Trustees Honor Roll

Turkman, Josephine

Music Director and Vocalist (1911)
Inducted on November 28, 1992

Josephine Turkman has played a key role in perpetuating the musical roots of Cleveland-style polkas. A member of Zarja Singing Society since 1932, Jo directed the group for more than 20 years, leading her singers to success with tours of the homeland, recordings and engaging concerts at the Slovenian Society Home in Euclid. With a grant from the Ohio Arts Council, Jo documented Slovenian musical traditions with Zarja. Slovenia bestowed the Gallus Award upon her and the chorus for their cultural endeavors. She has served on the boards of many organizations, including the Progressive Slovene Women, the Slovenian-American National Art Guild, the United Slovenian Society and the Ivan Cankar Drama Society. For years, Andy and Jo Turkman's Tivoli Imports was the leading source for new recordings and sheet music from Slovenia that revitalized the Cleveland sound in the 1960s.