Julian Geary
Location: Portland, Ore.
Occupation: High school freshman
Connection to Balkan music/dance: Music has always been a big part of my life, and my dad fell in love with Balkan music just around the time I was born. Through him I have slowly been liking it more and more.
Number of times at Balkan camp: For years I have been asking my dad to let me go to camp and finally this year I was allowed.
Studied at camp: I decided to continue my learning of violin, and picked up the tupan, which was a great decision.
Memorable moment at camp: It was a dream come true, and I was not disappointed. Throughout these first few boring weeks of school I constantly find myself daydreaming back to when the next-gen played in front of a packed audience in the kafana with the whole crowd jumping up and down in a hip-hop fashion that me and my friends started. Camp was the highlight of my summer and I hope I can come back next year.
Jack Hanley
Location: Martinez, Calif.
Occupation: I work as a musician, drumming, mostly Klezmer music, and recently Balkan as well! I also work seasonally in Yosemite National Park.
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I frequent local Balkan performances to listen and dance, and I am part of a rotating cast of musicians who perform at the weekly “Balkan Sundays” event in San Francisco. Camp gave me the opportunity to create and make stronger friendships with the players in the Bay Area Balkan scene and thus I have had many more opportunities to play and perform because of it. Thank you (:
Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my first time at camp and it blew me away.
Studied at camp: I study drumming, both on tupan and doumbek.
Memorable moment at camp: It is difficult, no, impossible, to single out one memorable and special experience from such a loaded week of beauty and joy that could sum it all up. However, the week started with an exclamation point in my memory. Wide-eyed and taken back, the sound surrounded me completely. Heavy drumbeats dropped into my chest, and my temples reverberated with a sound so distinct, played so naturally, with emphasis so characteristically “Balkan,” that I knew in an instant that this camp was going to be the real deal. Any one of the evening’s dance party performances could easily be considered a highlight of virtuosic musicianship, community, and a lifted spirit. There was no better way to set the stage for this all on the first night, than with the raucous zurna and tupan set I remember so powerfully.
Thank you so so so much for all the work the EEFC does, and especially for the generosity that you showed me by awarding me a scholarship.
Joshua Laurenzi
Location: Oakland, Calif.
Occupation: Massage therapist, medical herbalist, musician
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I perform with Ghost Note Ensemble ghostnoteensemble.bandcamp.com.
Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my first time at camp.
Studied at camp: Greek violin
Memorable moment at camp: The openness and welcoming attitudes of everyone were so surprising and wonderful. I’ve been to many other music camps and this is usually not so much the case. From the moment I arrived people were friendly and helpful. My time at camp this year was so wonderful in large part due to this friendliness across the board, from teachers to attendees.
Meadow Lo
Location: Arcata, Calif.
Occupation: I am a public school music teacher. I teach preschool through 8th grade general music, choir, band, strings and other music electives.
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I play in the international folk band Chubritza. We perform regularly at our local monthly folk dance parties as well as throughout the West Coast at various folk dance and music festivals.
Number of times at Balkan camp: I have been coming for seven consecutive years.
Studied at camp: I tend to take more singing classes than anything else.
Memorable moment at camp: This summer, my husband and one-year-old son were able to come with me to camp. I was touched and inspired that many of the teachers welcomed my young, boisterous, noisy child and encouraged his obsession with music and instruments. In particular, there was a moment when Raif [Hyseni] saw my son staring at his accordion in awe and invited him to touch it and play some notes on the keyboard. It was a very magical and touching experience to have this incredible, world-class musician sharing his accordion with a one-year-old.
Paul Poresky
Location: Coos Bay, Ore.
Occupation: I am a retired rural letter carrier for the Postal Service.
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I do international folk dancing throughout the year. We dance every Monday evening in North Bend, and occasionally in Eugene with their Tuesday group, and at their Veselo Festival. Many of our dances are Balkan.
Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my first time.
Studied at camp: Dance! Dance! Dance! I am not a musician. Been dancing for over 30 years, but never played an instrument. I am trying to learn the kaval, with little success. I enjoyed the Bulgarian and Serbian dance classes the most.
Memorable moment at camp: The Friday afternoon student recitals at the amphitheater were remarkable. It was a real eye-opener to see how much talent there was in camp, and to hear how well people from all over the West could come together for a week and learn to play and sing so beautifully together. In that setting, it was magical.
Devina Boughton
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.
Katherine Chipman
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.
Hilary Seamans
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.
Matt Moran
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: I’m a professional musician; I play Balkan and Balkan-influenced music and also jazz and contemporary composition. I’m a bandleader, so a lot of my work time is on administrative tasks, but I try to find time to practice, too; I also work on bringing music education and performance opportunities to people in prison.
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I’m very fortunate to have integrated Balkan music into my daily life, mostly by playing tapan with my brass band Slavic Soul Party! I also play tenor horn with Veveritse Brass Band, teach tapan, and occasionally give presentations on Balkan music and brass band music to students (from elementary all the way up university level). I try to make sure that I also speak about the sources of the Balkan music that most inspires me, when I’m a bandleader—which isn’t always easy at a dance party!
Number of times at Balkan camp: This year was my 20th anniversary of coming to Balkan camp! I’ve been at East Coast camp almost every year since then.
Studied at camp: This year I focused on Serbian Roma music and dance as taught by Demiran Ćerimović (brass band) and Alex Marković (dance). I also tried to be available and helpful during classes for kids.
Memorable moment at camp: This year Demiran’s set in the dance hall stood out to me as representing many of the best things about camp. First of all, we had a teacher who was not only new to camp but was the first teacher from the Balkans to teach brass band. This was wonderful growth for our community, and Demiran filled the role beautifully. Secondly, he was touchingly dedicated to demonstrating the older brass band traditions of his community—values we often assume of Balkan musicians, but which are not a given in the living tradition that is Serbian brass and the accompanying market forces. Thirdly, the set brought staff and campers to new heights, as Demiran inspired the several generations of campers that accompanied him—members of Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band—to their most musical and compelling performance I’ve ever experienced, while Alex Marković shined a new light on many of the dances that our community has done for years. The dance hall radiated joy and appreciation, expertise and openness, roots and possibilities.
Jessie Rothwell
Location: Garrett Park, Md.
Occupation: My day job is…. nothing. I do freelance writing here and there and am looking for a full-time job. That’s why there’s no way I could have afforded to come to Balkan camp without the scholarship I received.
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I am a member of Orfeia, a women’s Balkan vocal ensemble. We currently have 10 members, not including our director, Tatiana Sarbinska. I don’t dance regularly but would like to do more of it in the future.
Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my first time at camp.
Studied at camp: My main focus was voice. I took two voice classes and for a couple of days also took accordion. If I come back I really want to learn zurna (I grew up playing oboe so it’s especially appealing to me).
Memorable moment at camp: I think my favorite thing about camp was sitting on porches in the evening after dinner, listening to folks playing, or sitting on my porch singing with other members of my cabin…. It felt so intimate and I love informal, non-staged performing—things that break the fourth wall. I loved the dancing every night and performing at the end of the week, but if I had to choose just one thing, I think the porch playing/performing would be the thing.