Croatian Embassy in Washington celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with Croatian-American heritage program

The Croatian Embassy in Washington, D.C., is marking the 250th anniversary of the United States with a series of events highlighting the contributions of the Croatian-American community to American society.

As part of the initiative, the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater hosted the concert Tamburitza Across America: Celebrating Croatian-American Heritage Through Music. The event showcased the tamburitza tradition that Croatian immigrants and their descendants have preserved in the United States for more than a century, underscoring the enduring role of Croatian heritage in American cultural life.

The concert followed an earlier program dedicated to Croatian-American military veterans and formed the second part of the embassy’s commemorative series.

The artistic director and project leader was Jerry Grcevich, one of the most prominent Croatian-American tamburitza musicians. Grcevich has composed or co-written some of Croatia’s best-known tamburitza songs, including Šumi, šumi javore, Ne dirajte mi ravnicu, and Moja Juliška.

More than 450 guests attended the concert, which featured performances by Ivan Draženović, Ivan Grgurević (Grga), who travelled from Croatia for the occasion, as well as Kathy White, Angela White, Steve Grassa, Julie Throckmorton, and Mark Milovats.

The third and final part of the program is scheduled for the fall and will focus on prominent athletes of Croatian descent who have made significant contributions to American sports.

Through these events, the Croatian Embassy aims to highlight the many ways generations of Croatian Americans have contributed to the development of the United States while preserving and promoting their Croatian heritage.

Embassy Thanks Community and Sponsors

In a message posted on its Facebook page, the Croatian Embassy expressed gratitude to the performers, attendees, and sponsors who helped make the event possible.

“It was a truly magical evening that celebrated the rich musical tradition, history, and enduring contributions of Croatian Americans to the fabric of American life,” the embassy wrote.

Special recognition was given to Jerry Grcevich for his vision, artistry, and dedication in bringing the concert to life.

“Through music, storytelling, and the timeless sound of the tamburica, Jerry honored generations of Croatian Americans who have preserved their heritage while helping to build and strengthen the United States. His performance was a moving reminder of the power of culture to connect communities, generations, and nations,” the statement said.

The embassy also thanked members of the Croatian-American community, friends of Croatia, and supporters of the America 250 initiative for attending the event.

Additional appreciation was extended to the event’s sponsors: Adriatic Strategic Partners, ACAP, Croatian Fraternal Union, Gideon Brothers, and KiNRG.

“As we mark the 250th anniversary, evenings like this remind us of the countless ways in which Croatian Americans have enriched the cultural, civic, and social life of the United States. We are proud to celebrate this legacy and grateful to all who joined us,” the embassy stated.

A video report on the concert, produced by HRT’s Vijesti iz kulture (Culture News), is also available.