On Saturday, October 10th, 2015 from 6 to 11pm the Balalaika Trio played for several hours during party at the private house in Greenwich, Connecticut. Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka) and Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass) performed mix of classical, popular, and traditional Russian, Cossack, Gypsy, Ukrainian, Jewish music and songs.
On Monday, May 2nd, 2016 at 10am Balalaika Trio provided one hour performance at Connecticut Baptist Homes, 292 Thorpe Ave., Meriden, CT 06450. Program included Russian, Cossack, Gypsy, Jewish, Ukrainian songs and dances as well as classical repertoire.
May 2nd, 2016. Wesleyan University, Farm Hill Elementary School, Memorial Chapel, Middletown, CT
Leonid Bruk, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov performed three concerts in Middletown, Connecticut. First show and workshop took place at the World Music Hall of Wesleyan University. Second performance was a 45 min concert for students and teachers at the Farm Hill Elementary School located at 390 E Ridge Rd, Middletown, CT 06457 on Monday, May 2nd. 2016. School assembly performance started at 2PM. The Balalaika Trio performed Siberian Nanai Wrestling Dance "Нанаец", Russian folk button accordion "Гармошка" introduction with traditional Russian song "Kalinka", The Snowstorm, Russian folk dance ("Метелица"), Kamarinskaiya, Russian folk instrument balalaika introduction ("Камаринская"), Russian Tongue Twisters Medley ("Скороговорки"), Jewish wedding dance "Свечки", Russian Percussian Orchestra interactive game with students ("Трещётки"), Russian Romani Roma Gypsy song and dance ("Цыганский"), Russian folk dance lesson ("Урок танца"), Ukrainian folk song and dance Pidmanoola ("Украинский"), instrumental solo "Чардаш", Russian Bear dance "Медведь", and other selections. Last performance took place at the Memorial Chapel Middletown located at 221 High Street in Middletown, CT.
Balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina who was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia. She began her formal training at the Mussorgsky Music College of St. Petersburg and continued her training at N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, earning a degree as an Orchestra Soloist. She continued her training at the Conservatory, which included a brief residency in Germany. After, she returned to her native St. Petersburg and completed her education, earning a Doctor of Musical Art degree in the Balalaika. Following her graduation, she began working as a musician, both as a teacher and as a performer, teaching balalaika. Elina Karokhina served in the Russian Army in the Military Ensemble in the Northwest Order of Red Stars. As a balalaika soloist Elina has toured all over the world. When she moved to the United States in 2009 she was hired as a musicial director and soloist with the biggest professional Russian music, song and dance ensemble Barynya (New York). In January 2015 Elina Karokhina was selected to perform the balalaika part with Mariinsky Theatre directed by famous conductor Valery Gergiev in Rodion Shchedrin's opera "The Enchanted Wanderer" at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. In May 2016 she was hired to play several concerts at the Carnegie Hall in New York City as a part of "THE TRIUMPH OF HOPE" international event.
About Leonid Bruk:
Acclaimed New York based balalaika contrabass player Leonid Bruk (Russian: Леонид Брук) was born in Leningrad, Russia. Leonid graduated from music school as a bass guitarist and performed with many different groups. He 1998 he joined Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya. In 2000 he founded his own Russian folk music trio "BROOKLYN BALALAIKAS". Since 1989 when he arrived to USA, Leonid Bruk was deeply attracted to the bass-balalaika and contrabass balalaika. He has played with variuos folk groups including Russian folk band and New York Balalaika Orchestra and soon become known expert in Russian folk music. His specialty is playing balalaika-bass and balalaika-contrabass.
About Mikhail Smirnov:
Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia in 1966. He has been in the business of Russian folk dance and music for more than 25 years. Mikhail is an artistic director and founder of ensemble Barynya based in New York City, author of many articles about traditional Russian dance, music and instruments in English and Russian. Mikhail received his Master's degree from the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts. As a child, he was a member of the famous "Moscow Boys Chorus" - one of the most prestigious all-male choirs in Russia. Before coming to the United States in 1991, Mikhail was a soloist in a several Russian folk dance and music groups including the Moscow State Center for Russian song, "Russkaya Pesnya", under the direction of Nadezhda Babkina. In January 2009 Mikhail Smirnov and dancers of ensemble Barynya were featured on national TV, NBC's "SUPERSTARS OF DANCE" - breathtaking international dance competition led by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance). This prestigious dance competition hosted by Michael Flatley ("Lord of the Dance") and Susie Castillo, a former Miss USA. Mikhail Smirnov was one of eight judges to decide which country will win. The show premiered on NBC network.
Leonid Bruk, Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov are members of Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya (established in 1991). The Barynya is available for hire for performing art centers, school assemblies, festivals, colleges, libraries, concert halls, restaurants, private and corporate events as one powerful ensemble or in smaller groups.
Concert at the Tokeneke School in Darien, Connecticut, March 6th, 2018
Russian dance, song, and music ensemble Barynya led by Russian folk accordion garmoshka player and singer Mikhail Smirnov with Russian Gypsy singer Vasiliy Romani and Ukrainian Cossack dancer Serhiy Tsyganok provided two 45 min performances of Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Gypsy and Jewish songs, music, and dances on Tuesday, March 6th, 2018, 8:45 and 9:45am at the Tokeneke School, 7 Old Farm Rd, Darien, CT 06820. Program of performance included Russian folk song with garmoshka "Subboteya" (Russian: Субботея), Russian folk dance Barynya, Russian song Katyusha, Cossack dance, solo on Russian seven string guitar by Vasily "Vengerka" (Венгерка), Jewish Bottle dance, dance of Russian Bear (Танец медведя), Russian song "My darling" (Живёт моя отрада в высоком терему), Ukrainian folk song and dance Pidmanoola, Russian Tongue-Twisters Medley (Скороговорки), Russian Alphabet Lesson, Russian folk song "Korobushka" with the percussian orchestra consisted of students, Russian folk dance lesson, Russian folk dance Kalinka.
Haynes Elementary School, Niantic, CT, February 26, 2018
Russian traditional dance, song, and music trio provided 45 min performance of Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Gypsy and Jewish dances, songs, and music on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at the Haynes Elementary School in Connecticut. Cast od performers: Mikhail Smirnov, Vasiliy Romani, and Ukrainian Cossack dancer Serhiy Tsyganok.
