The Serbian Singing Society Lira hosted its inaugural Annual Concert on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025. The honored guests were the kumovi choir, S.S.S. Branko Radichevich of Chicago, who inducted the S.S.S. Lira of Washington, D.C. into the Serbian Singing Federation two years ago. Besides the relationship of kumstvo, the mark of the concert was a poetic symbolism of having the oldest and the youngest members of the Serbian Singing Federation of America and Canada meeting together in song to celebrate the rich Serbian music tradition.

The concert took place at Saint Luke Serbian Orthodox Church of Washington, D.C. The church was too small to accommodate all interested and the adjacent hall had to be used. 

The host choir, S.S.S. Lira and the Lira Children’s Choir were led by their director Protinica Jelena Vranic, while the S.S.S. Branko Radichevich and the Junior Brankies were led by Jelena Stojakovic. At the concert the associate directors Nevena Arizanovic of Lira and David Sekicky of Branko Radichevich each directed a music piece as well. At the end of the concert, on behalf of the hosts, Nevena Arizanovic, president of S.S.S. Lira, presented a hand-painted picture of the crest of Serbia, painted by Jasmina Milkovic, to David Sekicky, president of the S.S.S. Branko Radichevich, as a memento of the historic moment of Lira’s inaugural annual concert.

The concert exhibited a well-balanced and thought through selection of beautiful spiritual and secular traditional music, mostly Serbian. Following an hour and a half of wonderful music chemistry between the choirs, many audience members held back tears.

The evening was complemented by a delicious dinner and zabava in the social hall. The entertainment was provided by the DC Electric Band.

The final day of the concert weekend, Sunday, February 23rd, began with the Divine Liturgy served by the V. Rev. Protopresbyter Dr. Vasilije Vranic, Dean of the Washington Deanery, and the Rev. Fr. Nikolaj Kostur of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago. The church was once again small to receive everyone present. Fr. Nikolaj delivered a homily of the day. The responses were sung beautifully by the Branko Radichevich choir lead by Jelena Stojakovic. 

Following the parish luncheon, before the farewells were exchanged, the youth of both choirs ended the wonderful weekend of music and fellowship with a Serbian kolo.

The hard-working and dedicated members of Lira and their supporters organized a truly wonderful concert weekend and welcomed guests with open hearts. The events of the concert weekend and friendships forged through singing have inspired many audience members and parishioners of Saint Luke to seek more of the similar cultural content in the future. The Serbian community of Washington, DC is waiting with great anticipation for the next event which will be organized by the S.S.S. Lira. Until then, the wonderful memories of a most successful concert weekend will keep us going.