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)
PAST PERFORMANCES
10-18-2025. Wedding at the Adobe Village Inn Hotel, Sedona, Arizona
Wedding with the best view at the Adobe Village Inn in Sedona on October 18, 2025. MC Mikhail, Dj Alisa, balalaika virtuoso Elina in Arizona.
11-07-2021. Wickenburg Community Center, Wickensburg, Arizona
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). Program of concert included Russian dances, music and songs.
01-26-2019. Pima Community Center, Tucson, Arizona
Russian balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina, singer/guitar player Mikhail Smirnov, contrabass-balalaika player Leonid Bruk, Arizona Balalaika Orchestra led by conductor Alexander Tentser performed a concert on Saturday, January 26th, 2019, 7pm at the Pima Community Center for the Arts West Campus, 2202 West Anklam Road, Tucson, Arizona 85745.
01-12-2019. Wedding at the Wrigley Mansion, Phoenix, Arizona
Russian-Canadian wedding reception at the Wrigley Mansion, 2501 E Telawa Trail, Phoenix, AZ 85016 on Saturday, January 12th, 2019. DJ Alisa mixed popular European, Russian, and American dance hits with addition of several requested songs. MC-tamada Misha provided extended bilingual entertainment during reception. Musical numbers were performed by balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina.
10-20-2017. Milestones Charter School, Phoenix, Arizona
Multicultural school assembly concert of Russian, Ukrainian, Cossack, Gypsy and Jewish traditional dance and music at the Milestones Charter School, 4707 E. Robert E. Lee Street Phoenix, AZ 85032 on Friday, October 20th, 2017 at 2:00PM.
Multicultural school assembly performance in Peoria, Arizona. The show took place at the Candeo Schools, 9965 W Calle Lejos, Peoria, AZ 85383 on Thursday, October 19th, 2017, 2:00PM.
11-19-2013. Mountain Vista School, Oracle, Arizona
Multicultural school assembly at the Mountain Vista School, 2618 W El Paseo, Oracle, AZ 85623 on November 19th, 2013. Students and teachers spent 45 minutes of their Tuesday morning learning about Russian culture through songs, music, dance and language.
Trio Barynya presented a program of Russian songs, music and dances on Thursday, March 07, 2013 at 6:30PM. Performance took place at the Dateland School, 1300 South Avenue 64 East Dateland, AZ 85333.
03-07-2013. Keystone Montessori Charter School, Phoenix, Arizona
Ensemble Barynya presented a program of Russian songs, music and dances on March 07, 2013, 12:45 P.M. at the Keystone Montessori Charter School, 1025 E. Liberty Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85048.
Russian dance and music trio presented a program of Russian songs, music and dances on Wednesday, March 06, 2013, 6:00 P.M. at the Mayer Elementary School, 12568 E Main St, Mayer, AZ 86333.
