Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada. Russian balalaika song and music duo concert at the Koinonia Christian Fellowship

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Russian music, dance and song Barynya balalaika duo (Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov) provided 45 performance during Koinonia Christian Fellowship fundraising charity event at the Koinonia Christian Fellowship in Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada on Saturday, October 28th, 2018. Exact address: Koinonia Christian Fellowship, 850 Sawmill Rd, Bloomingdale, ON N0B 1K0, Canada. The program of the performance included Russian folk dance Kamarinskaiya ("Камаринская"), Russian Tongue Twisters Medley ("Скороговорки"), Dark Eyes, Russian Romani Roma Gypsy song and dance ("Цыганский"), Ukrainian folk song and dance "Pidmanoola" (Украинский: Ты ж мэнэ пiдманула), Sabre Dance from "Gayane" by Aram Khachaturian, The Peddlers (Korobushka), Auguste Durand - Waltz No. 1 - E flat, Dr. Zhivago's Somewhere, My Love (Lara's Theme), "Fiddler On The Roof" Medley, "Those Were The Days", Hava Nagila, "Two guitars", 7-40, Светит месяц - The Moon Is Shining Brightly, Felt Boots (Валенки), and other selections.

Contact information: msmirnov@yahoo.com

Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada
Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada

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.

Elina Karokhina, Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA
Elina Karokhina on the stage of the Carnegie Hall in New York City

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.
 
About Mikhail Smirnov:
Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia.  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.

Mikhail Smirnov performing folk song Korobushka

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.  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.  Ensemble Barynya is a world renowned group that enjoys exalting stature as the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia.  Under direction of Mr. Smirnov ensemble Barynya has become the most requested Russian dance and music show outside of Mother Russia.

PHOTOS

Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada
Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada

Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada
Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada

Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada
Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada

Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada
Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada

Koinonia Christian Fellowship, Bloomingdale, Ontario, Canada

VIDEO


watch this video on www.youtube.com website

July 16, 2022. Niagara Falls, ONTARIO L2G 3K7, Canada, Russian Adoption Reunion 2022

On Saturday, July 16th, 2022 musicians and dancers of ensemble Barynya - Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina, Alisa Egorova, Valentina Kvasova, Alexandr Rudoy - performed 30 minutes show for adoptees ages 8-21, and their families during Russian Adoption Reunion 2022 event that took place at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, 5875 Falls Ave, Niagara Falls, ONTARIO L2G 3K7, Canada. There were adoptees from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan and China. Totasl guests count: 250. The program included "Korobushka", "Kalinka", "Valenkee" ("Woolen Boots"), "Mardzhandzha", "Hopak", "Dark Eyes", "The Moon Is Shining Brightly" and "Bottle Dance" based on the "Fiddler On The Roof".

Ensemble Barynya, Ансамбль Барыня, Валентина Квасова, Александр Рудой, Алиса Егорова, Элина Карохина, Михаил Смирнов, суббота 16-ое июля 2022-ого года, 07-16-2022, Saturday July 16 2022, Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Valentina Kvasova (dancer), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, garmoshka, vocals), Alisa Egorova (dancer), Alexander Rudoy (dancer), Niagara Falls, ONTARIO, Canada, Russian Adoption Reunion 2022, Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, 5875 Falls Ave, Niagara Falls, ONTARIO  L2G 3K7, Canada
Russian Adoption Reunion 2022 at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, July 16, 2022
Contact information: msmirnov@yahoo.com

RELATED LINKS

Russians dancers, musicians, and singers at the Koinonia Christian Fellowship in Bloomingdale, Ontario, Ruskoka Ball, Old Mill Inn Toronto, International Festival in Toronto, Folklorama Festival in Winnipeg

Contact information: msmirnov@yahoo.com

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