Concert Information
The annual BDAA Festival Concert brings together musicians from around the world to perform Slavic folk music, including Ukrainian, Eastern European, Romani, and Klezmer musical traditions. The performance will feature virtuoso guest artists with an 80-piece folk orchestra.
The BDAA Festival Concert is performed in a different city each year and is the culmination of the BDAA’s annual convention, which celebrates and Eastern European folk music and culture in the US. This year the concert will be held on Saturday, July 29th, 2023 at 7:30 pm in the ballroom of the Sonesta West Milwaukee Hotel in Wauwatosa, WI.
Ticket Prices
- Adult: $25
- Student: $18
- Children 12 & Under: Free
- Ask us about Group Rates (BDAA.board (at) gmail.com)
A portion of the concert proceeds will be donated to Ukrainian relief efforts. We will also collect additional donations to support Ukraine during the performance.
Guest Artists
This year we are featuring new and familiar guest artists from France, Russia, and America, including:
Nicolas Kedroff – Prima Balalaika
Angelina Galashenkova – Prima Domra
Victor Gorodinsky – Festival Orchestra Conductor
Nicolas Kedroff
Prima Balalaika
Nicolas is a world-renowned balalaika virtuoso from Paris, France. Kedroff lives up to his nickname: “The Paganini of Balalaika.” He earned the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government for his outstanding musical talent and is a professor of balalaika at the Rachmaninoff Conservatory of Paris.
Angelina Galashenkova-Reed
Prima Domra
Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Angelina is a master domra soloist who has traveled all over the world to perform. She currently plays in the unique domra-guitar String Time Duo, which includes traditions of classical, jazz, blues, and folk music, and is the concertmaster of The Atlanta Balalaika Society.
Victor Gorodinsky
Orchestra Conductor
Victor is a gifted conductor, classical guitarist, and contrabass balalaika player, originally from Moscow, Russia. In addition to being a talented musician, he is a polyglot and emeritus Slavic language librarian. Victor is the conductor and founder of the UW-Madison Russian Folk Orchestra, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary!
With Special Guest Artist
Polina DeCarlo
Piano Accompanist
Polina DeCarlo is a Russian-born solo pianist and rigorously trained accompanist for vocal and instrumental groups and ensembles. She has accompanied numerous artists at prestigious international instrumental competitions and serves as a piano educator at the Art of Piano School.
Previous Concert Clips
Check out a few recordings from previous concerts / conventions below!
Concert Sponsors / Donors
The BDAA is a non-profit organization that relies on the generosity of our members, donors, and sponsors. We are seeking additional donations and sponsorships for the concert. If you would like to donate and be recognized here and in our concert playbill / program booklet as an individual or as an organization please click below to go directly to the donation site or email BDAA.board (at) gmail.com for more info.