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www.thetamburitzans.org About the Tamburitzans: Humble Beginnings It all began when Dr. A. Lester Pierce met tamburitza musicians Matt L. Gouze, Frank Gouze, and Anthony Antoncic in the early 1930's. His intrigue with the folk instrument sparked an idea which has endured as one of the world's finest, longest-running live stage shows of its kind. Dr. Pierce negotiated work scholarships ofr these three young musicians and formed "St. Thomas Tamburitza Trio."
In 1937, headed east with their musical variety show, stopping in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Impressed with the cultural diversity of the city, the group made a permanent home for the ensemble in the form of a work scholarship agreement with Duquesne University. This newly formed group would eventually be known as the "Duquesne University Tamburitzans", coined by a University reporter during the late 1940's.
Building a Tradition The Tamburitzans ensemble expanded its repertoire throughout the past eight decades to include a wide variety of folk dance and music representing international cultures. Eighty plus years, several international tours, hundreds of performers, and hundreds of thousands of audience members later, the Tamburitzans' show is an annual tradition for some, and a delightful new surprise for others. Year after year, generation after generation, the Tamburitzans dazzle audiences across the country with elaborate costumes and incredibly versatile musicians, singers, and dances. The talented young performers are full-time students who have chosen to continue the Tamburitzans' legacy by bringing international cultures to the modern stage
The Winds of Change In 2014, Duquesne University announced that the Tamburitzans would become an independent, nonprofit organization. The Tamburitzans now audition and accept students from other Pittsburgh-based universities, as well as, Duquesne. The move was envisioned to help increase the ensemble's applicant pool, allow for a more robust performance schedule, and to help position the group to pursue charitable support from individuals, the foundations community, corporations, and government agencies. Please help us in keeping this great tradition alive! Your donation directly impacts the longevity of this great performance.
About this year's show:
Prism – Full Spectrum Culture! (2 hours with 15 minute intermission. 7 PM - 9 PM)
We have all seen examples of what happens to light when it passes through a prism. Visible light is separated into its components and we see the full spectrum of color! Nature provides the perfect example – the stunning beauty of a rainbow!
Our show is a metaphor for a prism - it takes “international culture” and separates it into the vivid and rich hues of heritages from around the globe. We believe that one culture magnifies the beauty of another - as we celebrate and embrace the diversity that they represent.
Today, the Tamburitzans are your cultural prism – bringing light to the “extraordinary”!
Here are the cultures being represented: Croatian, Armenian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Slovenian, Greek, Serbian, Hispanic, Celtic, Bulgarian, Macedonian