Host choir Holy Trinity from St. Louis hosted this year's festival. Choirs attending and performing in the concert were: Guest Choir Branko Radichevich from Chicago, Kornelije Stankovich from East Chicago, SSS Draza Mihajlovich from Cudahy, SSS Karageorge from Merrillville, Stevan Mokranjac from Hamilton, and St. Archangel Michael from Toronto. Thanks to Desa Halstead for these photos.

(Click photo to enlarge)

 

Holy Trinity Church Choir of St. Louis, Missouri hosted this year's SOCA Festival May 30th through June 1st. Their genuine Serbian Hospitality was well appreciated, and Karageorge Choir would like to extend their sincere Thanks!

Saturday's concert was entertaining as well as moving, dedicated to the memory of Kum Steve Miloradovich, who passed away just recently. He directed Holy Trinity Choir for many years, and even directed Karageorge for several years. Those who knew him are left with feelings of great respect and love for their teacher. Our own Paul Jancarich prepared and read a tribute to Steve. May his memory be eternal.

Guest Choir was Branko Radichevich from Chicago, Illinois. Others performing were Kornelije Stankovich from East Chicago, IN., S.S.S. Draza Mihajlovich from Cudahy, WI., S.S.S. Karageorge from Merrillville, IN., Stevan Mokranjac from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, St. Archangel Michael from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Host Choir Holy Trinity from St. Louis, Missouri. Visit pevaj.com for more memories. Special Thanks to Mary Halfman for sharing her photos. (SOCA members, please send us your photos or youtube clips to stsavachurch@gmail.com)

(Click photo to enlarge)

"Meet Me In St. Louis" was the theme for the annual Serbian Orthodox Choral Association (SOCA) Festival hosted by Holy Trinity Choir. The beauty of the city of St. Louis was captured in these photos taken by Mary Halfman.

(Click photos to enlarge)

Holy Trinity Church in St. Louis, Missouri will host this year's 43rd Annual SOCA Festival May 30th through June 1st. Karageorge is looking forward to that wonderful weekend of song, dance, and friendship as the date approaches. Last year's concert weekend was made memorable by our guests, the Branko Choir from Nis, Serbia, as they performed with amazing perfection. The CD's from last year's concert in Merrillville will be available at this year's event in St. Louis. Just see Desa Halstead from Karageorge at the festival, or order it here online in Goods & Services for only $25 (3 CD Set) plus $4 S & H.

For more information and schedule of events, visit Holy Trinity Choir's website.

Father Jovan Todorovich shares his experience at SOCA and his travels with the Branko Choir: OUTSTANDING! MARVELOUS! SUCCESS!

 

The 42nd Serbian Orthodox Choral Association Festival of New Gracanica Metropolitanate was hosted by the veteran Karageorge Choir of Merrillville, IN, June 1-3, 2007. Mary (Popovich) Halfman, Pres., Dr. Jolynn (Rudman) Derado, chairperson, and committee members exceeded our expectations in arranging hotel reservations, concert locat...

(continues ...)

SSS Karageorge of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, IN hosted a spectacular SOCA Choir Festival in early June in Northwest Indiana. Nine choirs from across the United States and Canada participated, along with the famous Branko Radicevic Choir from Nis, Serbia, special honored guests. The Reinhart Auditoriium in Merrillville High School was filled to capacity and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the concert of Serbian Orthodox sacred music and Serbian songs. The Branko Choir of Nis, under the direction of Sara Cincarevic, received a well-deserved standing ovation for its' awesome performance. Each and every choir gave outstanding performances, including the all men's Kosovo Choir from the Ohio region.

The St. Sava Karageorge choir was a perfect host. A welcoming party was held on Friday evening, along with a reception and dance following Saturday's concert. On Sunday the Branko Choir from Nis sang the responses for the Divine Liturgy and a banquet was held in their honor following the church services at St. Sava Hall in Hobart, IN. Paul Jancarich, the historian for the Karageorge Choir, displayed an impressive pictorial exhibit of the history of Karageorge from its' beginning. Father Marko Matic is the new parish priest at St. Sava Church. Father Jovan Todorovich retired after serving 36 years.

Rosalyn Opacich

Photos sent in by Danny Petkovic. All photos can be viewed on our Photobucket Page.

Greetings to everyone attending this weekend's 2007 SOCA Festival hosted by SSS Karageorge and St. Sava in Merrillville Indiana. The event begins with a welcome gathering on Friday evening at St. Sava Hall. Saturday continues with practices, and the main concert performances. Then we close Sunday at St. Sava with divine liturgy sung by Branko Choir from Serbia, followed by an afternoon banquet at the hall. More event details can be found here.

We will post pictures from the festival on this site, so check back soon. And please send in your pictures to our email address, which can be found above in our profile above.

 

Friday

6pm - Welcome Gathering

Light food and music at St. Sava Hall

Saturday

11am - Practice Sessions at Merrillville High School

Mass Choirs, Individual Choirs

1:30pm - Twelve International Choirs Concert

Performing Serbian Folk and Sacred Orthodox Music

FREE Admission - Everyone Welcome

6:30pm - Dance and Evening Festivities at St. Sava Hall

$10 Admission, 2 Live bands and wonderful Serbian food

Sunday

9:30am - Divine Liturgy at St. Sava Church

Responses by Branko Choir from Nis, Serbia

Appetizers and banquet following at St. Sava Hall

 

Merrillville High School: Map of 276 E 68th Pl Merrillville, IN 46410-3566, US

St. Sava Hall: 4101 W 49th Ave Hobart, IN 46342-3719, US

St. Sava Church: Map of 9191 Mississippi St Merrillville, IN 46410-7124, US

NEW!!! Branko Choir Video

SSS Karageorge will be hosting SOCA Festival 2007. The festival will be held on June 1 -3, 2007. The Branko choir from Nis, Serbia will be our special guests. The concert will be Saturday afternoon, June 2, at the Merrillville High School Auditorium. A dinner banquet at our hall will be held following the Sunday June 3 Divine Liturgy. The Branko Choir will sing the Liturgy responses.

Choirs from the US and Canada will join us for the SOCA festival weekend, as we welcome them "Home to Indiana, the Crossroads of America". We encourage all singers to join our Karageorge Church Choir for this event and begin attending Tuesday evening practices.

Contact any choir member for more information. SOCA festival 2007 chairpersons are: Jolyn Rudman 219-464-3569 and John Derado 219-465-0171.

You can also visit the Lake County Convention & Visitors Bureau for information on the schedule of events.