Video 1: Cody McSherry, age 14, performs “Slovenia” on accordion at the Mardi Gras celebration held at Prince of Peace Church in Steelton, Pennsylvania. “Slovenia” was composed by Slavko and Wilco Avsenik. Cody is a member of Kolo Club Marian.
Video 2: Group performing a Croatian dance (Cody is one of the dancers).
Kolo Club Marian perform a set of dances from Slavonia, Croatia in February, 2018. Kolo Club Marian is associated with Prince of Peace Church in Steelton, Pennsylvania, USA.
“Let’s get one of those genetic tests done, because I know I must have ancestry from the Balkans in me somewhere,“ says Cody McSherry. The 14 year-old is thrilled with his new role as the accordionist for Kolo Club Marian, a group that works to keep the customs of Balkan music and dance – focusing mainly on Croatia – alive.
Kolo Club Marian was started in 1954 and calls the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Steelton, Pa home. “Kolo” refers to the circle dances common in Croatia. “Marian” comes from the fact that the club was formed in the Catholic church’s “Marian Year” of 1954. The group is headed by Rick Vukmanic who has grown up with the Croatian customs and who not only serves as the choreographer and dance instructor, but is an expert on all things Croatian, and a great educator.
Cody is thrilled with the complexity of the Balkan music with its unusual meters, such as 7/8 and 15/16, and intensive ornamentation. In many cases, the music is written. However, the written music does not convey the true feeling, ornamentation and manner in which the music is played, all of which must be learned through tradition.
With Kolo Club Marian, Cody dances with the group when the music is being provided by stringed instrumentation such as the tambura, and when the accordion is needed, Cody provides the music for the group.
In February, Kolo Club Marian held its annual Mardi Gras celebration. The group performed dances of the Slavonia region of Croatia. Afterwards, Cody was asked to perform on accordion and button accordion.
In the past, Cody has won awards at the annual American Accordionists Association’s festivals and also at the Leavenworth International Accordion Celebration. Cody fronts his own German band – Polterabend (“Noisy Night”) – performs with the Bavarian Barons German band and is a member of the Accordion Pops Orchestra.
Cody has also introduced the accordion to his high school jazz and concert bands. Cody has a strong desire to eventually join the Greater Pittsburgh Tamburitzans and attend Duquesne University.
