Awards:

1. Tale Ognenovski is a winner of the First Regional Bitola Festival of Folk Dances and Songs, 1947.

Tale Ognenovski received the First Award as the best clarinetist at the First Regional Bitola Festival of Folk Dances and Songs, October 9-11, 1947. At this festival participated folk dance groups from the towns of Bitola, Skopje, Prilep, Tetovo, Gevgelija, Debar, Ohrid, Kichevo, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Makedonski Brod, Demir Hisar, Struga, Resen and Krushevo.

"Macedonia is the country with the most folk dances, so many in number that there is no other country in Europe equal to Macedonia," said Olga Skovran from Belgrade, Manager for folklore in the Ministry of Culture in the Republic of Serbia (Former Yugoslavia). This came from an article entitled 'We must keep our folk songs, dances and folk costumes', written by Lazo Karovski and appearing in the newspaper 'Nova Makedonija', Skopje, Republic of Macedonia on October 11, 1947.

2. Tale Ognenovski's First Award for Clarinet as a top clarinetist at the First Republic of Macedonia Festival of
    Folk Dances and Songs, 1948.

"The First Award for Clarinet was received by Tale Ognenovski from Bitola." This comment appeared in the newspaper 'Nova Makedonija' published on October 13, 1948. The report was entitled 'Awards for folk dances and songs, solo singers and players who participated at the First Republic of Macedonia Festival of Folk Dances and Songs'.

One of the highpoints of Tale Ognenovski's successes was his participation in a competition during the 'Republic of Macedonia Festival of Folk Dances and Songs' during the period 6-10 October, 1948. 453 Folk dances and songs groups competed in the festival in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. He was a winner, and received his First Award as the best clarinetist from Angel Saldziev, Assistant Director from the Ministry of Science and Culture in the Republic of Macedonia. The President of the commission was Zhivko Firfov, and a member of the commission was Vasil Hadzimanov.

At this folk festival Tale Ognenovski participated in playing as clarinet soloist with every folk group from the Bitola region - from the villages of Brusnik (its members were Pande Metlovski, Vasko Stankovski, Rade Talevski, Sotir Ilkovski, Tome Grozdanovski, Cane Grozdanovski, Jonche Talevski, Mile Josifovski, Milica Talevska, Vera Tasevska, Vasilka Karangelevska, Danica Drskovska, Vasa Altanovska, Kristina Palashovska, Cena Veleva, Fana Dushovska, Ljube Karangelevska and Dragica Apchevska), Lavci, Dihovo and Rotino and from the town of Bitola. In addition, Tale Ognenovski was the artistic instructor and coordinator of all the folk groups from the Bitola region. The Bitola Towns Union of cultural educated societies won the First Award for the best cultural region in the Republic of Macedonia...

3. Tale Ognenovski's First Award at the Yugoslav (Former Yugoslavia) Folk Music Festival in Opatija , Croatia,
    1951.

85 Folk groups performed at the Yugoslav (Former Yugoslavia) Folk Music Festival in Opatija, Croatia, that took place during the period September 9 to 13, 1951. They came from Serbia (September 9th, represented by 15 villages), Bosnia and Herzegovina (September 10th, represented by 15 villages), Montenegro (September 11th, represented by 8 villages), Slovenia (September 11th, represented by 5 villages), Macedonia (September 12th, represented by 23 villages) and Croatia (September 13th, represented by 19 villages).

"Teshkoto (the virtuoso clarinet soloist was Tale Ognenovski - remark made by Stevan Ognenovski) from Nizhopole (Bitola) means 'heavy', and indicates the heavy rhythm which is typical of very ancient dances..." This appeared in the 'International Folk Music Journal' under the title 'Extracts from PROGRAMME NOTES ON THE DANCES AND SONGS performed at the Yugoslav Folk Music Festival', with the subtitle 'MACEDONIA - represented by 23 villages', published by The International Folk Music Council, London, in March, 1952, Volume IV, pages 60-64.

