The Balalaika and Domra Association of America (BDAA) presented their Russian Festival Concert at Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 N Broad St, Philadelphia on Saturday July 21,2018. The concert brought together musicians from around the world performing Russian, Eastern European and Gypsy folk music, song and dance, and was the culmination of the BDAA’s 40th annual convention which took place in King of Prussia, PA, July 15th-22, 2018.
The performance featured virtuoso of the balalaika, Elina Karokhina, and virtuoso of the domra, Peter Omelchenko, performing in duos, ensembles and with an 80-piece Russian folk orchestra, featuring two accordionists, conducted by David Cooper. The highlight of the concert will be the 80 person BDAA Russian Folk Orchestra directed by David Cooper. The concert also included appearances by ensembles from across the United States and virtuoso soloists on the balalaika and domra instruments from Russia and Ukraine.
During this week, Russian Folk musicians from all over the world convened in Valley Forge to participate in workshops consisting of musical instruction, performance, folk dancing, folk chorus, mini-concerts and cultural/language activities that vulminsyrf in the Russian festival concert on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at Temple Performing Arts Center. The highlight of the concert was the 80 person BDAA Russian Folk Orchestra directed by David Cooper. The concert also included appearances by ensembles from across the United States and virtuoso soloists on the balalaika and domra instruments from Russia and Ukraine.
Peter DiGiovanni is one of the accordionists for the group. Originally from New York, now living in Oakton, VA., Peter has been playing piano since a small child, and accordion for the past 25 years. Affiliated with the Washington Balalaika Society, Russkiye Musikanti, the Metropolitan Washington Accordion Society of which he is President, the Maryland Accordion Club, and the American Accordion Association. He has performed numerous times at parties and celebrations, grand openings, public and private concerts, and music clubs and festivals. Knows hundreds of songs by ear, covering music for all seasons and a wide range of genres, and is equally comfortable sitting or strolling, playing solo or accompanying singers, or jamming with other musicians. Instruction is available for students of all ages, either at his home in Oakton or at the student’s home, and emphasizes ear training as well as traditional methods. For more information: peter@musicisforever.com
Excerpts from the BDAA Website: The Balalaika and Domra Association of America (BDAA) was formed in 1978 by three musicians interested in the study and performance of Russian and Eastern European music on the traditional folk instruments of Russia — the balalaika, domra, bayan (Russian accordion) and related folk wind and folk percussion instruments. In its nearly 40 years of existence the Association has grown to an international membership of over 400, with connections to many orchestras and ensembles worldwide. The common bond is music, and a desire to learn more about it in the company of others with similar interests.
For further information on BDAA: execdir@bdaa.com
