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Michael Nazaretz, accordion, first performed in a Russian folk music group in his native Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1960s. In Washington, D.C. he was an original member of the “Dunav” Balkan and “Lox and Vodka” Jewish/klezmer bands and has played with the Washington Balalaika Society Orchestra.
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Yelena Rector, prima/tenor domra, graduated from the Saratov Music Conservatory in Russia, has played with the Russian ensemble “Souvenir,” and is a soloist with the American Balalaika Symphony Orchestra. Yelena is fond of caviar..
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Ilhan Izmirli, guitar, has been playing folk, jazz and blues since the early 1980s. He is interested in the relationship between music and mathematics, a subject on which he has presented papers at professional conferences.
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Rick Netherton, contrabass balalaika, is a classically trained bassist and native of Washington, DC. Ricks plays in the American Balalaika Symphony and a variety of local music groups, from jazz to folk to rock to classical. When he’s not making music, Rick uses forensic science to solve crimes.
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Anya Titova, vocalist, has sung and played with the Washington Balalaika Society since 1991. Previously, she performed professionally for many years with her late husband, balalaika virtuoso Grisha Titov. Anya also makes wonderful borscht.
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Olga Rines, vocalist, has participated in folklore expeditions from St Petersburg Unviersity to Northern Russia. She teaches Russian culture and langauge at the World Bank. Olga also specializes in teaching Russian song and dance to young children.
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Katya Borodulina, prima balalaika, is Samovar’s newest member. She is a soloist with the American Balalaika Symphony. The group’s only authentic Siberian (Katya is from Tumen), she studied balalaika at the Gnessen Academy of Music.
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