At the Yugoslav (Former Yugoslaviia) the Folk Music Festival in Opatija, the Folk Dance group from the Bitola village of Nizhopole from Cultural - Educational society "Jonche Georgievski" from the Bitola village of Dihovo in which Tale Ognenovski was playing as a clarinet soloist, created a sensation and received First Award as the best Folk Dance group at the festival. Tale Ognenovski, with his masterly playing solo clarinet, deserved the award together with other members of the group. This was a great success because in this Festival participated 85 different folk dance groups from Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The musical part of the group had only two members: Tale Ognenovski played solo clarinet with the accompaniment of drummer Lambe Petrovski.
This is a musical sensation, to receive the First Award with an orchestra consisting of only two members. The clarinetist Ognenovski and drummer Petrovski performed closely together.

The dancers and singers were Vera Cholakovska, Cveta Petrovska, Sakjime Alimovska, Nada, Marika, Menan, Sefer, Mirko, Vangel, and Dimche Talevski.

There was a full house at the concert hall in the Kvarner hotel in Opatija, and the audience was fascinated by the music and the three dances performed by the Ensemble: 'Za ramo Teshkoto', 'Beranche' and 'Vlashko za ramo' (these folk dances involved singing by all ten members of the Ensemble). Tale Ognenovski was arranger of these folk dances, and made them more effective with his solo improvisations.

3.1.  "The clarinet (the virtuoso clarinet soloist was Tale Ognenovski - remark made by Stevan Ognenovski) was
          as effective an accompaniment to the large drum in the folk dance from Kozjak as it was to the small drum in
          the folk dance 'Teshkoto' from Nizhopole. They provided a very effective combination" - Dr. Vinko Zganec
           in 'Kulturni radnik'

In the cultural newsmagazine 'Kulturni radnik' Number 10-11, published in October 1951 in Zagreb, Croatia, Dr Vinko Zganec wrote " The clarinet (the virtuoso clarinet soloist was Tale Ognenovski - remark made by Stevan Ognenovski) was as effective an accompaniment to the large drum in the folk dance from Kozjak as it was to the small drum in the folk dance 'Teshkoto' from Nizhopole. They provided a very effective combination." This appeared in an article entitled 'Yugoslav Musical folklore at the Festival in Opatija'.

The audience greets the debut of the group from Nidzopole with great applause... Delegates at the Conference of the International Folk Music Council in Opatia from September 8-14, 1951, were present at this concert. Many of the world's reporters took photos of the members of the group regarding their excellent debut and their receiving First Award at this festival  (Source: a letter from Mr. Mile Petrovski, Bitola, Republic of Macedonia, May 15, 1965, and an informal interview with Mrs. Vera Cholakovska Petrovska and Mr. Mile Petrovski made by Stevan Ognenovski on May 3, 1998).

3.2.  No other nation in Europe has such rich folklore

"The riches of your folklore have a strong influence on me. Your folklore is something really unusual. No other nation in Europe has such rich folklore." This comment was by Mrs. Nataplesh, the Honorary Secretary of the International Folk Music Council (whose headquarters are in London, England), who was present on the Conference of the International Folk Music Council in Opatia during the period September 8-14, 1951. (This came from an article entitled 'Great interest for our folklore in Opatija.' It was published in the newspaper 'Nova Makedonija', Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, on September 14, 1951.)

3.3.  The Yugoslav (Former Yugoslavian) Folk Music Festival in Opatija had been specially arranged for the
         members of the Conference of the International Folk Music Council

"The Council has been fortunate in the national setting of its conferences, which each year has given a distinctive character to the proceedings. At the 1951 conference, held at Opatija from September 8th to 14th, we had the stimulus of exchanging views with and learning from our Yugoslav colleagues who have had the inestimable advantage of studying their folk music tradition whilst it is still in full flower; and we were privileged to see and hear for ourselves the beauty and variety of Yugoslav folk art in the wonderful Festival which had been especially arranged for the members of the Conference.

This contact with the living material gave point and added significance to the theoretic discussions, for it showed that we were concerned with a form of artistic expression that is not merely an adornment but a condition of life. Indeed, there were moments during the Festival performances when we could recognize the magic of dance and song and believe in their power to drive away evil spirits, to induce fertility and to promote healing..." This appeared in an article entitled 'Editorial', and was published in the Journal of the International Folk Music Council, Vol. IV, page 1, in March, 1952.

