Balkánto plays high-energy, exciting, traditional music for listening and for dancing using many of the instruments still in use for traditional music of Eastern European peoples. The ensemble uses Russian, Romanian, Hungarian, and South Slavic stringed instruments, such as tsambal/cimbalom (the sophisticated, 4-octave, chromatic version of the hammered dulcimer), mandolin, guitar, bass, domra, and members of the tambura family; the three-string chording viola known as "kontra." We also use such wind instruments from the folk tradition as panpipes and fluier (duduk/frula/penny whistle).
The band's repertoire includes a wide range of music for listening entertainment as well as music for dances, dance genres, dance rhythms, and dance idioms from Eastern/CentralEurope-polka, quadrille and two-step, hora, csárdás, verbunk, kolo and drme, amongst others.
The band plays at many local Maryland-DC-Virginia folk events and venues, such as the opening of the Walters Gallery's Russian exhibits in February, 2003; Washington and Northern Virginia Folk Festivals; Greenbelt International Folk dancing. It has played for the annual December Smithsonian's Holiday Music Series for many years and at several foreign embassies in Washington, not to mention numerous weddings, parties, folk get-togethers and private affairs.
Balkánto plays music for listening ('tafelmusik') and Gypsy music, such as one hears in the good restaurants of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Austria, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic--and particularly enjoys presenting the Romani or "Gypsy" repertoire.
For more information call Music Director Craig Packard: (301) 933-9845. Craig@cal.org
Tom Armstrong - Bass.
Tom has been involved in folk dancing for most of his life. He brings a dancer's sense of rhythm to his playing. He also
plays bass for the arenica tamburica group. He has a Ph.D. in Astrophysics and specializes in Optical Interferometry.
Joan Dubinsky - Cimbalom/Ţambal.
Joan has been playing cimbalom for over 12 years, having studied with Hungarian and Gypsy teachers, most notably Kálmán Balogh. She has mastered a wide range of East European playing styles. She has a J.D. degree and is both founder and President of the Rosentreter Group, specializing in Business Ethics.
Alex Gakner - Mandolin.
Alex has been playing mandolin for more than 70 years--since his youth in Vilna, Lithuania. His repertoire is enormous, ranging from Russian music to Greek dance tunes. He retired from a career
in Mining Engineering and U.S. Government Service
Larry Hiemenz - Cello.
After studying cello as an undergraduate, Larry has broadened his music-making to include many instruments and styles, from Bluegrass to Balkan. He works in computer systems management for NOAA.
Craig Packard - Kontra
(3-string chording viola); panpipes; various folk flutes; guitar; mandolin; domra and tamburica; vocals.
Craig brings a linguist's knowledge to his singing (in many languages), first-hand experience living, studying, and researching in E. Europe, and a broad-ranging acquaintance with
the musical histories and styles of Eastern and Central Europe. With a doctorate in Russian language and literature, he works for the Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington, DC.
Larry Robinson - Mandolin,
guitar.
Larry retired from research and librarianship duties a couple of years ago. He now devotes his time to playing mostly dance music with various local bands and music groups. His uncanny ear for harmony fills out and enriches the sound of any band he plays with.