ArtistInfo

Rose Husnick

voc,
Folk and World
A.k.a. Rose Puskarich Husnick

Rose Puskarich Husnick was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Tom and Mildred Puskarich. She and her five sisters grew up on a farm in Plum Boro. Early in life they were encouraged to sing and learn to play the tambura. They were taught to play tambura by their father and Mr. John Valentich. At the age of 13, Rose, with sisters Caroline and Anne, formed a family orchestra directed by their father. With the great talent and love they all had for tamburitza music and songs, they soon began to play for picnics, parties and dances, much to the delight of their audiences. Rose attended Duquesne University on full scholarship with the internationally famous Duquesne Tamburitzans as vocalist, dancer, and musician. There she met Fred Husnick, a fellow Tamburitzan, and her future husband. With the Tammies, they travelled throughout the United States and Europe. In 1957, the same month she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education, Rose and Fred were married. Fred Husnick was inducted into the TAA Hall of Fame in 1989. Fred and Rose formed the Veseli Tamburitza Orchestra in 1958, with Rose as lead singer and brač player. She was greatly admired for her "Golden Voice". Joining the original Veseli were Bill Prezgay, a D.U. Tamburitzan graduate, John Krizancic, TAA Hall of Famer, and Fred's brother Jim Husnick. Others who joined Veseli were Peggy Namesnick Kunkle, Steve Namesnick, and David Egercic. The present Veseli Tamburitzans are Fred and Rose, their son Mark, and Paul Hladio, all graduates of the D.U. Tamburitzans. Rose and Fred have performed with Veseli for the past 32 years throughout the United States and Canada. These include performances on radio and TV programs in Farrell and Sharon, Pennsylvania, and in Cleveland, and with Libby Fill (TAA Hall of Famer) in Struthers, Ohio. They have also performed at 10 Extravaganzas. Rose, Fred, and the Veseli, whose performances and recordings are always in demand, have proudly released their 8th sound recording. In the early sixties, Rose taught the St. Anthony Juniors of Sharon, Pennsylvania. For the past 25 years, she has served first as assistant director and then as director of music and choreography for the Sloga Junior Tamburitzans of Farrell, Pennsylvania. Having performed through four tours in Yugoslavia, Rose is currently preparing the Sloga Juniors for their 4th CFU Cultural Federation Festival and Tour in 1991. About 15 years ago, Rose organized a kolo group which currently numbers 35-40 or more. Many adults owe their kolo dancing skills to Rose who still continues to teach kolo every Sunday afternoon at the Croatian Home in Farrell, Pennsylvania, to young and old. Rose arranges and assists with the music for the Farrell Veseljaci Adult ensemble that was formed four years ago. Their appearances include performing for the past three years at the CFU Adult Tamburitza Federal Festival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rose and Fred are proud of their two children, Diane and Mark, both of whom excel as tamburitzans. After years of tamburitza instruction and great dedication to the music taught by Fred and Rose, they both received scholarships with the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. Diane has a degree in Pharmacy and Mark a degree in Computer Science. In addition to her busy schedule of performances with Veseli and training the junior and adult tamburitza and kolo groups, Rose also presently teaches at a parochial school in Farrell, Pennsylvania.

Genres

• Folk
• World
• Classical

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