3.4. "Astonishing pageant of costume and custom, ritual and social dance, song and instrumental playing by 700
          performers in Opatija" - Marie Slocombe, Journal of the International Folk Music Council

"It was natural that on this occasion expositions of Yugoslav folklore and music should form the backbone of the Conference, and these received the most wonderful illustrations in the nightly Festival which took place in the magnificent ballroom of a nearby hotel. Every evening, for three hours or more, we witnessed an astonishing pageant of costume and custom, ritual and social dance, song and instrumental playing by 700 performers brought together from every part of the country. This was a world whose riches most of us had barely guessed at and, in this highly concentrated presentation, it was an overwhelming and unforgettable experience..." This came from an article entitled 'Some impressions of the Yugoslav Conference and Festival', written by Marie Slocombe and published in the Journal of the International Folk Music Council, Vol. IV, page 2, in March, 1952.

4. Honours:

1. "Diploma for a highly qualified musician" from the Association of musicians of folk an entertaining music from Macedonia
     (signed by the composer Stefan Gajdov), on September 3, 1961, in Skopje.

2. "Spomen plaketa" from the Parliament of the town of Skopje (signed by Blagoj Popov), in Skopje on January 20, 1969.

3. "Spomenica" from the Macedonian State Ensemble of Folk dances and Songs 'Tanec' (signed by Toma Leov), in Skopje
     on January 31, 1969.

4. "Blagodarnica" from the Cultural Artists Association 'Kocho Racin'(signed by Blazhe Sekulovski), in Skopje on June 3,
     1971.

5. "Spomen plaketa" from the Cultural House 'Kocho Racin' (signed by Petar Bogatinovski and Stanimir Andreevski), in
     Skopje on November 27, 1974.

6. "Priznanie" from the Cultural Education Union of Skopje (signed by Dr. Tome Sazdov), in Skopje on December 5, 1975.

7. "Diploma" from the Association of Stage Artists of Macedonia (signed by Boris Nizamovski), in Skopje in 1977.

8. " Estradna nagrada Jugoslavije" ("Yugoslavian Stage Award") from the Association of Stage Artists of Yugoslavia (Former
     Yugoslavia) signed by the composer Miljenko Prohaska, in Zagreb, Croatia on October 31, 1978.

9. "Blagodarnica" from the Institute of Folklore "Marko Cepenkov", in Skopje on October 2, 1980.

10. On July 4th , 1983, (in former Yugoslavia) for his musical works, from "Sojuz na borci na Jugoslavija".

11. "Pofalnica" from "Dom na VVI i borci od NOV-Skopje" and the Committee of the "Borec" Choir on the 10th anniversary
       of its founding (signed by Branko Ichokjaev and Ljubica Ivanovska), in Skopje in 1984.

12. "Estradna nagrada na Makedonija" ("Macedonian Stage Award") from the Association of Stage Artists of Macedonia
       (signed by Dragan Mijalkovski), in Skopje on May 15, 1985. This was also awarded to other legendary Macedonian
       artists such as Vaska Ilieva (singer), Aleksandar Sarievski (singer), Jonche Hristovski (singer), Angel Nanchevski
       (accordion), Kocho Petrovski (accordion) and Pece Atanasovski (bagpipe -"gajda").

13. "Blagodarnica" from the Committee for the celebration on the 600th anniversary of the founding of the village of Brusnik
       (signed by Cane Skerlevski), in Brusnik, Bitola on August 8-9, 1992.

14. "Pocheshna Estradna Nagrada na Makedonija" ("Macedonian Stage Award (Honorary)") from the Association of Stage
       Artists of Macedonia, (signed by Bozhidar Noev), in Skopje on May 27, 1996. This was an honorary award, which was
       being introduced for the first time. Various legendary Macedonian artists have received the award: Tale Ognenovski
       (clarinet), Vaska Ilieva (singer), Aleksandar Sarievski (singer), Jonche Hristovski (singer) and Pece Atanasovski (bagpipe
       -"gajda"). All these awards were presented in the 'Continental' Hotel, Skopje, on May 27, 1996. At this celebration, Tale
       Ognenovski played Macedonian folk dances on the clarinet. He received frenetic applause from the audience who were
       amazed by his virtuoso technique on the instrument.

