The Intimacy of Singing
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"I've always had a very special feeling for grass roots harmony, from the Caucasus to the Appalachians, and for grass roots singing, rural, urban, and revival. I became more and more aware of the kinds of feelings generated from singers, not only as a result of the harmonies, style, and vocal qualities, but as the result of the kind of communication that takes place among the singers - the kind of communication that exists between two or more people who have sung together over a long period of time. There is an intimacy achieved, a sharing that is almost impossible to duplicate." - Ethel Raim
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Mission
Inspired by traditional Balkan folk singing, music, and dance, Zado is a Sacramento-based vocal ensemble performing traditional and contemporary arrangements of international folk songs, particularly those from Eastern Europe. Our mission is to educate and inspire others about the beauty, complexity, styles, and intimacy of the music we love; to research, record, and preserve high-quality international folk music; and to present programs, recordings, and new art forms that feature unique folk harmonies and rhythms. We celebrate the splendor of the human voice, the cultural roots of the music, and contemporary expressions. Zado endeavors to inspire others to treasure their own heritage and traditions as well as those of others.
About Us
Our group was formed in 1980 as Zadovoljan by a small group of women, led by Barbara Bevan and Teresa Stahl, who shared a common interest in Balkan folk dance and singing and inspired initially by the singing of the Pennywhistlers and Ethel Raim of New York, the Bulgarian National Women’s Choir (Les Mystere des Voix Bulgares), and later Kitka of San Francisco. Over the years, our name was shortened to Zado but the group continues to be a gathering of friends who enjoy singing and dancing together and making good music. We have sung a great variety of songs and included a "men's auxiliary" at various times. We have also persuaded a number of talented musicians and guest singers to accompany us on songs.
Zado is currently under the artistic direction of vocalist, arranger, and conductor, Jan Volkoff, and includes five women and three men. Since the 1980s, we find that within our group there will always exist a friendship, an intimacy, of having shared a part of our lives with each other and with those for whom we sing and a growing, a development, in having learned many things about different cultures and about being close as people. Our choice of songs includes ones that are meaningful to us, as they were also to the people who originally sang them. Even though the members of our group may come from a different time period, a different culture, a different age and ethnic group, we share a common feeling for the human part of a song, and we have tried to communicate some of that feeling when we perform.
The Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble continues over four decades of learning and sharing international folk music, particularly from the Balkans, with schools, festivals, organizations, and the folk dance community. Since its founding, members have come from throughout the Sacramento region—Downtown, Arden-Arcade, Sierra Oaks, Carmichael, East Sacramento, Oak Park, Land Park, Rosemont, Greenhaven, Citrus Heights, Roseville, and Davis. We continue to be drawn to the beautiful harmonies, striking dissonances, unusual ornamentations, and complex rhythms of this music.
Many thanks to all the people over the years who have inspired us, helped us learn the music and cultures, provided music, and sung and played music with our group.
Zado is currently under the artistic direction of vocalist, arranger, and conductor, Jan Volkoff, and includes five women and three men. Since the 1980s, we find that within our group there will always exist a friendship, an intimacy, of having shared a part of our lives with each other and with those for whom we sing and a growing, a development, in having learned many things about different cultures and about being close as people. Our choice of songs includes ones that are meaningful to us, as they were also to the people who originally sang them. Even though the members of our group may come from a different time period, a different culture, a different age and ethnic group, we share a common feeling for the human part of a song, and we have tried to communicate some of that feeling when we perform.
The Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble continues over four decades of learning and sharing international folk music, particularly from the Balkans, with schools, festivals, organizations, and the folk dance community. Since its founding, members have come from throughout the Sacramento region—Downtown, Arden-Arcade, Sierra Oaks, Carmichael, East Sacramento, Oak Park, Land Park, Rosemont, Greenhaven, Citrus Heights, Roseville, and Davis. We continue to be drawn to the beautiful harmonies, striking dissonances, unusual ornamentations, and complex rhythms of this music.
Many thanks to all the people over the years who have inspired us, helped us learn the music and cultures, provided music, and sung and played music with our group.
Zado 2024
Who We Are
“Over the years, our group has been a gathering of friends who enjoy singing, dancing, and making music together. Zado continues to support folk music and dance as members of the National Folk Organization.” - Barbara Bevan 
"We hope we can inspire
others to treasure their own cultural roots and those of others. It’s more than just the songs. The music that fuels us has roots back 100 years or more. We are adding our lives to this music hoping it will continue.” - Roxanne Moger 
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Women's Ensemble
Women's Ensemble & Accordionist
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Welcome new singers Rachel, Sara, Tarra, and Rosie!
