Trustees Honor Roll

Zorman, Ivan Jr.

Poet, Composer, and Music Director (1885-1957)
Inducted on November, 25 1989

The Cleveland-style polka is rooted in the folk music and language of Slovenia, and Ivan Zorman cultivated this heritage more than any other American. Young Ivan performed in the bands and choruses his musician father started in Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado and, finally, Cleveland, Ohio. Ivan's immigrant experience and love of his mother tongue inspired him to write a book of poetry in 1919--the first in the U.S.--followed by five others and a songbook. Classically trained, he led his own concert orchestra in the 1920s and was organist at St. Lawrence Church for 40 years. He wrote music and arranged and translated many songs and poems as choral director of Glasbena Matica, Triglav, Planina, Zvon and other groups. Ivan was respected by his fellow Americans and in Slovenia. He was the only Slovenian-American honored with a bust in Cleveland's Cultural Gardens.