Concert Information
The annual BDAA Festival Concert brings together musicians from around the world to perform Slavic folk music, including Eastern European, Romani, and Klezmer musical traditions. The performance will feature virtuoso guest artists with a 60-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 Eastern European folk music and culture in the US. This year the concert will be held on Saturday, July 12th, 2025 at 7:30 pm in the Mandalay Ballroom of the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino in Reno, NV.
Ticket Prices (no extra online ticket fees!)
- Adult: $28
- Student: $20
- Children 14 & Under: Free
- Ask us about Group Rates (BDAA.board (at) gmail.com)
Guest Artists
This year we are featuring the following amazing guest artists:
Denis Zhukov – Prima Balalaika
Guzel Safiullina – Prima Domra
Dr. Alexander Tentser – Festival Orchestra Conductor
Guzel Safiullina
Prima Domra
Guzel is a musician and teacher with 17+ years of experience. She graduated from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow, Russia, majoring in domra. Guzel is a Laureate of international competitions, and the Grand Prix at the international festival “Mediterranean Legend” in Spain. She now lives in Los Angeles, where she continues to perform and teach.
Dr. Alexander Tentser
Orchestra Conductor
Dr. Tentser is a gifted pianist and professor of music originally from Kyiv, Ukraine. He currently conducts the Pima Community College Orchestra and the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra. Alexander performs as a piano soloist, as part of a violin / piano duo, and is a sought-after music lecturer.
Denis Zhukov
Prima Balalaika
Denis is a prodigious balalaika performer and soloist, and is a Laureate of prestigious international competitions. Denis also teaches and founded a children’s orchestra of Slavic folk instruments. He performs in several innovative musical projects that combine folk and modern music, including “Bryatz Guys“– The new age of balalaika, which truly pushes balalaika to the limit
With Special Guests
Olga Vlasova
Bandura Soloist
Olga Vlasova studied at the Kiev National University of Culture and Art, majoring in bandura and pedagogical science in postgraduate studies. She now lives in Virginia and continues to perform Ukrainian music at festivals, concerts, and conferences, as well as making presentations on the topics of East Slavic culture and traditions.
Previous Concert Clips
Check out a few recordings from previous concerts / conventions below!
2025 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.
2025 Benefit Concert Donors
- In Memory of Marilyn King
- Joanne Dodd
- Concert Benefactors
- Victor Gorodinsky
- Joanne Dodd
- Laura Schmidt
- Lawrence Kraus
- Concert Patrons
- Concert Supporters
- Nicole Nesterov
- Ron Markvan