In 1988, eight musicians met in a basement to form an ensemble playing Russian folk music on traditional instruments, including the balalaika, domra and gusli. Billed as the Washington Balalaika Society, their first concert was at a small club in Alexandria, The Birchmere. Twenty years later (almost to the day) on June 6th, they will return to Alexandria, this time at the outstanding Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center. The Washington Balalaika Society, having grown to a 65-member orchestra and led by a gifted conservatory-trained Russian conductor, has played at venues that include the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and Carnegie Hall, and has been acknowledged as the premier Russian folk orchestra in America. It has also been recognized for its excellence and contributions to the community by being the recipient of grants from the arts commissions of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and the Commonwealth of Virginia.


What you can expect:
The 20th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, June 6, 2009 will be a true celebratory festival of Russian and Eastern European folk and classical music. Consistent with the theme `Those Were the Days`, the concert will feature some very special soloists and arrangements prepared especially by the conductor, Svetlana Nikonova. These include thrilling classical selections by composers such as Khachaturian, Gliere, and Borodin, and captivating domra and balalaika solos such as Dark Eyes and Two Guitars. A number of these pieces have been widely popular with our audiences over the years. In addition to the orchestra, you will enjoy the acclaimed 90- member Metropolitan Chorus of Arlington, under the direction of Barry Hemphill. They will join us in several rousing selections, including the exotic Borodin`s `Polovtsian Dances`. We think you will be amazed and enchanted by the virtuosity of our featured artists including the world`s leading domra soloist, Alexander Tsygankov, and the masterful and emotional balalaika presentations of Andre Saveliev. Other festivities include special lobby displays and performances by a WBS ensemble, unveiling of the orchestra`s new costumes, and an introduction by Mayor of the City of Alexandria, William Euille.

You`ll not want to miss this performance! Concert Details:Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 7:30 pmRachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria Campus 3001 Beauregard, Alexandria, Virginia.
Ticket Prices: Box Seats (reserved) $35
General Admission $25
Seniors $20
Children under 12 with adult & reservations ~ $FREE
Group and student rates available - call (703)549-2010

WBS has arranged for free parking

How to order Tickets:

Order online by credit card: www.balalaika.org
Order by check: Mail to 4910 Gadsen Drive, Fairfax, VA 22032
Need help? Call 703-549-2010

 THE NATIONAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE Presents:THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
Sunday May 10, 2009 6:30pm at The Rosslyn Spectrum Theater
Masterpieces of great Russian composers are coming to the Rosslyn Spectrum on Mothers Day!
Featuring works by Miaskovsky, Rachmaninoff, Arensky, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky
With Artistic Director, Leonid Sushansky(violin) Kathryn Brake(piano) Lukasz Szyrner (cello)

Breaking the barrier between audience and stage, the group shares stories and engages the audience with both discussion and performance and ultimately presents an unparalleled experience sure to be enjoyed by all. The NCE is a Society of acclaimed Capital Area musicians and friends who present quality chamber music concerts in a less formal setting. www.NationalChamberEnsemble.orgThe Rosslyn Spectrum Theater
1611 N. Kent Street
Arlington, VA 22209 ( Free Spectrum Garage Parking in rear on Arlington Ridge Road, 2 blocks for the Rosslyn Metro)Tickets: $25,$15 students www.ticketmaster.com or call: 703-573-SEATLeonid Sushansky (violin)Violinist Leonid Sushansky has been acclaimed widely for his, `Gorgeous tone... Compelling musical personality...Passionate intensity,` The Washington Post. He has appeared with many orchestras, as a recitalist and chamber musician in esteemed concert halls worldwide and has been featured on numerous radio and television programs. He began musical studies with his mother, Rimma Sushanskaya, a violinist and pupil of the legendary David Oistrakh. Mr. Sushansky enjoyed early recognition when at age 12 he appeared on the Marvin Hamlisch TV Special for Showtime performing the Mendelssohn Concerto. From age 13, Mr. Sushansky was a scholarship student at the Juilliard School, where he remained for 7 years under the tutelage of Dorothy DeLay. He also had the privilege of being coached by the great violinist, Isaak Stern. At age 15, he was invited by Zubin Mehta to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Graduate studies were completed at the University of Maryland with Daniel Heifetz and the Guarneri Quartet. His other important teachers and mentors have included Elisabeth Adkins and Catherine Filene Shouse, the founder of Wolf Trap.

