Russian music, dance and song Balalaika Duo (Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov) performed 1 hour concert during the Passport Europe Festival in Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois) on Sunday, September 24, 2017. The program of performance included Sabre Dance from "Gayane" by Aram Khachaturian, "Fiddler On The Roof" Medley, "Two guitars", Csardas by Vittorio Monti, Paganini's Caprice No. 24, "The Gypsy Trail" (Мохнатый шмель), Rondo Alla Turca (Turkish March) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, "Dark Eyes", Polonaise No. 13 in A minor, "Pozegnanie Ojczyzny" (Farewell to the Fatherland) by Michal Oginski, "Those Were The Days", J.S. Bach - Suite No. 2 - Badinerie (Joke), Pidmanula (Ты ж мэнэ пiдманула), Waltz for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich, Светит месяц - The Moon Is Shining Brightly, Waltz "Babochka" by V. Andreev, Felt Boots (Валенки), Variations on a Theme of Corelli in the Style of Tartini. Composer, Kreisler, Fritz, Iced House (Потолок ледяной, дверь скрипучая), Dr. Zhivago's Somewhere, My Love (Lara's Theme), and other selections. Elina also performed Russian dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm).
Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois click image above to see full-size high resolution photo
ABOUT PERFORMERS: Elina Karokhina Elina Karokhina 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. Elina 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 Teaching and Performing. Following the Graduation, Elina began working as a musician, both as a teacher and as a performer, teaching balalaika. Mrs. Karokhina served in the Russian Army in the Military Ensemble in the Northwest Order of Red Stars. She is a winner of International Music Competition in Cherepovets and a Holder of the First Place in Troyanovsky's Competition for musicians performing of traditional instruments in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a balalaika soloist Elina has toured all over the world.
Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois click image above to see full-size high resolution photo
She was a soloist of State Concert Russian Orchestra of Saint Petersburg under direction of Honored Performer of Russia Vladimir Popov (Russian: Государственный Русский концертный оркестр Санкт-Петербурга, Художественный руководитель и главный дирижер – Заслуженный деятель искусств России ВЛАДИМИР ПОПОВ.) 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 world-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 with symphony orchestra, choir, and opera soloists as a soloist of "The Orchestra Rocks" production. In September 2016 he appeared at the Carnegie Hall again as a part of "Moscow Gypsy Army" representing rich musical culture of Eastern Europian Roma people. In January 2017 Elina was hired to play Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh" Suite at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with the National Symphony Orchestra. All four performances were under direction of world-famous conductor Sir Mark Elder. In 2017 Elina was invited to perform as a Honored Guest Artist at the Balalaika and Domra Association of America 40th Jubilee Convention that will be taking place in Philadelphia in July 2018.
Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois click image above to see full-size high resolution photo
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.
Multicultural school assembly at the Patton Elementary School, Arlington Heights, IL
Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed in Arlington Heights, Illinois on March 14th, 2014. Multicultural school assembly program took place at the Patton Elementary School, 1616 N Patton Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their Friday morning learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language. Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style diatonic button accordion and guitar. Elina Karokhina played balalaika, dances were performed by Aleesher.
Musicians and dancers of Russian music, song, and dance ensemble Barynya provided music and dance entertainment for corporate event in Chicago, Illinois. Cast of Barynya team included Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Stefan Kuziw (tambourine, dancer), Richard Armandi (contrabass), Andrij Cybyk and Natalia Ejova. The program of performance included Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Russian Gypsy Roma, and Russian Jewish music, songs and dances. The event took place on Sunday, April 29th, 2007 from 8pm to 11pm for “Gorodissky & Partners”, Ltd. reception at the Fairmont Chicago Hotel, 200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60601.
Russian wedding at the Astoria Restaurant and Catering Hall
Mixed Russian-American wedding took place on Saturday, July 21st, 2012 at the Astoria restaurant and Catering Hall, 1375 West Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 (Chicago, Illinois, USA). Bilingual (English-Russian) MC-Tamada Mikhail and DJ Natasha provided music and entertainment. The scenario of the wedding included ceremony, coctail hour, grand entrance, Russian traditional Velichalnaia song, toasts from mother of the bride, maid of honor, best man, first dance of the Groom and Bride, 4 sets of dancing, number of funny wedding games and competitions including "Find Your Husband", "Find Your Wife", "Mind-Reading Game", "Ransom for the Bride", "Garter", "Bouquet Tossing", "Cutting the Cake", and others.
