Recent Events
2024
St. Paul's Episcopal Church 175th Anniversary - Saturday, September 14, 2024
st1849paul@sbcglobal.net
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In September 2024, St Paul's celebrated the 175th anniversary of its founding as the first Episcopal parish in the Gold Rush settlement that was to become the city of Sacramento. It invited the Sacramento community to its church to explore St. Paul's history and to be a loving, accepting community now and long into the future! Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble was honored to sing for this historic event. We strongly support and are grateful for the outstanding local organizations and individuals doing incredible work in our region addressing the direct needs of those hardest hit. We hope our music lifts spirits, expands kindness, and inspires love.
Sacramento Big Day of Giving - Thursday, May 2, 2024
Thank you so much BDOG 2024 donors,
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As ambassadors and teachers, Zado members continually research to expand their knowledge base of Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian songs, music, and vocal techniques and creative ways to perform and present them. As performers, Zado upholds a tradition of more than four decades of presenting concerts, teaching, and celebrating international folk music with schools, festivals, organizations, and the folk-dance community in northern California. As recording artists, Zado has produced and distributed three CDs/albums. As community members, Zado pursues its overarching goal of delivering performances and instruction that inspire individuals to treasure their own cultural roots and those of others, a theme that continues to have meaning and relevance particularly in today's world.
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40th Annual Sacramento
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Zado sings lots of different international folk songs. We performed folk songs from Finland, Norway, and Sweden with acclaimed Sacramento accordionist, Jim Shoemaker, at the 2024 Sacramento Scandinavian Festival. We had lots of fun playing on the giant Dalahast Swedish horse and wearing our costumes!
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“Balkan/Slavic Folk Songs and Dances”
Zado and Friends - Tzvetanka, Tanya, & Ivan Varimezovi
Concert and Dance Party
Saturday, January 20, 2024 - CLARA Auditorium - Sacramento, CA
Concert and Dance Party
Saturday, January 20, 2024 - CLARA Auditorium - Sacramento, CA
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Our community gathered to welcome a New Year of new beginnings, hope, love, kindness, and fun...
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"Wow! We had such a great time! Amazing music!"
"Standing room only. We had to bring out 20 more chairs and the room was still packed. Unique and fun event!"
"Standing room only. We had to bring out 20 more chairs and the room was still packed. Unique and fun event!"
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On behalf of all Zado members, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH everyone for attending our performance and dance party--it was truly a blast! Our community got into some serious enthusiasm--despite the rain and the crowds. Many thanks to the fabulous Varimezovi family, to our wonderful musicians, to the talented Kolo Koalition dancers, to our spectacular volunteers and helpers, and to the Sacramento community for attending and supporting this event. Thank you so much to the many generous folks who donated. These donations have helped tremendously to cover the costs and are greatly appreciated! Many thanks for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds and the staff and management of the City of Sacramento Arts and Culture Office for making this event possible. This event was supported in part by federal award SLFRP0166 awarded to Zado by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the City of Sacramento.
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Zado was thrilled present this collaborative program January 20, 2024 of Balkan and Slavic folk songs and dances. The event 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 accordionist Jim Shoemaker, guitarist Matt Kretzmann, and local Kolo Koalition folk dancers. Zado vocalists included Rachel Freund, Pat Moore-Pickett, Teresa Stahl, Sara Taylor, Tarra Thomas, Jan Volkoff, and Rosie Yacoub. It truly was a coming together of our community for some new beginnings of hope, love, kindness, and fun!
Videos of the Varimezovi Family Band at other events...
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Tanya, Tzvetanka, & Radka Varimezova
The 15th Annual Sts Kiril & Methody Bulgarian Festival, San Francisco, CA, May 2015.
Hosted by ANTIKA BULGARIA Ensemble & Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA. On YouTube by Martenichki.
The 15th Annual Sts Kiril & Methody Bulgarian Festival, San Francisco, CA, May 2015.
Hosted by ANTIKA BULGARIA Ensemble & Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA. On YouTube by Martenichki.
