In the end of November 2021 balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina was invited to perform two concerts with Washington Balalaika Orchestra in Virginia and Maryland. The WBS (Washington Balalaika Orchestra) is a community-based orchestra of more than fifty musicians with a mixture of amateur and professional training. Conductor Svetlana Nikonova.
March 4th, 2015. School assembly show at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, Washington, D.C.
Russian dance and music balalaika duo {Elina Karokhina and Mikhail Smirnov} performed 45 min program for kids at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St., NW, Washington, DC 20016 on Wednesday, March 4th, 2015. The program of the performance included Siberian Nanai wrestling dance "Bor'ba Nanaiskikh Malchikov", Russian folk song "Kalinka", Russian dance "Metelitsa" (The Snowstorm), Russian Medley "Angry Husband" and "Felt Boots" (balalaika solo, instrumental), Russian tongue-twisters, Russian Jewish wedding dance, Russian Alphabet lesson, Russian Gypsy song and dance "Dark Eyes", Russian percussion band plays "The Peddlers", Russian dance workshop, "Chardash" (balalaika solo. instrumental), Russian Bear dance.
November 19, 2014. Event honoring Karen Shakhnzazrov, National Geographic Building, Washington, D.C.
Singers, dancers and musicians of Barynya ensemble provided entertainment for VIP event honoring Soviet and Russian filmmaker, producer and screenwriter Karen Shakhnzazrov at the National Geographic Building in Washington, D.C. on November 19th, 2014. Barynya cast: (dancers) Danila Sherstobitov, Alexander Rudoy, Alex Anatska, Andrei Kisselev, Yana Volkova, Anna Zineno, Anna Brovkina, Olga Yeliseyeva, (musicians) Leonid Bruk, Elina Karokhina, Andrei Saveliev, Gennady Gutkin, Michael Seropyan, Jack Sheynin, Sasha Ratmansky, (singers) Irina Zagornova, Alexander Menshikov.
Singers, dancers and musicians of Barynya ensemble
Karen Shakhnzarov acceps the award
Elina Karokhina, Karen Shakhnzarov, Mikhail Smirnov
August 25th, 2012. Russian-American wedding at the Park Hyatt Washington, Washington D.C.
Mixed Russian-American wedding took place at the Park Hyatt Washington, 1201 24th Street, NW, Washington D.C. 20037 on Saturday, August 25th, 2012. Mikhail Smirnov and Elina Karokhina provided DJ and MC-tamada services, wedding ceremony and live music performance.
March 2012. Several school assembly concerts in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Baltimore area
Russian dance, song and music ensemble Barynya performed a series of school assembly concerts in schools in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Baltimore area. Video (below) was recorded on March 23rd, 2012 at the Maret Middle School, 3000 Cathedral Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008. Cast: singer Alexander Menshikov, Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals), balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina, dancers Anya Zeenenko and Boulat Moukhametov. The program of the performance included "Russian Bear dance", Dance of Russian Sailors, "Barynya", "Kalinka", Ukrainian "Hopak", Jewish wedding dance "Mazel Tov" from Odessa region of Ukraine, traditional songs "Dark Eyes", "Along The Piterskaya", Russian Tongue Twisters, and virtuoso balalaika performances.
June 29, 2010. Ensemble Barynya at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C.
Russian dance, song and music ensemble Barynya performed a free concert during an International Cultural Diversity Day at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. on June 29th 2010. Dancers Aliaksandr Anatska, Alexander Rudoy, Olga Yeliseyeva, and Olga Chpitalnaia performed Ukrainian dance "Hopak", Russian dance "Kalinka", Jewish dance "Mazal Tov", and Cossack dance "Varen'ka". The performance was narrated by a Russian-born ethnomusicologist, folk singer, garmoshka, balalaika and guitar player, artistic director and founder of the group Mikhail Smirnov. Mikhail has performed Russian Tongue Twisters, Moroz-Moroz, Korobushka, Pidmanula, and chastushki-stradaniya.
