San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble

Rhythmix is proud to present The San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble as a highlight of its newly launched Chamber Music series. The ensemble performs Russian, Ukrainian, Russian Roma (Gypsy) and Crimean Tatar music in a traditional folk instrument orchestra of balalaikas, domras, bayan (Russian button accordian), zhaleika (Russian reed pipe) and sopilka (Ukrainian flute). Founder and director Clark Welsh, who plays prima balalaika, domra, sopilka, brelka and zhaleika, was motivated to start the group in 2000 to preserve this rarely heard music. The ensemble includes: Mikel Estrin (bass domra), Nada Lewis (balalaika and vocals), Jay Stebley (knotra-bass balalaika), Grigory Krumik (bayan), Anna Nikolaeva Razgulova (domra) and Josh Cohen (domra and skripka). Rhythmix Cultural Works (RCW) opened its doors in 2007 as a community arts center to bring people of all ages together for a wide range of high quality arts experiences. Only five minutes from downtown Oakland off Hwy 880, RCW offers a beautifully renovated 150-seat theater, art gallery and classroom as affordable space for live performances, exhibitions, arts education and cultural exchange for youth, families and adults. By providing a range of exhibits, workshops, classes and performances, RCW supports local, regional and international artists in the presentation of their work and strives to encourage community awareness through participation in the arts. http://www.sfbalalaika.com/