Kef Times

Location: Boston, Mass.

Occupation: I am starting my sophomore year at the Berklee College of Music, where I am pursuing a dual major in trumpet performance and composition. I want to be a professional trumpet player, composer and vocalist.

Connection to Balkan music/dance: When I am in Oregon, I perform with the Balkan band Kef (balkanmusic.org) run by Cody Simmons, another trumpet player who came to the Balkan camp this year. I would love to play Balkan music when in Boston as well, and am planning on pursuing that goal this year.

Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my first time at camp.

Studied at camp: My main focus was the trumpet. Specifically, I really wanted to get a grasp on the Balkan time feel, ornamentation, and improvisation styles. I took brass band from Demiran [Ćerimović], trumpet class, and the Romani ensemble from Vlado [Pupinoski].

Memorable moment at camp: It was a profound experience seeing the community so wholly immersed in their own culture and heritage—that is something that I have rarely seen in my life and it was so cool to be a part of. The whole immersive process of the camp unto itself really struck me, there was no way that I would have been able to understand how the music is played and practiced and approached by listening to it and reading written music. Learning songs in the classes by ear really helped me acquire the feel of it—about halfway through the camp I had a breakthrough in understanding the feel, style and sound of the Balkan trumpet/truba. I could only have understood how to think about and work on this style from that experience. Reflecting on the music as a whole, as I am not at all coming from a dance background, it was very interesting to see a music that is played specifically for various types of dances. Seeing the dance hall and kafana sets was also invaluable because simply experiencing three sets of live Balkan music from the best musicians, and all of the dancers, is such a rare thing.

I loved how amazing Demiran was at teaching despite the language barrier. His virtuosity was so inspiring—how he taught all day and played all night was impressive, especially knowing the limitations that brass instruments can present! Getting to see him and work with him was definitely one of the most important and inspirational facets of the camp and made it really an incredible learning opportunity.

Location: Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Occupation: Kodály music specialist, choir director/guitar teacher, Royal Music Conservatory piano teacher, Singers Abroad director, Momentum Climbing coach

Connection to Balkan music/dance: Zivio Ethnic Arts Ensemble—both dancer and singer
https://www.facebook.com/zivioethnicarts/

Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my first year.

Studied at camp: Singing.

Memorable moment at camp: The community and sense of belonging really surprised me. I especially loved the last day of camp where we all paraded around camp playing music, and the energy I felt being a part of something bigger than myself.

Location: Albany, Calif.

Occupation: Acupuncturist

Connection to Balkan music/dance: I sing with Mozaik Voices, a Berkeley-based, five-voice Balkan and folk ensemble. We sing a variety of music from all over the world, a cappella or accompanied by drums or accordion. Here is our website! https://mozaikvoices.com/

Number of times at Balkan camp: 2017 was my first time at camp, and it was amazing!

Studied at camp: I focused on voice, though I also loved the dance in the evenings.

Memorable moment at camp: Although nearly everything about camp was surprising and wonderful, the highlight of the week was definitely being able to enjoy the performances of the other students and the instructors in the dance hall and the kafana. I knew I would be surrounded by talented people, but I was honestly blown away by so many of the performances that I got to see in the evenings at camp. To try and pick a favorite would be impossible, but the feeling of being in the presence of greatness but surrounded by a strong and inclusive community was truly unique and special.

Location: Eugene, Ore.

Occupation: Freelance musician

Connection to Balkan music/dance: I am director of the Balkan dance band Kef, which is finishing its tenth year of performing in Eugene and throughout the Pacific NW. We perform alternately as a small folk band and as a larger Macedonian-style brass band. www.balkanmusic.org

Additionally, I have the privilege of playing with Mark Levy and Carol Silverman in their group Slavej. As I write this, we have just concluded a wonderful weekend of performing at balkanalia! with a host of fantastic musicians, including Michael Lawson, David Bilides, Bill Lanphier and Adam Good.

Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my seventh Mendocino Balkan camp, having first attended as a college student in 2003.

Studied at camp: As a trumpet player, this was a year not to be missed. Demiran Ćerimović is a master of both the music and the instrument, and is one of today’s most beautiful players. Having a trumpet class in addition to the usual brass band was incredibly beneficial, and beyond that the additional private instruction time that I spent with Demiran was invaluable.

