 |
 |
 |
| The Tamburitzans Mission
Statement
The Duquesne University Tamburitzans is
dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the cultural
heritages of Eastern Europe and its neighbors
through performance, while awarding scholarships
to talented and deserving student performers.
 The
Tamburitzans began in 1937 as a musical group
of twelve young men who played the tamburitza.
Intrigued by the culture surrounding this traditional
East European stringed instrument (similar to
a mandolin), the group's founder, Dr. A. Lester
Pierce brought his "Slavonic Tamburitza
Orchestra" from St. Edward's University in
Austin, Texas to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where
he garnered support for his ensemble from the
multitude of ethnic communities and fraternal
societies residing in the culturally diverse city.
Equipped with this affirmation of the viability
of his ensemble in Pittsburgh, Dr. Pierce negotiated
a work scholarship arrangement with Duquesne University,
and the Tamburitzans began a spirited tradition
heralded as "unique in all the world." Today,
these young men and women perform the music, songs,
and dances of Eastern Europe and neighboring cultures
under the direction of Managing Director Paul
G. Stafura.
|
| The Tamburitzans' numbers have
tripled since those early days. The students who
comprise the Tamburitzans performing ensemble come
from across the country, across the border, and
across the sea. Contrary to popular supposition,
Tamburitzans performers are not professional; they
are college students who receive grant consideration
for their participation in the ensemble. |
 Each
Tamburitzans performer is concurrently a full-time
student at Duquesne University, studying in the
academic field of his or her choice. Tamburitzans
students at Duquesne major in everything from Accounting
and International Business to Pharmacy and Nursing.
Attending classes during the week and performing
an average of eighty shows from coast to coast on
most weekends and breaks during the academic year
is a hectic schedule which many college students
would find impossible to keep. Yet, the Tamburitzans
accomplish this feat with the bravura of seasoned
professionals, despite the fact that no performer
has tenure with the ensemble for more than four
years. And, most admirable, Tamburitzans also achieve
academic excellence, placing on the dean's list
often during their unconventionally busy college
careers. |
| How do Tamburitzans become
Tamburitzans? |
Most Tamburitzans saw their first concert as children,
belonged to a children's performing group, took
private lessons, had parents who took a keen interest
in their artistic progress, and most important,
worked hard at perfecting their talents prior
to auditioning for a position in the ensemble.
After a general audition, either in person at
the Tamburitzans Administration Building, or via
video (many applicants live across the country
or overseas, and cannot travel to Pittsburgh),
those applicants who meet the academic and talent
criteria necessary to fill vacancies in the ensemble
are chosen to compete in an all-day session similar
to the rigors of a day of Tamburitzans production
camp. Just as in the sports world, the judging
panel (comprised of Tamburitzans staff and local
experts in the fields of musical, vocal, and dance
performance) scrutinizes all hopefuls, and makes
the next round of selections. Interviews with
the finalists are held, and final selections are
made, transforming those chosen into TAMBURITZANS
-- members of one of the world's most unique groups
of performing artists.
 As
Tamburitzans, we work to enrich lives by entertaining
and educating our audiences. As students and ambassadors
of Duquesne University, we serve as role models
for young people everywhere -- a vibrant symbol
of hope for future generations.
|
The
Tamburitzans is much more than a performing ensemble.
To support the work of this unique group of performers,
the Tamburitzans maintain a library of over 9,000
volumes of books and journals relating to the music,
songs, dances, customs, and traditions of the peoples
which the ensemble artistically represents. The
Tamburitzans' film library contains more than 300
films depicting the various cultures of Eastern
Europe. This collection has been recently transferred
to video, making them even more accessible to the
general public. Rare 78 rpm recordings and long-play
albums, as well as more recent audiocassette and
CD recordings are also housed in the Tamburitzans
record library for the public to hear and research
old and new music from Eastern Europe and neighboring
cultures. In addition to the ensemble's performance
wardrobe and collection of authentic working folk
instruments, the Tamburitzans possess a special
museum-quality costume and instrument collection
that began over fifty years ago with the first acquisition.
|
 |
|  More
than 8,000 costume pieces and 400 musical instruments
are part of the Tamburitzans collection, and additional
acquisitions are made each year.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday,
8:30 am to 4:00 pm. To view collection pieces
or arrange to use the library facilities, please
call (412) 396-5185 for an appointment, or e-mail
stafuras@duq.edu.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
