Yan Khmel performs Russian-Ukrainian music medley - video
11-13-2011. Free public performance, Community Library, Shirley, New York
Two dancers, two singers, and two musicians performed one hour show at the Community Library in Shirley, New York on Sunday, November 13th, 2011. Performance started at 2pm. Cast of performers: Aliaksandr Anatska (dancer), Valentina Kvasova (dancer), Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass), Irina Zagornova (singer), Sergey Pobedinsky (singer, guitar player), Yan Khmel (button accordion). Exact address of the venue: Community Library Friends of the Arts, Inc. 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, NY 11967.
Friday, April 9th, 2010, Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Road, Toronto, Ontario, M8X 1G5 CANADA, Winter Palace Ball and the Gala Charity Fundraiser benefitting Ruskoka, a summer camp for underprivileged children.
Musicians: Elina Karokhina
(balalaika),
Leonid Bruk
(contrabass balalaika),
Yan Khmel
(bayan),
Mikhail Smirnov
(garmoshka, guitar, vocals),
Valery Abramov (tenor-saxophone), Oleg Sorin (trumpet).
Festival International des Rythmes du Monde, Chicoutimi (Quebec), Canada, July 2009
Over 10 thousand people attended Barynya performance during Festival in Chicoutimi. Performers: Leonid Bruk, Mikhail Smirnov, Alexander Menshikov, Yan Khmel, Lev Zabeginsky, Valentina Kvasova, Ilia Pankratov.
Mikhail Gorbachev's Liberty Medal Award Gala
National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA
Ensemble Barynya performed during diner Gala after the Liberty Medal 2008 was presented to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev by President George H.W. Bush. Official ceremony took place on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at The National Constitution Center located at 525 Arch St. on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall... letter of recommendation.
Eight Barynya dancers, four musicians and three singers entertained a black-tie dinner for more than 1,000 guests. Audience included President George H. W. Bush, Tom Brokaw, Dikembe Mutumbo and Van Cliburn. Barynya performed both concert music and dance throughout the evening. President's Bush and Gorbachev were thrilled. World known concert pianist Van Cliburn shake hands with the balalaika virtuoso Lev Zabeginsky. MC of the evening, American television journalist Tom Brokaw, used one of our microphones to do the toasts. He was standing next to Barynya musicians on the stage.
Bayan virtuoso Yan Khmel with ensemble Barynya during "Maslenitsa" Celebration in Nayack, New York in 1999.
On the photo from left to right: singer Irina Zagornova, Yan Khmel,
Edik Kutovoi (balalaika) and Leonid Bruk (balalaika contrabass).
Yan Khmel was the professor of bayan, music arrangement and composition in Kiev Chaikovsky State Conservatory of Music in Ukraine.
Yan Khmel with ensemble Barynya.
He made United States home in 1990-th after Soviet Union collapsed.
In the United States Yan started to perform solo, with his son (violinist Lenny Khmel), and with many different orchestras and bands including Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya, Vasily Romany Gypsy Band, singer Irina Zagornova and many others in New York Tri State area.
Ensemble 