Memorable moment at camp: I think perhaps the most valuable thing that I was able to bring back with me this year came from delving into Demiran Ćerimović’s approach to improvisation. It was an impression I had already developed, but to hear it stated explicitly is very enlightening. Generally speaking, when playing a solo, he does not think about modes or chord tones or anything in a generic structural sense. Instead, each tune has a solo that goes with it. That is not to say that it is pre-composed, but rather that there is a sound the solo needs to have, to match the feel of the song. Often all of the various improvisations done during a given tune by different members of a group have a similar sound. What makes each solo unique is the way that the overall idea (which makes it unique to a particular tune) is threaded together by the idiosyncratic repertoire of “licks” each individual performer has under the fingers. Now, if only someone could articulate what makes a solo have the right feel for a given tune.

Location: Davis, Calif.

Occupation: Social worker

Connection to Balkan music/dance: Davis International Folk Dancers, Kolo Koalition in Sacramento. I went to balkanalia! for the first time this year, and have attended Kolo Festival twice so far.

Number of times at Balkan camp: Second time at camp; last year was only four days. Came with daughter who is 10 years old and played doumbek.

Studied at camp: Albanian violin, Greek baglamas, Bulgarian singing, and Greek dance

Memorable moment at camp: Albanian Ensemble was epic (singing and playing violin), also Rebetika ensemble, playing a new instrument. It was amazing to work with Raif [Hyseni] and Merita [Halili]. A dream come true.

Location: San Clemente, Calif.

Occupation: I am a full-time student most of the year. I am studying engineering.

Connection to Balkan music/dance: I have been going to Balkan Camp my whole life.

Number of times at Balkan camp: 1999 was my first camp, I believe.

Studied at camp: Tambura, both Bulgarian and Macedonian. One of my main focuses now when I come to camp is playing with great musicians like Paul Brown and Adam Good.

Memorable moment at camp: The whole camp is impressive. Every moment in that wonderful forest with all those wonderful people is magical.

I am so appreciative to have gotten a scholarship. Balkan camp has brought me in contact with some brilliant new friends, and inspired me and Nathan to take our Bulgarian tambura and gudulka to their fullest potential. We are going to be playing throughout the year, and hope to come back next year to play for all of you.

Location: Hagerstown, Md.

Occupation: I work at a mall kiosk currently, but am just working odd jobs to put myself through school. Mostly sales and customer service. I’m studying to become an audio engineer.

Connection to Balkan music/dance: I discovered Balkan music at Santa Fe University of Art and Design under the instruction of Polly T. Ferber. Since the school’s closure my partner and I still play Balkan tunes together and actively seek out the East Coast Balkan community.

Number of times at Balkan camp: It was my first time at camp!

Studied at camp: My main study focus is cello and Turkish makam. Somehow makam makes more sense to me than traditional Western theory ever did.

Memorable moment at camp: I was in awe at the acceptance of people. I’m a very spiritual person and I also identify as a transgender male. Everybody at camp was so willing to hear me speak on my beliefs and so many people hugged or congratulated me when I came out to them. There was honest and true acceptance and understanding that we’re all the same species living different lives in the same place. It felt like family.

Location: Los Angeles, Calif.

Occupation: I am a musician and a student at the same time. I play gudulka with a few Bulgarian groups in L.A. I gig a lot with Aaron Strelnikoff, who is another scholarship recipient, and his brother; we are all three Americans. We play at UCLA cultural events, for the Bulgarian Society of Los Angeles and for folk dancers in Santa Monica. We play with Ivan and Tzvetanka Varimezovi every week because they run the UCLA Balkan Ensemble. I am an ethnomusicology student at UCLA.
Number of times at Balkan camp: About four years.
Studied at camp: Gudulka.
Memorable moment at camp: At camp, I was playing a kafana set with Aaron on tambura and his brother Sasha on tupan. We would rehearse in the cabin or sitting around outside. One day when we were rehearsing for that set we went about five to six straight hours of rehearsing. It impressed me that there were people that dedicated to performing Bulgarian music, and that made me very happy. To this day we still have those sessions that go on for hours and hours. It makes me very happy that there are at least one or two other people as interested in this music as I am.