Washington DC – The American Pops Orchestra (APO), partnering with the Atlantic Council, held a historic concert commemorating NATO’s 75th Anniversary at the Library of Congress on Thursday, July 11. This spectacular concert was an amazing conclusion to sign off the NATO Summit and NATO Public Forum in Washington, D.C.. This evening of music highlighted unity and collective partnerships through fostering empathy and new bonds to advance the interests of sustaining world peace.
The concert featured American Pops Orchestra with guest student musicians, composers, featured artists, and singers representing each 32 NATO member countries who all sang compositions that resonate with the themes of hope and solidarity. One of the artists performing who represented Croatia was Tajci.
Originally named Tatjana Matejas Cameron, Tajci [Tajči in Croatian] is a legendary Croatian singer who stunned the crowd with a gold shimmer dress by Delight Luxury and sang the classic from the Wizard of Oz, “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” accompanied by the APO.
Maestro Luke Frazier, director of the American Pops Orchestra, speaking to the crowd: Photo from Atlantic Council Communications
“We are thrilled to present this once in a lifetime concert celebrating NATO’s milestone anniversary”, said Luke Frazier, Founder and Musical Director of the American Pops Orchestra. “Music has a unique ability to transcend borders and bring people together, embodying the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that NATO represents.”
“The Atlantic Council has been committed for more than sixty years to strengthening the bonds among NATO allies and we’ve also long recognized the unifying power of culture and music,” said Frederick Kempe, Atlantic Council president and CEO.
“This remarkable concert celebrating NATO’s 75th Anniversary ‘hits all the right notes’ in the service of history’s most enduring and successful alliance.”
The APO was founded in 2015 by Maestro Luke Frazier and is dedicated to building a community of diverse audiences through the preservation and promotion of American popular music in dynamic styles. It was designated as official Arts Envoy of the US State Department in the Fall of 2023 and contributes to a wide variety virtual and live performances for educational initiatives and collaborations in the DC area.
Several days after the concert, the Croatians Online was able to get in touch with Tajci, and she was able to provide her insights on the concert and her performance in the live radio program “Croatians Saturday Live”.
Tajci with Maestro Luke Fraizer at the private reception after the concert
Q: What was it like performing for the 75th anniversary of the NATO concert?
A: It was an honor to perform at this event. Maestro Luke Fraizer put together a truly remarkable program featuring soloists, professional musicians, and students representing all 32 NATO member countries. There are many amazing Croatian artists to choose from, and being selected to perform was a significant honor. For me, it was more than just a musical performance. I believe music has the power to make us pause and create space to remember our purpose on this Earth – to love and contribute something good to the world. I truly believe that music is a powerful tool for creating a better world.
Q: What inspired you to sing “Somewhere over the Rainbow”?
A: I dreamed of singing this song with a symphony orchestra a long time ago, as I was growing up in Croatia. It’s a song of hope and a promise of a better future, and whenever things would get a bit tough for me, I’d sing it. Just like the song says, I would image a place where “dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.” Now, knowing that hope is a belief that change is possible, which gives us a nudge to continue making the change happen, this song has a new meaning, and what can be more appropriate for a NATO gathering than that?
Q: How does that resonate with Croatia currently to you?
A: Sometimes we might feel powerless in the shadow of big powers, which really is only a perception. Croatia is incredibly abundant in talented and hard-working people who dare to dream big, and when they do, they make significant contributions to society. I think the song resonates with the Croatian spirit of resilience, optimism, and keeping the faith.
Q: What is one message you would like to share with the Croatian diaspora community?
A: Stay connected and help each other in bringing our Croatian heart and soul, skills, expertise, talent, and dedicated work to the world. This wasn’t my accomplishment, but ours. That’s the power of diaspora, of community, and that’s what we need to continue to do for each other.
It’s not a competition of who can do more and look bigger—we need to remember that we are all working together, much like an orchestra. Even though some might have solo parts, they won’t sound as good without the orchestra behind them. Let’s drop the need to compete against each other and learn from each other’s stories instead of judging each other. Let’s celebrate the blessings we have as Croatians and share them with the whole world.
Tajci will be an exclusive guest of the Croatians Online live program on Saturday, July 27, live in the studio, starting at 11 am EST. More information will be provided soon.
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