ArtistInfo

Ron Rendulic

Folk and World
A.k.a. Ronald F. Rendulic

Ronald F. Rendulic is the son of Edward and Pearl (Luketic) Rendulic of McKeesport, Pennsylvania. From an early age, Ron showed an aptitude for music and began to develop his skills with the McKeesport Junior Tamburitzans in 1955 under the guidance of Steve Kovacev. During these formative years, he was to learn to play all the instruments in the tamburitza family including the bass. While in high school, Ron played lead brač with the Zora Tamburitzans of Versailles, Pennsylvania, and bass with the Kossovo Orchestra of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Further training was obtained with the Balkan Dance Ensemble and the Pittsburgh Tamburitza Philharmonic Orchestra. During these developmental years, the love of tamburitza became deeply rooted not only by his musical family, but also inspired by the legends of tamburitza including the Skertich brothers, Dave Zupkovich, the Popovich brothers, Joe Grcevich, Marty Kapugi, Fred Husnick, and all the great brač players of the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. Ron Rendulic began a second phase of his career in 1962 when he began to develop his teaching skills as an assistant at several junior ensembles. 1966 was a pivotal year in Ron Rendulic's life, for it was then that he began his association with Fred and Rose Husnick and the Veseli Tamburitzans. Down through the years, Ron and Fred's brač playing has inspired and set a standard for brač players everywhere. 1966 also began a most remarkable teaching career that has lasted for 25 years. During that time, Ron taught four and sometimes five groups a week. The number of students taught in that period and the effect on the tamburitza movement is amazing to comprehend. Only in retrospect can one realize the impact that one dedicated individual can make. His former students dot the country continuing to spread his legacy to countless other groups of players. In spite of the staggering work load, Ronald Rendulic found time to not only marry Kathy (Repic) Rendulic, but to continue other interests including performing with other orchestras such as Drina, The Ron Rendulic Orchestra, the Continentals of Pittsburgh, and Bekrije. Time was also found to perform with many of the greatest stars of Yugoslavia including Nada Mamula, Ivica Serfezi, Dusan Dancuo, and Vera Svoboda. In 1974, after completing nine years as an elementary school music teacher, Ron began working full time for the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. This position created time to devote to music composition, arranging, developing instructional material, and instruction books for the tamburitza. Now Ronald Rendulic was in a position to mold members and future members of the Tamburitzans. Today Ronald Rendulic serves as the Assistant Managing Director of the Duquesne University Tamburitzans and Supervisor of its Community School Program. There is not much in the tamburitza world that Ronald Rendulic has not accomplished. Teaching children, teaching adults, other musicians, writing, arranging, recording, performing, conducting the Tamburitza Philharmonic, and being guest conductor for the Junior Cultural Federation Festival of the Croatian Fraternal Union, are all part of the continuing tamburitza activities of this fine musician. Ronald F. Rendulic represents all that a true Tamburitza Association of America Hall of Fame member should be -- a devoted, dedicated person who has given his time to his passion ... tambura.

Genres

• Folk
• World
• Classical

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