This coming fall Leonid Sushansky makes his debut with the Alexandria Symphony. Most recently Mr.Sushansky made his Minneapolis recital debut with acclaimed pianist Paul Shaw. He appears with the National Chamber Ensemble in the role of Artistic Director and performer. In January, 2008 he returned to the Phillips Collection for a recital with pianist Carlos Cezar Rodriguez, a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on Mozart`s birthday. Immediately he was re engaged to return the following season with pianist Paul Shaw. In March he made a special appearance with the Landon Symphonette performing the Theme from `Schindlers List`, Sarasate`s Introduction and Tarantella and the Kabalevsky Violin Concerto. Feeling at home in the role of soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, he served as Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra from 2000-2007 and continues to perform as a guest musician with many of the Ensembles in the DC area including the National Symphony and the Washington National Opera. As a chamber musician he has performed at New York`s Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall, on several European tours and on many occasions has appeared on the Embassy Series in Washington DC. The many prizes and honors he has received include the Outstanding Young Emigre Musician Award, presented by film and Broadway star Tony Roberts, winning the Leningrad Young Musician`s Competition, the Westchester Conservatory Competition, the University of Maryland Concerto Competition, Three University of Maryland Graduate Assistantships, the New York Philharmonic National Young Artists Competition, the Bergen Philharmonic Competition and the Inter-Cities Foundation AwardKathryn Brake (piano)
Characterized as a “compelling and imaginative performer” by The Washington Post, pianist Kathryn Brake has performed solo recitals in the United States, Canada, Italy, France, Switzerland and Spain. A winner of the National Young Chopin Competition, the Beethoven Competition, the Kosciusko Foundation Awards and the Elizabeth Davis Award, she has performed as soloist with several orchestras, including the Baltimore Symphony and the National Symphony. A much sought-after chamber music player and recitalist who is equally at ease with a wide range of musical styles, Ms. Brake has performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Phillips Gallery and the National Gallery in Washington DC, the Armand Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Teatro Real in Madrid and the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona. She is a regular performer at the Sun Valley Symphony Chamber Music Festival and is pianist for the Washington based group Musica Aperta. Ms. Brake has performed live on WETA and WGMS radio stations and has recorded broadcasts for France Musique and Radio Television Espanola. She can be heard on the Albany Records label in several critically acclaimed recordings of duos and chamber music.
Lukasz Szyrner (cello)
“A great talent like Lukasz Szyrner comes along infrequently . . . . and is without a doubt an outstanding instrumentalist who has a brilliant technique and a vivid talent....” Stephen Kates, Professor of Cello at The Peabody Conservatory. “... played beautifully by Lukasz Szyrner.” The Washington Post. With a resumé of musical accomplishments beyond his years, Lukasz Szyrner brings his engaging talent to the stage. Born in Poznan, the musical capital of Poland, he began his studies at the age of seven. A recognized child prodigy, Mr. Szyrner was performing in the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra when he was ten and made his solo debut with the orchestra at fourteen, performing the Saint-Saëns cello concerto. He was the youngest Master’s graduate of the Jan Paderewski Music Conservatory in Poznan, studying under Prof. Stanislav Pokorski. He continued his studies with Karine Georgian at the prestigious Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany. Since coming to this country he has studied at The Peabody Conservatory with celebrated cellist Stephen Kates, and with renowned cellist Laurence Lesser at the New England Conservatory of Music. By age twenty, Mr. Szyrner started winning competitions worldwide. These including the International Nicanor Zabaleta Competition for Strings in San Sebastian, Spain; the Irving M. Klein String Competition in San Francisco; the Mary Graham Lesley International Music Competition; the Yale Gordon Competition; the International UNESCO competition for Young Musicians; and the D’Angelo Young Artist Competition. He was a semi-finalist in the Leonard Rose Competition, and in the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. In 1993, he was the recipient of the Glos Wielkopolski “Medal of Young Art” award for his artistic achievements in Poland and abroad. In past seasons, Mr. Szyrner has performed solo and chamber works throughout Europe and in major cities across the United States, including New York, Washington D..C., Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Richmond, and San Francisco. In addition to an active recital and chamber music career, Mr. Szyrner has soloed with many orchestras. He spends summers performing at numerous festivals such as the prestigious Ravinia Festival; the Piatigorsky Seminar in Los Angeles; and the Heifetz InternationalMusic Institute, where he also taught a master class series to aspiring young performers. Mr. Szyrner made his debut on compact disc with the Swedish recording company, Chamber Sound, and has performed for radio and television in Poland, Sweden, and Germany

 Russian Chamber Art Society
Vera Danchenko-Stern, artistic director

Presents

Russian Fairy Tale Operas
Arias and duets from RUSLAN AND LIUDMILA by M.Glinka, SADKO and The SNOW MAIDEN by N.Rimsky-Korsakov and IOLANTA by P.I.Tchaikovsky

Featuring

Irina Mozyleva, soprano
Magdalena Wor, mezzo-soprano
Anton Belov, baritone
Grigory Soloviov, bass
Artur Aksenov, piano
Vera Danchenko-Stern, piano
Emil Chudnovsky, violin
Steven Mazzola, narrator

Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 7.30 p.m.

Austrian Embassy
3524 International Dr. N.W.
Washington, DC 20008

Tickets - $40
Reception following to meet the artists

To order online go to: www.thercas.com
By check payable to RCAS
Mail to P.O. Box 665 Annandale, VA 22003-0665
Information 703-354-7354 or info@thercas.com

No sale at the door, reservations required

 Когда: Суббота 17 Января 2009
Начало в 17:00 и в 20:00
Где: Club `End Zone`
317 East Daimond Avenue (Lower level)
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Как многие очевидно помнят, несколько лет назад был проведён бильярдный турнир между различными участниками русской общины Вашингтона. Акция прошла более чем успешно, но к сожалению эта добрая традиция не была продолжена. Мы решили подхватить эту инициативу и предоставить вашему вниманию новое увлекательное мероприятие!

Участники бильярдного турнира в этом году:

1) XrumXrum
2) RussianDC
3) To4ka
4) Redskies
5) Troika
6) GlamourDC
7) SnezhanaHomes
8) Vinodel Collection

Во время турнира пройдет концерт группы Z-Exit (Сергей Кузьменко исполнит лучшие хиты Виктора Цоя). Проведение этого концерта изначально планировалось в Русском Культурном Центре, но из-за большого количества желающих попасть на концерт, было принято решение изменить место проведения мероприятия на большой клуб: со сценой, светом и профессиональным звуком.

Приходите, поддержите свою команду и послушайте концерт!

 1825 Phelps Place NW
Washington, DC

Holiday Opera Night
Act,Caviar, Champagne

Tickets and Info online www.bestDCevents.com