The San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble: Rarely heard gems from Russia and the Ukraine

The San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble performs Russian, Ukrainian, Russian Roma (Gypsy) and Crimean Tatar music in a traditional folk instrument orchestra of balalaikas, domras, bayan (Russian button accordion), zhaleika/brelka (Russian reed pipes) 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: Grigory Krumik (bayan), Anna Nikolaeva Razgulova (prima domra), Mikel Estrin (bass domra), Rick Schneider (alto domra), Nada Lewis (alto, bass balalaika and vocals), Josh Cohen (kontra-bass balalaika and violin). Special guests will be Irene Perloff-McCullough (alto domra) and David McCullough (alto balalaika) from the Atlanta Balalaika society, with Judy Sherman (vocals and alto balalaika) and Tina Granados (prima domra) from the Big Rock balalaikas in Morro Bay.