Damijan Mocnik, a composer from Slovenia was a recent visitor to Milwaukee for the premier performance of his Christmas Cantata, Venit Lumen. This work was a commissioned piece and performed by the University of Wisconsin concert chorale under the direction of Sharon A. Hansen on December 8th, 2011 at the Zelazo hall on the UWM campus. Another work by Mr. Mocnik, Christus est natus, was conducted by the composer himself. Council General, Jurček ˇmauc of Cleveland, Ohio, also attended and a reception followed the performance.
Members of the Slovenain Arts Council hosted Mr. Mocnik by providing sights and tastes of Milwaukee. He ate and visited with the Slovenian retirees, the USPEH chorus, dinners at restaurants, a home cooked meal, and went on a shopping spree before leaving town. Mr. Mocnik’s wife and three children did not accompany him so had some shopping to do.
All of us who attended the concert enjoyed his music, meeting and socializing with him throughout the week that he was here.
Hvala Lepa!
Did you know that the bachelor of the year is a Slovene? Benjamin Flajnik is the bachelor seen on the program by the same name on WISN-TV on Monday evenings at 7 PM. His father is Slovenian and mother is Italian. He also is part owner of a winery in the Sonoma Valley called, “EVOLVE”. Last year, on the bachelorette program, Ben was not chosen by the girl in the final round. However, he was so popular with the viewing audience that they brought him back this year as “The Bachelor” who gets to choose his girl.