Nevena Bralj and Dajana Popovic, both 18 and seniors-to-be at Keystone Oaks High School this fall, moved to the United States after their families fled the war and violence that was tearing up their homelands of Croatia and Bosnia.

While their parents were happy to see them settled into a safer place, they lamented the fact that the girls knew little about their heritage. Nevena was 8 when her family left Croatia; Dajana was 6 when her family fled Bosnia.

Bill Wade, Post-Gazette
Junior Tamburitzan Kellie Brickner, left, fans Nevena Bralj, trying to keep her cool during a rehearsal at Dormont Presbyterian Church.
Click photo for larger image.

Then the families heard about the Junior Tamburitzans of the South Hills, a folk ensemble of children ages 6-18 who perform music, songs and dance from Eastern Europe.

"Here I couldn't believe that we were ever going to hear Tamburitzans again. It was such a surprise when we found this group and it had so many kids who have no roots in Europe," said Ruzica Popovic, Dajana's mother. "It's so nice to see them and hear how they are playing the music and singing the songs from a long, long time ago."

The girls have been members of the group for the past eight years, and, during that time, they have brought about 10 other youths from refugee families to the ensemble.

It's now a group that includes the refugee children, some American children with Eastern and Central European roots and others who have no ties to the heritage, said Russ Johnson, of Upper St. Clair, president of the Junior Tamburitzans of the South Hills board. He has a son and daughter in the ensemble.

The group, which formed in 1979 and has 35 to 45 active members, practices weekly in the basement of the Dormont Presbyterian Church. They gathered there last week to rehearse for a performance last weekend at a festival in Montreal. They will appear Aug. 1 at the St. Joan of Arc parish festival.

Eighteen members of the group have gone on to become Duquesne University Tamburitzans.

Both Nevena and Dajana said they've learned much of what they know about their culture from the Junior Tamburitzans.

"This is a generation that has lost its heritage because of the war," Mr. Johnson said. "If it wasn't for a group like this, I don't think they would ever be able to experience their heritage."

Nevena said she enjoys when the group plays original Croatian songs and she can help with the correct pronunciation and translation of the words. She and Dajana both speak their native languages at home with their families.

Like others in the group, the girls have learned to play the prim and the brac -- ukelele-like string instruments from Eastern Europe.

At post-performance parties or group picnics, the girls' parents and grandparents, along with others, provide Eastern European food dishes.

The girls said sometimes their parents enjoy the gatherings more than they do.

"They are glad that there is something that brings us back to where we were born," Nevena said.

Both girls will graduate from the group when they graduate from high school next spring.

"It's going to be really hard because we have so many friends here and we won't be seeing them every week," Dajana said.

For more information on the Junior Tamburitzans of the South Hills go to www.jrtams.com.