Zado has been networking and collaborating with others and working to attract new, younger singers to carry on our mission. Zado lost members during almost three years of the COVID19 pandemic, restrictions, and family hardships. Despite these challenges during 2020-22, Zado worked incredibly hard to plan, develop, lead, coordinate, and implement high-quality, meaningful virtual workshops (225 singer participants) and virtual choirs (118 singer videos) led by master Balkan folk artists with participants from around the world. But by 2023, it was unclear if Zado would be able to continue. During 2022-23, Zado began to regroup, and in summer 2023 the group added four new younger singers who are also interested in Balkan folk dancing. Revitalized, our current goals are to (1) expand the women’s singing ensemble to enable the group to continue to provide services particularly for Sacramento area communities, (2) continue to network and collaborate with other singing groups and master artists in presenting programs of song and dance, and (3) continue to incorporate audience participation in future programs.
Zado has been networking and collaborating with others and working to attract new, younger singers to carry on our mission. Zado lost members during almost three years of the COVID19 pandemic, restrictions, and family hardships. Despite these challenges during 2020-22, Zado worked incredibly hard to plan, develop, lead, coordinate, and implement high-quality, meaningful virtual workshops (225 singer participants) and virtual choirs (118 singer videos) led by master Balkan folk artists with participants from around the world. But by 2023, it was unclear if Zado would be able to continue. During 2022-23, Zado began to regroup, and in summer 2023 the group added four new younger singers who are also interested in Balkan folk dancing. Revitalized, our current goals are to (1) expand the women’s singing ensemble to enable the group to continue to provide services particularly for Sacramento area communities, (2) continue to network and collaborate with other singing groups and master artists in presenting programs of song and dance, and (3) continue to incorporate audience participation in future programs.
Performances |
Summary of Performances and Events 1980 to Present
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Recent Past Members
Catherine Green
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Julia Michaels
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Roxanne Moger
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Men's Auxiliary: Jim Shoemaker, Shane Stahl, Des Stahl
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Past Events & Photos
Big Day of Giving (BDOG) 2024
Thank you so much to all who have donated and made it possible for Zado to continue serving our communities! These donations are incredibly important to Zado being able to fully fund our events and to continue to exist. On behalf of all of us in Zado, thank you to BDOG and to other non-profit organizations that continue to lift us up and help us keep going.
Thank you so much to all who have donated and made it possible for Zado to continue serving our communities! These donations are incredibly important to Zado being able to fully fund our events and to continue to exist. On behalf of all of us in Zado, thank you to BDOG and to other non-profit organizations that continue to lift us up and help us keep going.
40th Sacramento Scandinavian Festival 2024
For Sacramento's 40th annual Scandinavian Festival on April 20, Zado with new singers performed songs from Finland, Norway, and Sweden with acclaimed accordionist, Jim Shoemaker.
For Sacramento's 40th annual Scandinavian Festival on April 20, Zado with new singers performed songs from Finland, Norway, and Sweden with acclaimed accordionist, Jim Shoemaker.
Balkan/Slavic Folk Songs & Dances - January 2024 Zado presented this program which featured independent and collaborative performances by Zado and world-renown master Bulgarian vocalists and musicians Tzvetanka, Tanya, and Ivan Varimezovi as well as a dance party. The performances also included local musicians and folk dancers who demonstrated dances.
39th Sacramento Scandinavian Festival 2023
As part of Sacramento's 39th annual Scandinavian Festival on April 15, Zado was thrilled to sing several folk songs from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden with acclaimed accordionist, Jim Shoemaker.
As part of Sacramento's 39th annual Scandinavian Festival on April 15, Zado was thrilled to sing several folk songs from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden with acclaimed accordionist, Jim Shoemaker.
Balkan/Slavic Songs and Dances! - Spring 2023
With support from Sacramento State University and its Geography Department, Zado and friends performed folk songs and dances for students, faculty, and the general public in April 2023. The songs and dances were from Balkan and Slavic countries, including Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.
With support from Sacramento State University and its Geography Department, Zado and friends performed folk songs and dances for students, faculty, and the general public in April 2023. The songs and dances were from Balkan and Slavic countries, including Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.
Balkan Songs Reborn - 2022-23
With support from the California Arts Council, Zado and is working to complete the second phase of restoring and remastering our earlier recordings 2023 and to distribute the songs. Zado completed the first phase of the project during 2022 and is currently working to complete the project during 2023.
With support from the California Arts Council, Zado and is working to complete the second phase of restoring and remastering our earlier recordings 2023 and to distribute the songs. Zado completed the first phase of the project during 2022 and is currently working to complete the project during 2023.