Ivan Varimezovi
'Hopa Trop' Children's Folk Dance Ensemble, Seattle Friends Without Borders for Lovely Bulgaria 2016 (live performance)
Performing traditional Bulgarian dances and songs from all regions of Bulgaria. On YouTube by Hopa Trop.
'Hopa Trop' Children's Folk Dance Ensemble, Seattle Friends Without Borders for Lovely Bulgaria 2016 (live performance)
Performing traditional Bulgarian dances and songs from all regions of Bulgaria. On YouTube by Hopa Trop.
2023
New Singers and Sacramento City College Recording Arts Class via Rachel Freund
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During fall 2023, Zado and new singers recorded several songs at Sacramento City College for a Recording Arts class. One of the songs was Zeleneje Zhito Zelene. This song is a traditional Ukrainian song about the harvest. The title means green rye, green. The song celebrates good harvest from the bounty, and good guests from the heart. It celebrates green rye and oats, and the gathering of family. Our hearts ache for the destruction in this country that has traditionally been a bread basket for the world, and we celebrate the possibility of rebirth in the new year, of gathering families and good guests once again. "All our relations have come together. Farmers are harvesting the green rye, guests wait for them in the house. The entire family has gathered and is being welcomed with the rye and oats 'from the soul'.”
2022
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California Arts Council (CAC)
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In 2021-22, Zado was awarded a CAC General Operations Relief Grant. Due to continued COVID19 safety concerns with in-person choir rehearsals and performances, Zado used the 2022 grant funds for “Balkan Songs Reborn,” a project to do virtual restoring and remastering of its prior audio recordings for distribution. The audio recordings were remastered during 2022, and distribution work is currently underway and planned for completion in 2023.
Zado is incredibly grateful to the CAC and California for this grant award, which has motivated and enabled our small group to survive during the COVID pandemic despite great hardships. This grant has inspired our group to re-evaluate the best way we can serve our community and share some wonderful older music in the midst of in-person restrictions and sheltering. It is unfortunate that half of the grant period occurred before we were able to refocus and begin grant implementation. Nevertheless, our work on this ambitious project during the second half of the grant period has been extensive and rewarding and continues. Zado is strongly committed to completing the goals of this “Balkan Songs Reborn” project to distribute and post online these restored recordings. The recordings from prior years include quality music and singing that our local community has requested and many others could enjoy. They reflect a love of Balkan and other world music by the many members of our group and the community over the years.
Zado is incredibly grateful to the CAC and California for this grant award, which has motivated and enabled our small group to survive during the COVID pandemic despite great hardships. This grant has inspired our group to re-evaluate the best way we can serve our community and share some wonderful older music in the midst of in-person restrictions and sheltering. It is unfortunate that half of the grant period occurred before we were able to refocus and begin grant implementation. Nevertheless, our work on this ambitious project during the second half of the grant period has been extensive and rewarding and continues. Zado is strongly committed to completing the goals of this “Balkan Songs Reborn” project to distribute and post online these restored recordings. The recordings from prior years include quality music and singing that our local community has requested and many others could enjoy. They reflect a love of Balkan and other world music by the many members of our group and the community over the years.
Events During COVID19 Pandmic 2020-21
Dragana I Slaveja Virtual Choir Video 2021
The Dragana I Slaveja Virtual Choir (VC) video is posted to YouTube!
Zado Dragana I Slaveja VC link:
https://youtu.be/pHvLuhPQBHU
We invite you to "like", "love", and share these video links with your social networks near and far!
Zaspo Janko Virtual Choir Video 2021
The Zaspo Janko Virtual Choir (VC) video is posted to YouTube!
Zado Zaspo Janko VC link:
https://youtu.be/McMxC5Kad8c
We invite you to "like", "love", and share these video links with your social networks near and far!
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"Singing from the heart saves the soul." Villagers from long ago knew when times get tough, music lifts us up and helps us keep going. Our non-profit organization, Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble, is honored to have won a competitive 2020-21 Artists in Communities grant from the California Arts Council (CAC) and to have partnered with others to offer unprecedented virtual events for singers in the Sacramento area and beyond during 2020-21.
