A Legacy Shaped by Music and Heritage

Story by Madeline Egerton, Photos by Giles Clasen

Born and raised in Leadville, Joann Birsa found an early passion for music. As a child of immigrants from the Republic of Slovenia, who relocated to the small Colorado town at the turn of the 20th century, Birsa spent most of her time with her grandmother, who taught her about her Slovenian heritage.

“I grew up bilingual,” Birsa stated. “I was my maternal grandmother’s only grandchild for a long time. She spoiled me, and she sang to me, and she fed me good food.”

From an early age, Birsa’s grandmother sang Slovenian folk songs to her. There was one sound in particular that fostered Birsa’s passions.

“On the radio, I would hear accordions, and this was before a lot of people had [listening] devices at home. There weren’t these radio stations that played one genre or the other. It was a mix, and the accordion was very popular back then,” Birsa said.

She had her first accordion lesson in 1952, when she was 10. “I found, when I started to play, I really enjoyed it. It’s something I really took to.”

After two years of lessons, she and several other children were asked to perform at a picnic at Turquoise Lake, near Leadville. When the performance ended, guests asked Birsa to continue playing.

“They kept me overtime for some reason. I played for several hours — I can’t imagine how bad it was. But they passed a hat — a real hat — for people to throw money into. In that one night, I made over $30, so you could say I was hooked.” By today’s standards, that $30 is the equivalent of $360. 

After that experience, Birsa knew that she would pursue a music career and committed to improving her skills. One of six women from her graduating class to seek higher education, Birsa went on to study at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she majored in music education.

Birsa met her husband Silvan through a mutual friend. While she and Silvan raised their family, Birsa continued pursuing her music. This included playing Slovenian and English hymns on an organ at the Catholic church they attended. 

Birsa’s first paid shows as an accordionist were with the Narodno Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble, which played a variety of music ranging from Ukrainian and Norwegian to Bulgarian and Macedonian. She performed with the ensemble for seven years.

In 1989, after raising three daughters, Birsa attended the University of Denver to earn a master’s degree in concert accordion performance.

“Well, I was good at it… and I like the sounds I made with it,” Birsa said.

Today, Birsa is a master accordionist who can play anything from opera to polka. She also plays regularly and receives bookings through the Denver Musicians Association and by word of mouth. Additionally, one of her daughters serves as her booking agent, while her other daughters and grandchildren are her “roadies.”

Birsa remains dedicated not only to mastering her instrument but also to championing the musicians around her. She understands the countless hours of practice behind every performance and the steep cost of pursuing serious musicianship — professional accordions alone can exceed $60,000, with sound equipment adding even more. To her, supporting live, local music is a way of honoring the people who devote their lives to creating it.

More than seven decades after she first picked up an accordion, Birsa continues to perform, teach, and refine her craft. Her commitment has never wavered; if anything, it has only deepened with time.

In every performance, Birsa offers more than melodies; she offers a living connection to her Slovenian roots. Her music carries listeners into a world where heritage, memory, and artistry blend, keeping alive the cultural stories that first moved her as a child in Leadville.