Calendar scholars often claim that February is fairly short on days. Nevertheless, BBLA's February schedule bristles with activities - art and design exhibitions, lectures and dance nights, making this month seem a rather long one.  

Since we started writing '13 in our correspondence, we hosted exciting events including an incredible auction of pre-War World II posters from the Hans Sachs Poster Collection and the annual New York Ceramics Fair. BBLA also assisted the Czech Consulate General with the first direct, two-stage election of the Czech President.  

We also took a moment to celebrate the life of our departed dear colleague Alex Cech, whom we will miss greatly. It is our duty to not only look into the future through our day to day efforts, but also to remember and cherish those who were active within our organization in the past. Without their hard work and dedication, we would not be here today.

Let me further report that it pleases me to see increasingly more representatives of Czech businesses among the throngs of politicians and artists passing through our doors. Whenever we can, we assist these budding entrepreneurs with advice or introduction to local services or potential business partners. Recently we dealt with a promising Czech software company, a biomedical research firm as well as an established Czech based manufacturer with a long tradition of producing musical instruments.

I hope you will enjoy the many events awaiting you at Bohemian National Hall this month, including our annual Beseda Ball.

Joseph Balaz, President

Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association 

by Majda Kallab Whitaker 

The Dvorak American Heritage Association (DAHA) welcomed the New Year with a well-attended jazz and literary tribute to Josef Skvorecky (1924-2012), "Dvorak in Lova Meets the Bass Saxophone", organized in collaboration with Czech Center New York. In his opening remarks, New York University Professor Michael Beckerman noted the deep appreciation of jazz and classical music in the writings of renowned Czech-Canadian author Skvorecky before turning the program over to jazz greats Emil Viklicky on the piano, and Scott Robinson on the bass saxophone, accompanied by Martin Wind, string bass, and Klaus Suonsaari, drums.

Viklicky, who was close to Skvorecky, led the quartet in jazz selections ranging from a traditional Moravian tune (after Janacek) to Dvorak's "Humoresque" and "Goin' Home," based on the Largo from the "New World Symphony," plus a 1940s composition from his film score for "Rhythm on the Heels," based on a Skvorecky story. The complicated workings of the bass saxophone were demonstrated by Scott Robinson, who performed his original composition "Step Into my Dreams." Readings from Skvorecky's book "The Bass Saxophone" were presented by Vit Horejs and Deborah Beshaw of the Czechoslovak-American Marionettes Theatre and from "Dvorak in Love," by Professor Beckerman and Majda Kallab Whitaker of DAHA, followed by a moving personal tribute from conductor Maurice Peress. The program closed with the Gershwin favorite, "Summertime."

Majda Kallab Whitaker is an independent scholar and curatorial consultant, and as a Board Member of DAHA acts as project director of the Dvorak Room in the Bohemian National Hall. A graduate of Bard Graduate Center and Vassar College, she curates exhibitions and lectures on subjects related to late nineteenth and early twentieth century cultural and design history. She was born in Prague, and recently joined the Board of BBLA.

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Presented by NYU Department of Art History & Urban Design and Architecture Studies and Czech House NYU in cooperation with the Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences NY

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Organized by The Association of Free Czechoslovak Sportsmen, co-sponsored by BBLA and Lights'n'stage.

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Organized by the Consulate General of the Slovak Republic New York, The Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations, in partnership with the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington, D.C., the Czech and Slovak Solidarity Council and BBLA.

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Organized by BBLA.