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During a bleak pandemic year that prohibited singers from gathering, this project provided free online workshops, co-presented in January 2021 by Zado and Kitka Institute, that offered singers access to master vocal teachers Tzvetanka Varimezova and Michele Simon. The songs themselves, as well as the global representation of participants, were vivid reminders of our shared humanity. The culminating virtual choir projects, led by these master teachers and artists have given us hope that together, in the face of adversity, we can succeed. We are deeply grateful to all of our partners, to those who have donated, and to the wonderful singers we have met along the way for being part of this project. And we are honored to have sung, worked with, and shared the talents of these master teachers and singers from across California, the United States and the world! We realize each day how fragile we are and how meaningful the arts are: music in particular can lift our spirits and keep us moving forward. Thank you for helping bring this extraordinary music to our expanded community of singers.
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Balkan music and song is a specific genre, and its rich and varied musical offerings are re-emerging as a new and popular interest by young singers, choirs, and universities. Zado’s passion is to educate, connect, excite, and awaken the art and creativity of others to this music, which involves sharing it and promoting understanding and good will in our own communities and elsewhere. It is not just to hold another music event in Sacramento. It is about providing the experience of learning and generating an excitement for the artistry, variety, and history of Balkan vocal music near and far.
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Past Events
2020
FRAGILITY OF GOODNESS: Music from the Balkans & Beyond
Concert With Vox Musica, February 29 and March 1, 2020
Beatnik Studios, Sacramento CA
Concert With Vox Musica, February 29 and March 1, 2020
Beatnik Studios, Sacramento CA
Kirialesa
Kirialesa ( კირიალესა ) – Samegrelo region, Georgia (Traditional) Eastern European villagers have known for centuries that when times get tough and winters are long, it is time for communities to come together to lift up their voices and spirits through singing. Frequently the theme of village songs with the start of a new year would be to wish good luck and prosperity to friends and neighbors, because they never knew what evil might be lurking around the corner. Kirialesa Translation: Enjoy everything, the old and the new. God bless the past year and the new one. Prosperity to you and to yours.
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.
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Vox Musica is a Sacramento gem and superb women's music ensemble, directed by Daniel Paulson, who is is hailed as an “astute programmer,” a conductor who can “coax urbane performances from his singers,” and a gifted music arranger. Daniel has been a featured conductor at many choir festivals and events in California and the U.S. This wonderful women’s vocal ensemble enjoys the privileged position of nurturing the choral arts by combining outstanding vocal artistry with innovative programming. Vox Musica is committed to excellence in performance of diverse and challenging choral literature for women’s voices and is dedicated to promoting new works, including many premiers and commissioned works.
In a local review, Edward Ortiz, Arts Editor for the Sacramento Bee, hailed Vox Musica as a “welcome addition to the music scene,” praising the group’s “stunning clarity,” “intense color,” and “delicate touch.” Through collaborations with composers, conductors, choirs and musicians from around the world, Vox Musica’s featured concert projects have included collected works from the 18th century Venetian Ospedali, eastern music from India, Persia, and Georgia, a concert project for Taiko Drums and Women’s Choir, a concert project for DJ and Women’s Choir, and more recently a concert project for looping violin and Women’s Choir.
In a local review, Edward Ortiz, Arts Editor for the Sacramento Bee, hailed Vox Musica as a “welcome addition to the music scene,” praising the group’s “stunning clarity,” “intense color,” and “delicate touch.” Through collaborations with composers, conductors, choirs and musicians from around the world, Vox Musica’s featured concert projects have included collected works from the 18th century Venetian Ospedali, eastern music from India, Persia, and Georgia, a concert project for Taiko Drums and Women’s Choir, a concert project for DJ and Women’s Choir, and more recently a concert project for looping violin and Women’s Choir.
