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.
Dawn Royston
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Occupation: I’m a jazz singer but also have been working in politics lately.
Connection to Balkan music/dance: There is no Balkan scene here in Gainesville. I do think it’s a place that Balkan music would be appreciated and hope to get musicians together and start playing music!
Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my first time.
Studied at camp: Coming in, I was most excited to learn Bulgarian repertoire and to meet and hear a Rhodope singer in person for the first time. For that reason, at first, I was really tuning into Donka [Koleva]. But while there I became enchanted with the vocal ornamentation of Greek singing. Coming from a vocal classical background, being able to listen to the ornamentations of all styles and hear singers in person was very important and informative for me.
Memorable moment at camp: On the whole, this experience was unforgettable and unique and special. I recall one moment when I was on the porch of my cabin and listening to a Lithuanian ensemble and in the middle of the field a brass band with accordion was playing and thinking to myself what a unique and special village the EEFC creates every year.
But I think the most amazing moment of the week was once very late at night at kafana with one of Ruth and Christos’s ensembles. Although I was exhausted I decided to join this smaller dancing circle and locked into the steps although since I was new to the dances I had occasionally had trouble with other dances that week. It was such a feeling of connection that I had to this group; the band found a perfect groove and it felt like time was suspended. It was very spiritual experience for me and I want to thank the EEFC scholarship committee for enabling me to have it.
Zach Serleth
Location: Baltimore, Md.
Occupation: Full-time musician, in jazz, bluegrass/old-time, and Eastern European styles
Connection to Balkan music/dance: I play bass in jazz manouche ensembles here in MD (Baltimore Swing Drop, Ultrafaux) as well as an Eastern European group called Orchester Prazevica. We play dances at the embassies in DC whenever they have them :).
Number of times at Balkan camp: First camp!
Studied at camp: Greek music (bass) and brass band (tuba). I brought my upright bass and guitar to the various ensemble classes and got a lot out of those as well. I learned so much!
Memorable moment at camp: Playing in the student concert with the brass band was one of the most magical musical experiences I have ever felt in my life. I was literally crying tears of joy while blowing my tuba during the last song. I’ve studied Balkan brass band music for the last five years but have never had the opportunity to play it with anyone. Playing it at camp with such high-level musicians may have been the best thing I have ever done.
Tin Skorić
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Occupation: High school student
Connection to Balkan music/dance: My parents are originally from the region, so we listen to Balkan music of various genres all the time. My mom is from Montengro [Podgorica and Ulqini]; dad grew up in Croatia [Zagreb]. They lived in Sarajevo and Belgrade as well. I play in my school orchestra, ISO [Interschool Orchestras of New York], Brooklyn Conservatory…
Number of times at Balkan camp: I’ve been few days at the camp, but this was my first full week. I loved it all! New friends, young, teachers (Sarah [Ferholt], Ray [Ranic]), Demiran [Ćerimović]!
Studied at camp: Čoček Nation; tamburica and all. I hope to learn tapan.
Memorable moment at camp: The auction was so fun! I loved the watermelon soccer! Demiran is a great soccer player, as well as a fantastic trumpet player. My teachers, Sarah, Ray, Aaron [Kisslinger] are so very kind and patient. Met many new friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I can’t wait for next year.
Dawn Wullschleger
Location: Arlington, W.V.
Occupation: Teacher, 8th-grade science
Connection to Balkan music/dance: During the rest of the year I attend Balkan events in the area. I am also in a Balkan fusion class that incorporates Balkan music with belly dance. I plan on starting an after-school culture club and include things that I have learned at camp.
Number of times at Balkan camp: I have been coming to camp for three years.
Studied at camp: This year at camp I focused on the Greek dancing and doumbek classes. Joe [Graziosi] and Polly [Tapia Ferber] are two of my favorites, such enthusiastic instructors.
Memorable moment at camp: I am always surprised at the deep bonds of friendship I make at camp each year. I went with a group of friends this year and developed some deeper bonds with them that would have taken months outside of camp. There is something about the camp culture that allows people to open up and reveal things on a deeper level than in daily life. One of the biggest surprises was bonding with a couple who live in my area. I’ve known the wife for a while and had met the husband a few times but I had no idea how close we would get at camp. The camp expedited our friendship which would have taken months outside of camp and produced bonding moments we will cherish. What’s great about them being local is that we can meet up and share in the memories of camp. It helps with the feelings of camp withdrawal that happen each year and gets us pumped up for next year!
Cody Simmons
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.
Honna Steissberg (and Frances Steissberg)
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.
Aaron Strelnikoff
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.
L White
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.
Chad Brown
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Occupation: I currently work for Liberty Bellows in Philadelphia, which is a full-service accordion repair and sales shop. I specialize in accordion repair, which covers both technical service and repair as well as fine-tuning. Additionally, I am a freelance drummer in Philadelphia and play in a number of ensembles and organizations. Most weeks look like three to five days at the accordion shop, with an average of three gigs a week and the odd rehearsal, so life can feel a bit hectic, but I definitely feed off of all the variety in my working life.
Connection to Balkan music/dance: My introduction to Balkan music came from my joining the West Philadelphia Orchestra in the summer of 2012. Before that, I had a part in Pig Iron Theater’s production of Twelfth Night, which incorporated a roaming band, based loosely on/inspired by Balkan music and the Romani diaspora. So, I did some research and made a tupan, which eventually got me a spot in WPO. We play regularly. We have a weekly dance party in center city Philadelphia every Tuesday at Franky Bradley’s (do come if you find yourself in Philly on a Tuesday), and some 30-odd weddings/parties/bigger shows every year. Our book is nice and fat (and getting bigger) at this point so it keeps everyone busy, learning the style(s) and keeping the music fresh for our audience. http://wpo.westphiladelphiaorchestra.com/
Number of times at Balkan camp: This was my first year at camp.
Studied at camp: My first year at camp was certainly eye opening. There is so much offered and I sampled quite a bit of it, but eventually narrowed myself down to Brass Band with Demiran [Ćerimović] in the percussion section and Čalgija ensemble on accordion and voice. I attended both Serbian and Bulgarian dance classes as well (and by midweek, a healthy dose of partying…).
Memorable moment at camp: My cabin was directly next to the dojo-esque building (I think it was titled alt gym or something) and in the morning were the BG folk ensembles, so every day of camp I woke up or prepared my day to the sounds of gudulkas, gaidas, kavals, and all of the wonderful sounds and instrumentation of this particular iteration of the music. I was completely enchanted by the experience of hearing this every day. I have a particular fondness for Bulgarian music and hope to insert myself more directly into it next year.