Sviraj to perform at Centenary Stage

Hackettstown — The Centenary Performing Arts Guild, located in Hackettstown, continues its Concert Series with Sviraj, a quartet of Balkan musicians who will perform at the Centenary Stage on Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. This quartet of ethnic Balkan musicians will perform their music of the heritage with energy and passion as they celebrate the cultures of the Balkan region and Eastern Europe, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece. Their repertoire extends from a Serbian kolo to a Croatian love song, to a Macedonian lesnoto in 7/8 time, to a whimsical Dalmatian song about the sea, to a Bosnian song of unrequited love with its clear Turkish influences, to a lilting waltz from Slovenia, to the rich music of the Banat region of Romania, and to the dances of the Greek islands. Sviraj has performed together since 1988. The members of Sviraj include Lenny Tepsich (Cello, Bass and Vocals), Chris Radanovic (Bass, Vocals), Mike “Misko” Furjanic (Violin, Tamburica, Vocals), and Danilo Yanich (Bugarija, Accordion, Vocals). They are life-long friends who grew up together in an ethnically diverse steel town in Pennsylvania. They learned the music of their culture and others through many, many performances, jam sessions and encounters with folk musicians from ethnic communities in the United States and the Balkans. Tickets for Sviraj are $20 dollars for adults, $17.50 for seniors and students, and $15 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Centenary Box office at 908-979-0900 or online at www.centenarystageco.org.