan Moore
“Celebrating European Traditions and Freedom”
The National Anthem of Ukraine
Mykhalo Verbytsky (arr. Arsen Buchynsky)
Farewell to the Homeland
Michal Oginski (arr. Ilya Levinson)
Novo Cetvorno
Traditional, arr. Bob Lipton
Andante Doloroso from String Quartet No. 1
Pancho Vladigerov
Cherubic Hymn No. 7
Dmytro Bortniansky
Polka (from Czech Suite)
Antonin Dvorak (arr. Philip Simmons)
Bagatelle No. 1
Antonin Dvorak arr. Ilya Levinson
Old Song- Samir Hadzalic/Ilya Levinson
Zemljo moja (My Country)
Kemal Monteno (arr. Ilya Levinson)
Samir Hadzalic, vocals
Melody
Myroslav Skoryk
Finale from Serenade for Strings
Mieczysław Karłowicz
Admission $20 - Proceeds divided equally between American Music Festivals and Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church
This program is co-sponsored by:
Loeber Motors
Polish National Alliance
Connect Mortgage Corp
ABOUT THE EVENT
American Music Festivals presents “Melodies of Europe,” a concert by the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra on Saturday, November 11, 3:30PM at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church, 739 N Oakley Blvd in Chicago. On the concert will be music of Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Poland. The event begins with a pre-concert talk “Celebrating European Traditions and Freedom” by Amb. Jonathan Moore, who served for 30 years in Europe and elsewhere and is a Board Member of American Music Festivals.
This will be the fourth concert in Ukrainian Village by the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra since the beginning of the war. The program “Ukrainian Culture in Chicago” was given March 19, 2022, at the Ukrainian National Museum. On June 18, “Peace in Ukraine” featured international music at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church. Last November, “Genocide in Europe” was done in collaboration with the Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation. These programs all were fundraisers benefiting Ukraine.
American Music Festivals (AMF) is a nonprofit committed to cultural exchange and preserving orchestral heritage. It regularly presents concerts in the Chicago area by the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra. AMF is a collaborative organization, performing in many diverse communities with concerts at a variety of venues. AMF’s international outreach has focused primarily on Eastern and Central Europe, with Artistic Director Philip Simmons conducting programs of American music in leading cultural centers, and artists from abroad appearing in Chicago.
“Melodies of Europe” will include a brilliant new arrangement for strings of the Ukrainian National Anthem, the Cherubic Hymn No. 7, and the hauntingly beautiful Melody by Skoryk. New arrangements of Dvorak and music of the Bulgarian master Vladigerov will be performed. Polish music, folk dances, and Sevdah songs sung by Samir Hadzalic will round out the program. AMF is pleased to bring these communities together to share culture and goodwill.
Speaker Jonathan Moore, a native of Lake County, Illinois, was commissioned into the U.S. Foreign Service in 1990 and retired from that career in July. As a U.S. diplomat, he worked in the Balkans, the Baltics, the former Soviet Union, and southern Africa. Ambassador Moore also held fellowships in the U.S. Congress and at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
At the State Department, he played a senior role on issues including the United Nations, health, science, and space diplomacy. He has been a fan of the American Music Festivals family for some time, attending concerts throughout Chicagoland and hosting Maestro Simmons in Belarus.
Vocalist Samir Hadzalic has been a passionate advocate for Bosnian culture for many years. With American Music Festivals he has initiated a number of concert collaborations that have helped bring the community together. He has brought new works and arrangements of Bosnian music to the orchestra, and as a performer has helped promote the Sevdah tradition. Samir was Editor and Host of “Radio Voice of the Bosniaks Chicago,” Event Organizer for a “Celebration of 100 years of Bosniaks in the USA 2005,” and led the cause and fundraising for the reopening of the Sultan Mahmud I Mosque in his hometown city of Prijedor. He is currently writing a book about memories from his childhood, setting some to music. His unique vocal style, in the old improvised folk style, is an important link to the traditions of the past.
American Music Festivals promotES cultural exchange,
presenting concerts that celebrate diversity
and preserve orchestral heritage.
American Music Festivals reaches out to communities through orchestral concerts that bring people together to experience the fine arts and humanities. Promoting cultural exchange we embrace diversity, celebrating our differences and discovering what we share as human beings--moving forward a conversation about equity and inclusion.
American Music Festivals is committed to preserving and furthering orchestral heritage. Our music making has attracted an amazing team of musicians, community advocates, and outreach professionals to our cause. It has helped us build partnerships and professional relationships with organizations and individuals around the world. Our concerts tell a story that speaks to the power of music to move people, help change perspectives, and to challenge norms. American Music Festivals is excited to continue to help provide professional orchestral programming throughout the many communities that make up Chicagoland, and around the world.
Thanks for being a part of our vision.
With Maestro Yuri Temirkonov, backstage at Chicago Symphony Center
Artistic Contributor Leonard Slatkin and Philip Simmons in Hawaii
American Music Festivals
has been committed to cultural exchange Since 1997.
Please join US AS WE BRING OUR UNIQUE VIEWPOINT TO CLASSICAL MUSIC PROGRAMMING.
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
In the United States and abroad we work with communities to share culture, celebrating our differences.
ORCHESTRAL HERITAGE
American Music Festivals helps preserve orchestral traditions--with a sensitivity to all the humanities.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Our collaborative events bring people TOGETHER, creating understanding and friendship.
ARTISTIC AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Through concerts and related outreach, American Music Festivals articulates cross cultural and intergenerational connections.
Sir Georg Solti Memorial Festival, April 2016
