The Washington Balalaika Society -- Who We Are

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=130 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="118" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#990000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 103 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="21368610.jpg" border=0 width="104" height="97" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="106"><div> <B>WEBSITE DIRECTORY</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 17 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="home___the_washington_balalaika_society.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Washington Balalaika Society"><B>Home</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="about_the_washington_balalaika_society.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Washington Balalaika Society Who We"><B>About the WBS</B></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 33 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="guild.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Balalaika Guild"><B>Make a Donation to</B></A><B> </B><A HREF="guild.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Balalaika Guild"><B>WBS</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 33 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="balalaika___upcoming_converts_and_events.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Balalaika Upcoming Concerts and Events"><B>Upcoming Concerts</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 33 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="opportunities_with_the_washington_balalaika_society.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Opportunities with The Washington Balala"><B>Opportunities with WBS</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="wbs_rehearsals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rehearsals"><B>Rehearsals</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 36 WIDTH="106"><div> <B> </B><A HREF="_instruments.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Washington Balalaika Society Instru"><B>Instruments</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="_instruments.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Washington Balalaika Society Instru"><B>We Play</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 22 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="history.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="History of the Russian Folk Orchestra"><B> History</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="cds.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CD Sales"><B>CD Sales</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="join.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Join the WBS"><B>Join the WBS</B></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 17 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="_instruments23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The BDAA"><B>The BDAA</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 22 WIDTH="106"><div> <A HREF="email.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><B>Contact Us</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=54 style=" border-bottom: 6px solid #990000;" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I><B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 30 ><NOBR><div> <I><B>The Washington Balalaika Society ~ Who We Are</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=426 width="100%" colspan=2 style=" border-left: 4px solid #000000;" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#990000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#000099 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 276 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="1d9400c0.jpg" border=0 width="576" height="268" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <I><B>Photo courtesy of Abby Sternberg, Video Masters Inc.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>T</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >he Washington Balalaika Society was founded in 1988 by a group of Washington-area musicians interested in studying and performing the music of Russia, Ukraine and eastern Europe on traditional Russian folk instruments -- the balalaika, domra, bayan and related folk wind and percussion instruments. The Society's initial membership of eight has grown to more than fifty, and the WBS Orchestra is now the largest of its kind in America with musicians at all levels from beginner to professional, from teens to 90s in age.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>     The Society's performing elements include the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#wbsorch" TITLE="The Washington Balalaika Society Who We">WBS Orchestra</A></FONT><U> </U>and  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#folk_1" TITLE="The Washington Balalaika Society Who We">Folk Ensembles</A></FONT>, and there are activities for <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#guild" TITLE="The Washington Balalaika Society Who We">non-playing members</A></FONT> as well. </div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="join.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Join the WBS">Membership</A></FONT> in the WBS is open to anyone, musician or not, who shares an interest in this distinctive music and rich culture. Membership in the Society's folk orchestra is open to musicians or aspiring musicians who are able to read music and have some background in playing an instrument, though not necessarily a Russian folk instrument. The WBS is a community-based, 501.c.3 cultural and educational organization.  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="wbs_rehearsals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rehearsals">Rehearsals</A></FONT> are held throughout the year on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, and on many Saturday mornings from 10:00 am until Noon.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >    Additional information on the WBS and its programs may be obtained by</FONT> <A HREF="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com">writing to us</A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com">.</A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> <A NAME="wbsorch"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><B>The WBS Orchestra</B> </div> <bR> <div>      The WBS Orchestra is organized in instrumental sections similar to a symphony orchestra, under the direction of a conductor. The instruments of the orchestra include domras in five voices ( first and second prima domra, alto, tenor and bass), six sizes of balalaikas (prima, sekunda, alto, bass, contrabass), guslis, accordions/bayans, wind instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and folk winds) and both conventional and folk percussion instruments.