 By maestro Philip Simmons The 2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina Statehood Anniversary Concert Celebration will be held on Saturday, November 22, 7:00 PM, in the Auditorium of Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. It is presented by the Congress of North American Bosniaks in collaboration with American Music Festivals, and is open to the public. The program follows the success of last year’s celebration in Lake Forest which featured guest artist Emir Nuhanovic, Music Director of the Sarajevo Philharmonic. |
Change is in the air. The recent U.S. election demonstrates how as a unified people we can free ourselves of old thinking and embrace the possibility of the new.
Today I write with great enthusiasm about the transformation of the Bosniak community in Chicago, as I witness it firsthand. I am present to a sense of purpose, a call to united action, a bringing together of the community for the common good. The Chicago Chapter of the Congress of North American Bosniaks is a dedicated team with an unwavering commitment to the future. Despite many unfortunate obstacles this team has moved forward and is poised for success, ready to make meaningful and lasting change in the community.
The team speaks for many–some unsure, others who have come to believe that their opinions do not matter. But this is America! Each member of the team deserves a big thank you for their hard work and individual contributions to the success of the upcoming Statehood Celebration event. I would like to personally thank Jeff Kulenovic, for his leadership role through this difficult transitional period.
Now we have the big event coming up in less than two weeks. There are many details to confirm and a great deal of work left to be done. Your personal support of the Anniversary Celebration on November 22 at Northeastern Illinois University is so very important at this time. We are reaching out to the entire Chicago community, and below is how we are articulating the event. As you read this, we know that you are a part of the transformation and we thank you for your role, be it large or small.
Next week: The Future.
The 2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina Statehood Anniversary Concert Celebration will be held on Saturday, November 22, 7:00 PM, in the Auditorium of Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. It is presented by the Congress of North American Bosniaks in collaboration with American Music Festivals, and is open to the public. The program follows the success of last year’s celebration in Lake Forest which featured guest artist Emir Nuhanovic, Music Director of the Sarajevo Philharmonic.
 Philip Simmons and Jonathan Moore, Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Sarajevo, starting August 2009. Mr. Moore will be an honorary guest at the Anniversary Event. |
The Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Philip Simmons, will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo with guitarist Denis Azabagic, and “Sevdah Medley,†a new work of traditional Bosnian folk music arranged for orchestra by Chicago composer Ilya Levinson. The program will bring together international dignitaries, local community leaders, Bosniaks from across the U.S. and Canada, and concert-goers alike.
As the premier Bosnian organization in North America, the Congress serves the needs of over 350,000 Bosnian immigrants. Around 50,000 live in Chicagoland, and this constituency has and continues to make many important contributions to the area. The Statehood Anniversary Celebration allows the Bosniak community the opportunity to share and promote their history and cultural traditions. It is an inclusive event that reaches out to all people regardless of ethnicity or religion, and an invitation for cooperation with the desire for us all to live together in peace and prosperity.
For many Americans the former Yugoslavia is a confusing place, with many emerging nations competing for stability and economic development. Upon closer examination it is clear that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina have suffered greatly since the fall of the Berlin Wall. In America the Bosniak community can now celebrate, and allow for this public discovery of its music, artists, and traditions. This collaborative program also strives to call to our attention the successful coalition building today in Sarajevo, and the generosity of the Bosniaks throughout history in reaching out and helping others in need. This includes assisting the Jewish people during the Inquisition and Holocaust.
American Music Festivals is a nonprofit based in Chicago’s North Shore and is the presenter of the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra. The organization promotes cultural exchange locally and throughout the world, working primarily with organizations in a variety of Eastern European countries. Collaboration with the Congress of North American Bosniaks began when Philip Simmons walked into the Islamic Cultural Center in Northbrook, with the idea of creating a musical program which would lead to greater understanding. Despite many challenges, our Bosnian neighbors are striving to preserve and promote their heritage while integrating into the American mainstream.
The evening’s musical program reflects international diversity, the possibility of respecting the past amidst changing values, and humanism. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 is fresh with new ideas which ask us to confront the status quo. Rodrigo’s Concierto, possibly the most famous work of the 20th century, is fresh with the sounds of nature, harkening back to a simpler time, with moments of profound tragedy as well. Ilya Levinson’s “Sevdah Medley†is both seductive and reflective, exposing the true heart of the Bosnian people.
Denis Azabagic was born in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is considered one of the best guitarists of his generation. He performs around the globe, including solo recitals, chamber music with the Cavatina Duo, and solo engagements with orchestra. In 1993, at age 20, he became the youngest winner of one of the most prestigious International Guitar Competitions, “Jacinto e Inocencio Guerrero,†in Madrid, Spain. He has won eleven first prizes at international competitions and has written the book, “On Competitionsâ€, published by Mel Bay. Mr. Azabagic has recorded seven CDs and two DVD’s. He has appeared as a guest performer in venues and festivals including the Masters of the Guitar at the Royal Concertgebouw in the Netherlands, Radio France in Paris, El Palau de la Musica, Valencia-Spain, Savannah on Stage, and the Omni Foundation. His performances have been broadcast live on radio and television throughout Europe and the USA.
Philip Simmons is Artistic Director of American Music Festivals and Music Director of the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra. He has conducted over 300 concerts, performing in eighteen countries at venues including Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Hall, and the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He is currently Chair of the Wilmette Fine Arts Commission, and a passionate advocate for community arts and educational outreach. The Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1990 and was named Chamber Ensemble of the Year 2000 by the Illinois Council of Orchestras. The orchestra appears on a variety of performing arts series and at venues throughout Lincolnwood and the Chicago area, maintaining close ties with the Village and Mayor Jerry Turry.
Accompanying the music and other festivities will be an exhibit of photographs by Ivica Jurisic of the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics. Artist David Zoberis, who recently collaborated with the orchestra in the Lincolnwood Day of the Arts on November 2 (and whose works are currently in exhibit at the Lincolnwood Village Hall) will again create a new painting inspired by the occasion, to be displayed at the Anniversary Celebration on November 22.
Dignitaries from Bosnia and Herzegovina will include Eldin Kajevic, the Consul General of Bosnia & Herzegovina, and a representative from the office of President Zeljko Komsic. Numerous US officials have been invited, and last year a letter of good will was received from Vice President-Elect Joseph Biden, at the time Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a long time friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event promises to be an evening of great music, culture, and mutual respect.
Tickets for the 2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina Statehood Anniversary Concert Celebration are available in advance or at the door. Admission is $25.
Northeastern Illinois University is located at 5500 N. St. Louis, with auditorium parking accessible at 3701 W. Bryn Mawr. For tickets or further information call 847-920-9569.