15. "Blagodarnica" (This is an honorary award) for life long work from the folk radio "Radio Ros", (signed by the director
       Aleksandar Dimitrov), in Skopje on December 7, 2000. The same award has been presented to other legendary
       Macedonian artists such as Vaska Ilieva (singer) and Aleksandar Sarievski (singer). All these awards, which was being
       introduced for the first time, were presented in the 'Universal Hall' at the Folk Festival "Ros 2000" .       

16. Tale Ognenovski received a Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honors at Annual “10 Folk Biseri”  (“The Ten Folk Pearls”) Awards, sponsored by Macedonian Radio Television. He was on stage in Skopje, February 19, 2002, to personally receive his Lifetime Achievement Award   in front of the more than 700 spectators at the Macedonian National Theatre. This event was broadcast live to the millions spectators in Republic of Macedonia, Europe and Australia by Macedonian Television. The journalist, Eli Tanaskova said: “Tale Ognenovski is a great instrumentalist and composer for clarinet. He made the connection between Oriental and Western Music with extraordinary technique and wealth of invention. This year is the 80th anniversary of his birthday,  73th  anniversary of his playing on the reed pipe, 65th anniversary of his playing on the clarinet and 46th anniversary of his performances at world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York on January 27, 1956. The journalist, Boris Chorevski said: “Tale Ognenovski has composed 150 Macedonian folk dances.  His son Stevan and his grandsons Nikola and Kliment began playing his music, accompanying him as members of his Orchestra. In this “10 Folk Biseri” Awards Ceremony, Tale Ognenovski said: “Thank you very much to you respectable audience and to Macedonian Radio Television for this Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honors at Annual “10 Folk Biseri” Awards. These days the journalists from many Macedonian newspapers has been written “Tale Ognenovski is the greatest clarinetist of all time in the World, demonstrating unique skill, a wealth of invention, amazing improvisational virtuosity, and outstanding musical competence in many areas of music…” . Special thanks to my son Stevan who wrote my biography in the book : “Tale Ognenovski virtuoso of the clarinet and composer” and he is author of my Web site. My Audio CD album entitled, "Jazz, Macedonian Folk Dances and Classical Music" is the best album for all time for instrumental music.My album has been released in USA. I wish you good health to all of you.” Tale Ognenovski earned rapturous applause from the audience. 

17. Tale Ognenovski won top honors as the winner of 11 Oktomvri award, the highest and the most prestigious national award
     in Republic of Macedonia.
October 11 awards for special and eminent achievements in the areas of science, culture, art and journalism were handed at the Macedonian Parliament on Saturday, October 11th., 2003. Institute of Macedonian language "Krste Misirkov" from Skopje and Professor Dr. Ljupco Ajdinski, teacher of the handicapped, are the winners of the award in the area of science and education.
The winners of October 11 award for 2003 in the area of culture and art are Tale Ognenovski, the clarinet virtuoso, and Zoica Purovska-Velevska, prima ballerina from Skopje. Present at this ceremony on October 11, 2003 at Macedonian Parliament were Mr. Boris Trajkovski, President of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Nikola Popovski, President of the Parliament of Republic of Macedonia , Mr. Kiro Gligorov, the First  President of Republic of Macedonia, Mrs. Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy to the President of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Ms. Liljana Popovska, Vice president of the Parliament of Republic of Macedonia, Members of the Parliament of Republic of Macedonia including Ms. Ganka Samoilova – Cvetanovska and Mr. Tito Petkovski…
The informations for Winners of 11 Oktomvri Awards were published at: Macedonian Radio (September 26, 2003), MIA (Macedonian Information Agency, September 26, 2003), http://vesti.mt.net.mk, newspapers: “Nova Makedonija”, “Vecher”, “Dnevnik”, “Utrinski Vesnik” and”Vest” (October 11 and 13, 2003), magazine “Makedonsko Sonce” (October 10, 2003), Macedonian Television, A1 Television, Sitel Television, Telma Television, Kanal 5 Television (October 11, 2003)…Read more...

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