March 8, 2003. Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Russian song, dance and music ensemble Barynya {Natalia Demidova, Mikhail Smirnov, Vitaly Verterich, Olga Chpitalnaia, Alex Siniavski} performed concert program at the National Museum of Natural History, Baird Auditorium on March 8, 2003. The program of the performance included folk songs, music and dances from Russia.
Barynya live every Thursday night at the 3BR Distillery in Keyport, New Jersey
Every Thursday night from 7pm to 10pm musicians of Barynya ensemble Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, vocals) and Elina Karokhina (balalaika) are playing at the 3BR Distillery in Keyport, New Jersey. Exact address of the venue: 3BR Distillery, 7 Main Street, Keyport, New Jersey 07735.
01-23-2020. Performance with Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Gaillard Center, Charleston, South Carolina
On Thursday, January 23rd, 2020 two musicians of Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya balalaika virtuoso Elina Karokhina, and musician, singer, guitar, garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov performed joined concert titled "FROM RUSSIANS WITH LOVE" with Charleston Symphony Orchestra led by Yuriy Bekker. Program of performance: Dmitri Shostakovich Festive Overture, Op. 96, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky “ Polonaise ” from Eugene Onegin, Sergei Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, Modest Mussorgsky, (arr. Nikolai Rimsky - Korsakov) Night on Bald Mountain, Stravinsky's Firebird Infernal Dance Berceuse Finale, Aram Khachaturian's “Sabre Dance“ from Gayane, Nikolai Rimsky - Korsakov “Flight of the Bumble Bee” from Tale of Tsar Saltan, Russian Folk Song "Oche Chiornie" (Dark Eyes), arr. Carmen Dragon, Lionel Bart, arr. John Bachalis “ From Russia With Love “ from James Bond: From Russia With Love, Maurice Jarre, arr. Bill Holcombe “Laura’s Theme” from Dr. Zhivago, Russian Folk Song "Kalinka", Russian Folk Song "Kamarinskaiya", Russian Folk Song "Valenki", Russian Folk Song "Korobushka", Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky “Finale” from Symphony No . 4 in F minor, Op. 36. All instrumental numbers were performed by Elina and MIkhail on guitar, and the traditional Russian instruments balalaika and garmoshka. After the performance conductor Yuriy Bekker, tenor Edward Brennan, Mikhail and Elina stepped into the lobby of the beautuful Charleston Gaillard Center to sign concert posters and take photos with people who attended the performance. Exact address of the venue: 95 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
December 1, 2020. Virtual performance for San Antonio, Texas
On Tuesday, December 1st, 2020 Elina Karokhina (balalaika) and Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals) provided brief virtual performance for Musical Bridges Around the World Facebook Live for Giving Tuesday! Mission to support and bring multicultural performing and visual arts in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. Musicians performed two Russian winter songs and answered a few questions.
December 7, 2013. Mahwah, New Jersey, Bergen County
Elina Karokhina (balalaika) and Mikhail Smirnov (guitar, vocals) provided Gypsy music, songs and entertainment (fun trivia) during Russian-Gypsy style Birthday party celebration in Northern New Jersey (Mahwah, NJ, Bergen County) on Saturday evening, December 7th, 2013.
November 28, 2011. Nyack's Blini, Holy Virgin Protection Russian Orthodox Church
It is always fun to play during Bliny Russian Maslenitsa Pancakes Event in Nayck, New York. This colorful Russian Orthodox Event takes place every year at the Holy Virgin Protection Russian Orthodox Church located at 51 Prospect St, Nyack, NY 10960. On November 28, 2011 Musicians of Barynya Balalaika Duo played mix of Russian, Cossack and Gypsy music and songs as well as some classical pieces.
October 29, 2011. Temple Israel, JCC of the Greater Five Towns, Lawrence, NY
On Saturday, October 29th, 2011, from 8:30pm to 9:45 members of Barynya Balalaika Duo Mikhail Smirnov & Elina Karokhina provided music during Jewish event at the Temple Israel on Long Island. Exact address: JCC of the Greater Five Towns, 140 Central Avenue, Lawrence, New York 11559. Program included Jewish Klezmer music as well as Russian, classical and contemporary pieces.
