Daily Reports of video and pictures online at: 2018AAA80th

The month of June has been an incredibly busy one for me as the time draws near for our highly anticipated AAA 80th Anniversary Festival! With all of my added work preparing for the festival, I really couldn’t find time to write an article on AAA history for July.

Instead, I want to strongly encourage ALL of you to register and come out to Alexandria, Virginia to enjoy wonderful exhibits (some new ones this year!), terrific workshops and concerts, opportunities to play at our Wednesday and Thursday “After-hours Club”, attend the competitions, and to browse through the 80 years of AAA Archives.

Our banquet on Saturday evening, July 14, will feature the 2018 Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Joan Cochran Sommers, followed by a Lifetime Achievement Award presentation for Lou Coppola. Please visit the AAA website for additional details: http://ameraccord.com/festival.php.

….And one more thing! As the title of this article says, “The Russians are Coming!” Don’t miss our Gala Concert and Reception on Friday evening, July 13! We not only have stellar performers lined up for the concert, we also have a delightful ensemble, “Russkie Musikanti” joining us as a special treat at the reception!!

This group, clad in exquisite Russian folk costumes, plays authentic Russian folk instruments (and, of course, there will be a piano accordion and a bayan), and specializes in traditional Russian and Ukrainian folk music. All of the members of this ensemble also play in the Washington Balalaika Society orchestra.

The timing of featuring this ensemble could not be better for us! The Balalaika and Domra Association of America (BDAA) just happens to be holding their 40th Anniversary Convention in King of Prussia, PA the week following the AAA Festival.

Several world-renowned musicians and music educators are coming to the United States to attend this convention. Three will be in the Washington, DC area on Friday, July 13, and will be playing with Russkie Musikanti at the reception.
Hope to see all of you there!

Picture caption: (clockwise from top) Russkie Musikanti, Guest Artists: Tetiana Khomenko (balalaika), Natalia Marunych (domra), Volodymyr Marunych (bayan)

Daily Reports of video and pictures online at: 2018AAA80th