Barynya Balalaika Trio led by balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina performed in Tucson, Arizona with the Arizona Balalaika Orchestra on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at the Pima Community College Proscenium Theater stage, 2202 W. Anklam Rd., Tucson, AZ 85745. The program of the concert incluuded "Moscow Nights March", "Amur Waves", "Haiduk" (dance), "Ochi Chornye", "Chrysanthemum" (solo by Natasha), "Orlovskaya", "Pasterski" (dancers), "Karusel", "Ukrainian Souvenir", "Devil's Wheel" (solo by Guy), "Oberek" (dancers duo), "Jewish Themes", "Moiy Tziganochki" (solo by Natasha), "Kalinka on a Saturday Night", "Hopak" (dancers), "I Could Have Danced All Night".
Barynya Balalaika Trio (Leonid Bruk, Elina Karokhina, Mikhail Smirnov) performed Sabre Dance from "Gayane" by Aram Khachaturian, Rondo Alla Turca (Turkish March) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, J.S. Bach - Suite No. 2 - Badinerie (Joke), Russian Tongue Twisters, Paganini's Caprice No. 24, Valenki, Korobushka, and World Balalaika Medley.
Elina Karokhina was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia. She began her formal training at the Mussorgsky Music College of St. Petersburg and continued her training at N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, earning a degree as an Orchestra Soloist. She continued her training at the Conservatory, which included a brief residency in Germany. After, she returned to her native St. Petersburg and completed her education, earning a Doctor of Musical Art degree in the Balalaika. Following her graduation, she began working as a musician, both as a teacher and as a performer, teaching balalaika. Elina Karokhina served in the Russian Army in the Military Ensemble in the Northwest Order of Red Stars. As a balalaika soloist Elina has toured all over the world. When she moved to the United States in 2009 she was hired as a musicial director and soloist with the biggest professional Russian music, song and dance ensemble Barynya (New York).
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ABOUT ELINA KAROKHINA:
In January 2015 Elina Karokhina was selected to perform the balalaika part with Mariinsky Theatre directed by famous Russian conductor Valery Gergiev in Rodion Shchedrin's opera "The Enchanted Wanderer" at the Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. In May 2016 she was hired to play six concerts at the Carnegie Hall in New York City as a part of "THE TRIUMPH OF HOPE" international event.
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In September 2016 he appeared at the Carnegie Hall again as a part of "Moscow Gypsy Army" representing rich musical culture of Eastern Europian Roma people.
In January 2017 Elina was hired to play Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh" Suite at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with the National Symphony Orchestra. All four performances were under direction of world-famous conductor Sir Mark Elder.
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Barynya Balalaika Trio: Leonid Bruk, Mikhail Smirnov, Elina Karokhina Elina Karokhina with Mikhail Smirnov (guitar) and Leonid Bruk (balalaika-contrabass)
Free public concert at the Wickenburg Community Center on November 7th, 2021
On Sunday, November 7th, 2021 at 2pm musicians and dancers of ensemble Barynya performed 90 min concert in Wickensburg, Arizona. Free public performance took place at the Wickenburg Community Center (exact address: 160 N. Valentine, Wickenburg, Arizona 85390). Dancers: Pavel Getman, Viktoriia Lazareva. Musicians: Elina Karokhina (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals). The program of concert included Russian dances, music and songs.
New York Balalaika Orchestra performs at Russian Orthodox weddings, fundraising balls, large scale social events, Doctor Zhivago's style corporate parties. video