2020-21 "Artistry of Balkan Singing" - 2020-21
www.zadocac2020-21.org
In 2020, Zado received a 2020-21 California Arts Council grant for "The Artistry of Balkan Singing" project and, with the help of its community, adapted in-person grant events to become virtual grant events in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, during December 2020 and January 2021, Zado sponsored a master class and three free public workshops via Zoom for the Sacramento area and beyond. These incredible events were led by two world-renowned Balkan vocal master teachers, Tzvetanka Varimezova and Michele Simon, with additional assistance of Bay Area master vocalist, Briget Boyle. Zado has also been joined in this project by Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble, who are master artists as well. For the second phase of the project, Zado launched, produced, and completed two virtual choirs based upon the work of those workshops and master teachers. More information about the workshops and virtual choirs is on the project web site at www.zadocac2020-21.org.
www.zadocac2020-21.org
In 2020, Zado received a 2020-21 California Arts Council grant for "The Artistry of Balkan Singing" project and, with the help of its community, adapted in-person grant events to become virtual grant events in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, during December 2020 and January 2021, Zado sponsored a master class and three free public workshops via Zoom for the Sacramento area and beyond. These incredible events were led by two world-renowned Balkan vocal master teachers, Tzvetanka Varimezova and Michele Simon, with additional assistance of Bay Area master vocalist, Briget Boyle. Zado has also been joined in this project by Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble, who are master artists as well. For the second phase of the project, Zado launched, produced, and completed two virtual choirs based upon the work of those workshops and master teachers. More information about the workshops and virtual choirs is on the project web site at www.zadocac2020-21.org.
Big Day of Giving - 2020, 2021. and 2023
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Thank you to all who have donated and sent kind words of support to Zado for the Sacramento’s Big Day of Giving in May 2020, 2021, and 2023! These donations are incredibly important to Zado being able to fully fund our events and to continue to exist. We are deeply grateful to have the honor of singing, working with, and sharing the talents of wonderful master teachers and serving our communities. BDOG is also very meaningful to Zado because we strongly support the many other outstanding local organizations and individuals doing incredible work in our region addressing the direct needs of the hardest-hit during the COVID epidemic and our challenging times. On behalf of all of us in Zado, thank you to other non-profit organizations and to music that continues to lift us up and helps us keep going.
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FRAGILITY OF GOODNESS: Music from the Balkans & Beyond
Concerts With Vox Musica and Tzvetanka & Ivan Varimezovi, Feb 29 & Mar 1, 2020
Beatnik Studios, Sacramento CA
www.voxmusica.net/portfolio/project-two/
Concerts With Vox Musica and Tzvetanka & Ivan Varimezovi, Feb 29 & Mar 1, 2020
Beatnik Studios, Sacramento CA
www.voxmusica.net/portfolio/project-two/
Zado was thrilled to be part of this exciting program. We joined local women's vocal group, Vox Musica, world-renown Bulgarian vocalist Tzvetanka Varimezova, and Bulgarian master gaida player Ivan Varimezov for THE FRAGILITY OF GOODNESS: Music from the Balkans & Beyond. This unique program featured music from Bulgaria and Georgia and incorporated songs from their various regions that have themes we can relate to now—the fragility of love, of trust, of peace, of goodness…how fragile we are. Yet across all of the songs is an underlying sense that the human spirit overcomes adversity and continues to thrive during challenging times. Here is Dick Frantzreb's review of the event: http://www.perfcal.com/Vox/Reviews/Vox_3-1-20.htm
Groupmuse House Concert, November 2018
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Zado did several intro songs for a Groupmuse house concert in November 2018 with local guitarist, Sean O'Connor. Sean has a background in both rock and jazz plus a Magna Cum Laude graduate degree from the CSUS School of Music. His expansive repertoire covers various genre, including playing the 11-String Alto Guitar, uniquely suited for performing Baroque and Renaissance lute music. The house concert was a great event with over 30 attendees who enjoyed a beautiful evening of acoustic music. Thanks to all who helped in putting it together and all who attended!
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New & Returning Zado Members - 2018
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Spring Concerts July - August 2017
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Zado May 2017
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Terry Atkinson, alto, alumnae
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March 2017
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September 2016
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Jaap Leegwater, Jan Volkoff, Doug Pauly, Trudy & Peter Israel, Jim Shoemaker
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Karen Roseland, soprano, alumnae
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Zado Recording 2015-17
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Paradise Studios, December 2016
Zado 2015
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Zado 2000-2010
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Zado Performances with Ruth Rosenberg Dance Company 1993 (Photos by Paula Wenzl-Bellacera)
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Zadovoljan Performs North Columbia Schoolhouse, Nevada City, and Sacramento Camellia Festival 1985
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Zadovoljan, Sacramento Camellia Festival 1984
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Zadovoljan, Sacramento Camellia Festival 1982
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Zadovoljan, Sacramento Camellia Festival 1983
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