Concert of Barynya ensemble at the Wilson Hall, Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois
Russian dance, song, and music ensemble Barynya performed a concert on Saturday, April 20th, 2013 for Fermilab Arts & Lecture Series in Batavia, IL 60510. The show took place at the Ramsey Auditorium (inside the Wilson Hall) at Fermilab (Wilson and Kirk Roads, Batavia, IL 60510-5011). Cast of performers: Danila Sherstobitov, Valentina Kvasova, Olga Chpitalnaia, Elina Karokhina, Andrei Kisselev, singer Vladimir Loginov, ballet dancer Yelena Maleenina, violin player, and keyboard player.
Members of ensemble Barynya Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals), dancer Serhiy Tsyganok provided 1 hour performance on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018 at the Park Plaza Jewish Senior Living Community, 6840 North Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL 60645.
Concert series for schools and libraries sponsored by Russian Kvas Beverages
Russian Federation based Kvas Beverage Company sponsored several concerts of ensemble Barynya in schools, colleges and adult care centers. Some of the show took place at Des Plaines Public library, Hunting Ridge Elementary School, Booth Tarkington Elementary School, Holy Cross Elementary School, Devonshire Elementary School, Highland Elementary School, Edgar Allan Poe Elementary School, and other places.
Russian wedding at the Tirnanog, Lake Villa, Illinois
Russian DJ Barnaul, balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina and MC-Tamada Mikhail Smirnov provided music and entertainment for the wedding at The Tirnanog, 38276 North Deep Lake Road, Lake Villa, IL 60046 on Friday, September 3rd, 2010.
Multicultural school assemblies in Medinah, Illinois
Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed in Medinah, Illinois on March 17th, 2014. Multicultural school assembly programs took places at the Medinah Intermediate School, (7 N 330 Medinah Rd, Medinah, IL 60157), and Medinah Primary School, (22 W 300 Sunnyside Rd, Medinah, IL 60157). Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their time on Monday learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language. Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style diatonic button accordion and guitar. Dancer Alisch presented Russian, Gypsy, Cossack, Andizhan, Jewish Wedding Bottle dance, and the dance of "Russian Bear". Musical director of the group Elina Karokhina played the balalaika, a three-stringed, triangular instrument, performed Russian folk dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm, Russian: «Метелица»), Russian Gypsy Roma dance "Kay One" ("Where Are They"), and Russian traditional dance "Kalinka" (Russian: «Калинка»).
Thursday Night Out World Music Concert Series in Downtown Oak Park
Trio Barynya performed on Thursday, July 09, 2015, from 7 to 9pm at the Downtown Oak Park, 1010 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois during the Thursday Night Out World Music Concert Series in Downtown Oak Park, www.downtownoakpark.net. Barynya Balalaika Trio cast: Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass), Elina Karokhina ( balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals) presented two hours performance that included Russian, Cossack, Siberian, Gypsy, Ukrainian, Jewish music and songs, and also classical and popular repertoire.
Multicultural school assembly at the Jefferson Elementary School, Princeton, IL
Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed in Princeton, Illinois on March 19th, 2014. Multicultural school assembly program took place at the Jefferson Elementary School, 724 W. Putnam, Princeton, IL 61356. Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their Wednesday afternoon learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language. Artistic director/founder Mikhail Smirnov played the garmoshka, a Russian-style diatonic button accordion and guitar. Dancer Alisch presented Russian, Gypsy, Cossack, Andizhan, Jewish Wedding Bottle dance, and the dance of "Russian Bear". Musical director of the group Elina Karokhina played the balalaika, a three-stringed, triangular instrument, performed Russian folk dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm, Russian: «Метелица»), Russian Gypsy Roma dance "Kay One" ("Where Are They"), and Russian traditional dance "Kalinka" (Russian: «Калинка»).
Russian wedding at the Russian Tea Time restaurant in Chicago
Mikhail Smirnov provided DJ and MC tamada services as well as dancers of Barynya ensemble to entertain guests of mixed Russian-American wedding at the Russian Tea Time restaurant in Chicago on Saturday, September 10th, 2011.
Multicultural school assemblies in Quincy, Illinois
Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya performed several shows in schools of Quincy, Illinois in March 2014. Performances took place at St.Francis Solanus School (1720 College Ave, Quincy, IL 62301), St. Dominic School (4100 Columbus Rd, Quincy, IL 62305), and Blessed Sacrament School (1115 S. 7th Street, Quincy, IL 62301).
