Shireen Nabatian
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Occupation: I am a full-time music student! It’s the best thing ever!
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I sing and play violin with Zlatna Mountain. Our repertoire is mostly Macedonian. I also play occasionally with Grupa Dunbarov, the Vancouver Balkan folk dance band that Kate and Erika Gerson started over 20 years ago.
Number of times at Balkan camp: 2018 was my 6th year.
Studied at camp: I always take a mix of violin, singing and ensemble classes. Whenever Jessaiah [Zuré] is teaching I try to squeeze in a couple of her classes too.
Memorable moment at camp: I passed a lot of milestones this year: leading my own kafana set, singing with the brass band in the dance hall a couple times; and I helped out with the auction, which was way more rewarding than one might expect.
I also collaborated with a couple very special people I met for the first time this year. Finding new music buddies at camp is like discovering treasure. Those moments of open-hearted sharing are so very precious, and for me I think that’s what making music is all about.