The Northport Historical Society, 215 Main Street, Northport, New York, celebrated Croatian Day on Sunday afternoon, April 3, 2022 featuring a ninety minute lecture and power point presentation by Anton Angelich.

Mr. Angelich, who is a food scientist and also teaches at McGill University, addressed a capacity sellout audience. The event was also broadcast internationally via zoom technology. Topics included the early history of the Croatian nation, evolution of the Croatian language, migration to the United States, Croatian contributions / achievements in just about every phase and aspect of American society and also the contributions of Croatians to the local Northport, New York community.

Following the lecture refreshments were served and Croatian accordion music was supplied by Dominic Karcic. Some of the melodies played included traditional Croatian polkas – Oj! Marica Pegla, Slusaj Mati, Moja Baba Je Pijana, Vičeras Je Naša Fešta, Spavaj mi, Spavaj, Ančice and Ciribiribela Mare Moja and traditional Croatian waltzes – Daleko mi je biser Jadrana, Pocí Cù Na More, Kucavica and Samo Nemoj Ti.

Originally from Astoria, NY AAA Board member, accordionist, pianist, and band leader, Dominic Karcic attended St. Francis of Assisi grammar school, William Cullen Bryant high school, New York College of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree and continued his education at the City University of New York (CCNY) where he received his Masters Degree in Music.

Dominic was one of the founders and first president of the Adriatic Islands Charity Committee and served as its president for thirteen years during his tenure the committee raising thousands of dollars for senior citizen homes, hospitals and churches in the Mali Losinj (Lussin Piccolo) area of Croatia. The organizations first fund raiser at the Oyster Bay caterering house in Astoria, NY attracted nine-hundred and fifty people and Dominic and his orchestra supplied the music for the monumental event.

Dominic has always played professionally (accordion and piano) in the New York metropolitan area and continues to do so today. He and his musicians “The Continental Sound” have been house musicians at the Columbus Citizens Foundation (NYC) for over twenty-five years and he has played for organizations like the Valtarese Foundation (Parma, Italy), Fubinese Society (Piemonte, Italy), Italian Charities of Queens, NY, Italian Heritage Association of Long Island, La Pace Restaurant (Glen Cove, NY) and also at Magnanini Winery in Wallkill, NY.

His love for the Valtaro Musette music was instilled in him through his years of study with noted accordionist Peter Spagnoli. In recent years he has been involved in the preservation and documentation of this musical style. He collaborated in writing a biographical article on the life and career of accordionist John “Scudlein” Brugnoli (founder of the Valtaro Musette Orchestra).
He and fellow accordionist Ray Oreggia have given workshop presentations on the Valtaro Musette style for the American Accordionists’ Association (AAA), Connecticut Accordion Association (CAA), Maryland Accordion Club, the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (WMAS) and the Istria Women’s Club (Astoria, NY).

Dominic founded the Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) The wide spread success of LIAA events has endeared it to accordionists and accordion music lovers from all over the New York Metro area and has made it (LIAA) and its events the “Voice of the Accordion on Long Island.” He also created and performs with various singers in a program titled “From Broadway to the Met” which features the music of the American Song Book and Opera.

For further information:
Dkarcic10@gmail.Com