</div> <bR> <div>      The Orchestra presents more than a dozen concerts each year including its annual Spring and Fall Concert Series, and appears at festivals, parks, museums, churches and other public and private venues during the year. The WBS Orchestra has performed at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall with the Paul Hill Chorale and The Choral Arts Society of Washington; Carnegie Hall in New York; the Round Lake Auditorium in New York's Adirondacks; Lisner Auditorium, the Embassy of the Russian Federation and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington; NOVA -Annandale; NOVA-Alexandria; James Madison University; The Theater at Washington, VA; Randolph-Macon Woman's College; Walters Gallery in Baltimore and the Ceres Mansion and Weinberg Theatre in Frederick, MD as well as many other sites both large and small in the greater Washington area.</div> <bR> <div>      Orchestra rehearsals are held each Wednesday evening at the Rock Spring Congregational Church, Little Falls Road near Rock Spring Drive in Arlington, Virginia, starting promptly at 7:30 pm. With prior notice, rehearsals are open to visitors. </div> <bR> <div>      Active <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#non_1" TITLE="The Washington Balalaika Society Who We">teaching programs</A></FONT> include instruction from basic to advanced levels in balalaika, domra and bayan as well as in guitar, although guitars are not included in the orchestra. 'Loaner' instruments are often available for use until the student can obtain his or her own personal instrument.  </div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="duo_1_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> <B>"The St. Petersburg Trio" and "The Spirit of St. Petersburg"</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="723" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 268 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="130e3060.jpg" border=0 width="227" height="262" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="477"><div>    </div> <div>      We are pleased to announce the arrival in the Washington area of <B>"The Spirit of St. Petersburg" -- </B>Svetlana Nikonova (domra) and Vladimir Zakharevich (bayan).  Both are graduates of musical conservatories and possess  extraordinary skill and virtuosity on their chosen instruments.  Their extensive repertoire ranges from folk to classical, from 17th Century to contemporary.</div> <bR> <div>     The Duo is now accepting engagements for parties, receptions, school programs and other events where a tasteful musical program is needed to complement and   enhance that special occasion.  The Duo also joins with balalaika virtuoso Andrei  Saveliev to perform as <B>The St. Petersburg Trio</B>.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >     To discuss having the Duo or Trio at your special event, please contact the WBS </FONT> <A HREF="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com">Music</A><A HREF="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com"> </A><A HREF="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:wbsorchestra@aol.com">Director.</A></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > <A NAME="folk_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></FONT><B>The WBS Folk Ensembles</B> </div> <bR> <div>    These groups of from two to twelve musicians perform at receptions, dinners, weddings, festivals and other venues in the greater Washington area.   Appearing in either traditional Russian folk costumes or formal attire at the client's option, with an extensive repertoire ranging from poignant romances to rousing folk dance music, these groups provide 'the Russian flavor' for events large or small whether as background music or the centerpiece of a gala performance presentation. <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Ensembles in which WBS members participate include <B>The Beltway Balalaikas</B> and <B>The Washington Balalaikas</B>. Singers and dancers can also be included in planning a festive program.  Additional information and pricing are available from the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com">WBS Music Director</A>. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="651" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 260 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="22125fd0.jpg" border=0 width="293" height="253" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="22052fe0.jpg" border=0 width="338" height="254" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="299"><div> <I><B>The Beltway Balalaikas</B></I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="341"><div> <I><B>The Washington Balalaikas</B></I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 250 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3781af40.jpg" border=0 width="282" height="244" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="341"><bR> <bR> <div>    Another ensemble, <B>Russkiye Musikanti</B>, is dedicated to outreach programs -- playing at festivals, retirement and nursing homes as well as other venues to bring attention to this unique musical form.  </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="guild"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>The Balalaika Guild </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >®</FONT></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>    </B>Some of our members join simply because they are interested in the music we play, or because they want to help in areas where we need outside support. All are welcome. We're always in need of willing workers in the areas of publicity and promotion, concert logistics, outreach, liaison with other arts organizations, fund raising and grant requests, maintenance of our music library, audio recording, stage management, costumes and many other tasks. <B> </B>This is a society of friends of the Washington Balalaika Society who wish to provide needed support to the WBS and its programs.  We are deeply grateful to them for their generosity.   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="guild.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Balalaika Guild">Click here for more information about The Balalaika Guild.</A></FONT></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="non_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><B>Teaching Programs</B> </div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div>      For those unfamiliar with Russian folk instruments, or others who want to improve their technique and learn more about proper playing, instruction is offered at levels from beginner through advanced. A limited number of "loaner" instruments allow the interested player to begin lessons before acquiring an instrument.  In addition to balalaika and domra, we teach bayan, guitar and piano.  Interested? <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com"><I><B>Ask us</B></I></A></FONT><A HREF="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com"> </A>about lessons.</div> <bR> <div>      Send <A HREF="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com">a </A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com"><U>Message</U></A></FONT><A HREF="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:WBSOrchestra@aol.com"><U> </U></A>to the WBS Music Director </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>    </div> <div> <B>       </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arrus BT" ><B>Updated: 10/09/06</B></FONT></div> </td> </tr></table></body>