About the Yearly Convention

What is the Yearly Convention?

Members can attend our week-long summer convention held in a different city every year. Attendees have the opportunity to perform, take lessons, participate in workshops and lectures related to Eastern European music and folk traditions, and meet people from all over the world!

We invite world-renowned balalaika, domra, bayan, and choir virtuosos from the US and abroad as guest artists. Our artists put on mini-concerts, give lessons on technique, conduct small ensembles, and share their professional musical expertise with us for a week. For those who sing, dance, or just enjoy learning, we offer choir and folk dance classes, as well as introductory Russian language lessons, Russian & Ukrainian crafts, and ethnomusicology lectures on Eastern Europe.

However, the main feature of the BDAA convention is the 80-100 person balalaika orchestra and Festival Concert we give to the public on the last day. Everyone is invited to participate in the orchestra and play in the concert extravaganza.

Next In-Person Convention:

Asheville, NC

July 12-16, 2022

After a two year postponement due to Covid-19, we are excited to finally hold an in-person convention from July 12-16, 2022. We can’t wait to finally see each other again and meld the musical cultures of Appalachia and East Europe.

2022 Convention Page

Convention Concert Clips

The highlight for most members is playing and performing in the Festival Orchestra Concert on the last day of the convention. All skill levels are welcome to participate in the orchestra. Check out a few recordings from previous concerts / conventions below!

Scenes from Previous Conventions

Although the week is packed with lessons and workshops, the convention is really about meeting people and sharing the rich cultural history of this music with each other.

2021 Virtual Summer Camp Was a Success!

Because of Covid-19 we have suspended in-person activities until 2022. But, we held a virtual “Summer Camp” in July of 2020 & 2021 over Zoom. These camps were an amazing success, with two weeks of workshops and over 80 registered participants! Thanks to our fantastic guest artists and workshop leaders who called in from the US and Ukraine, and to everyone who attended!