Inducted - Pittsburgh 2008
Mickey Arangelovich was born Mildred Trivanovich on September 1, 1940, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to Jennie and Ranko Trivanovich. She was the eighth of nine children. Siblings Vi, Angie, Bob, and Ned started playing music in their teens. Honey started at the age of 5.
As they grew older and started having families, they often got together to play tambura. Mickey was usually called upon to make coffee, change diapers, etc. One day she said, "This is enough. I've had it." When Mickey was 20 years old, she gave up all her 'babysitting' chores and started to learn how to play the tambura. She learned three songs and her sisters Angie and Vi said "Let's form a band." That was the beginning of the Trivanovich Sisters Orchestra. Mickey had listened to such an abundance of tambura music early in life that she didn't realize she knew all the songs and was able to pick them up quickly by ear. Throughout the years, the girls played several live radio and TV shows, recorded two long-play albums, and entertained throughout the United States.
In 1970, Mickey married Danilo Arangelovich and moved to Chicago. They adopted two children and now have six grandchildren. She got involved with the Church Circle of Serbian Sisters and was instrumental in generating funds donated to the children's tambura groups. Mickey managed a fundraiser program for the reconstruction efforts for the Libertyville Monastery. She wrote and directed a Minstrel show that was put on by the Circle of Serbian Sisters. Adam Popovich stated "It was the most entertaining show he had seen put on in Chicago in a very long time." Mickey also made songbooks and sang with the church's Holy Days Choir for funerals and special services during the week. In 1974, the Sisters were invited to represent the former Yugoslavia at the Ohio State Fair. Mickey packed her tambura and suitcase and headed back to Ohio to play with her sisters. She also sang with Cleveland's Njegosh Choir and the Sloboda Choir of South Chicago.
In 1981, she moved back to Ohio and Mickey picked up where she left off. Although not playing publicly, they entertained at private parties and nursing homes. In 1990, the T-Sisters made a tambura video in memory of their parents. They also made it as a keepsake to hand down to their children and grandchildren. They had to mass produce it because many of their former fans requested a copy.
In 1996, Honey called Mickey to her home for a jam session. She also invited the girls from Danice Orchestra, Marci Coleff, Denise Mulec, and Lu Ann Chmura. After a few practices they decided to form a group. The Šarena Orchestra came into existence. They made several recordings and have played on live radio since they formed their group. They also provided musical accompaniment and a brief appearance in a documentary film, 'The Children of Lazo's Grove', produced by Dr. Andrei Simic and Dr. Maria Simic. Šarena provided musical accompaniment on two CDs made by the 'Kosovo Male Choir'. In 2005, Nisi (Trivanovich) Pozderac replaced Lu Ann Chmura on the bass. Mickey, Marci, and Denise were on the committee for the Extravaganza Bonanza in Cleveland, Ohio, in March of 2007. Mickey coordinated all the bands to ensure that the tambura lovers had non-stop music from the time they arrived until they left. Šarena Orchestra conducted a sing-a-long in Cleveland that was well received. They conducted another one in Reno (2007) and were asked to do it again in Pittsburgh (2008). Mickey maintains the Šarena orchestra website and frequently satisfies worldwide requests for music, lyrics, mp3s, etc. They are presently recording a new CD and hope to release it this year at the Extravaganza.
Mickey and Honey hold weekly tambura classes for their family to teach them the songs and music they love so dearly. The T-family band has played for the American Cancer Society, church functions, family functions, and fundraisers. Their dream is that the music never ends.
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