Tzvetanka Varimezova was born in Bulgaria and received a B.A. degree in choral conducting and folk instrument pedagogy from the Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv. During the 1980s she directed the choir of a regional professional ensemble of folk song and dance in the town of Pazardzhik, Bulgaria.During the 1990s she was a soloist, teacher, and assistant choral director for a number of professional women’s choirs in Sofia, including the National Ensemble Filip Kutev, Ensemble Trace-Plovdiv, Les Grandes Voix Bulgares, Cosmic Voices, and Trio Bojura. She has many solo recordings to her name and is well-known for the brilliant, high-pitched tone quality of her voice and her interpretations of the highly ornamented songs from her native Pazardzhik-Trace region.
Tzvetanka came to the U.S. in 2001 with her husband Ivan Varimezov to teach in the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology. Since then she has worked with choirs in many U.S. cities including the UCLA choir, “Superdevoiche;” “Nevenka” (Los Angeles); “Zhena” (San Pedro); “Kitka” (San Francisco); “Planina” (Denver); “Mila” (Mineapolis); “The Bulgarian Voices” (Seattle); “Dunava” (Seattle); and “Global Choir” (New Mexico). She has also conducted many workshops for the Eastern European Folklife Center (EEFC) in Mendocino, California; Iroguois Springs, New York; Greece, Denmark, Japan, Swiss, Canada, Spain, and France. In 2017 Tzvetanka Varimezova received the Bulgarian award “The Voice of the Year, 2017” from The Annual Folklore Awards, Bulgaria. In 2018 Tzvetanka Varimezova received “The Bulgarian Award for Her Contribution to Bulgarian Folklore Music” from The Annual Folklore Awards, Bulgaria.
Tzvetanka came to the U.S. in 2001 with her husband Ivan Varimezov to teach in the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology. Since then she has worked with choirs in many U.S. cities including the UCLA choir, “Superdevoiche;” “Nevenka” (Los Angeles); “Zhena” (San Pedro); “Kitka” (San Francisco); “Planina” (Denver); “Mila” (Mineapolis); “The Bulgarian Voices” (Seattle); “Dunava” (Seattle); and “Global Choir” (New Mexico). She has also conducted many workshops for the Eastern European Folklife Center (EEFC) in Mendocino, California; Iroguois Springs, New York; Greece, Denmark, Japan, Swiss, Canada, Spain, and France. In 2017 Tzvetanka Varimezova received the Bulgarian award “The Voice of the Year, 2017” from The Annual Folklore Awards, Bulgaria. In 2018 Tzvetanka Varimezova received “The Bulgarian Award for Her Contribution to Bulgarian Folklore Music” from The Annual Folklore Awards, Bulgaria.
Ivan Varimezov was born in Bulgaria and received a B.A. degree in folk instrument performance and ensemble conducting from the Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv. Raised in the traditions of his native region of Strandzha, he is one of the most outstanding gaida (bagpipe) players of his generation, and he has many solo recordings and awards to his name. During the 1980s Varimezov was the director of the instrumental ensemble of a regional professional ensemble of folk song and dance in the town of Pazardzhik. During the 1990s he moved to Sofia to become the soloist with the orchestra of folk instruments at Radio and Television Sofia, a position occupied for twenty-five years by his famous uncle, Kostadin Varimezov.
Ivan came to the U.S. in 2001 to teach at UCLA. During last ten years, Ivan and Tzvetanka Varimezovi have organized many concerts for the UCLA students in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego and other cities. In 2018 Ivan received his biggest award to date: a cristal medal from the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers for his outstanding contribution to development to the Bulgarian music culture. He also received “The Bulgarian award for his contribution to the Bulgarian Folklore Music” from The Annual Folklore Awards.
Ivan came to the U.S. in 2001 to teach at UCLA. During last ten years, Ivan and Tzvetanka Varimezovi have organized many concerts for the UCLA students in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego and other cities. In 2018 Ivan received his biggest award to date: a cristal medal from the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers for his outstanding contribution to development to the Bulgarian music culture. He also received “The Bulgarian award for his contribution to the Bulgarian Folklore Music” from The Annual Folklore Awards.
Slavitza Folk!
2019
Zado had the opportunity to practice some songs with this wonderful group. Slavitza Folk is a traditional Slavic Folk a cappella group based in Elk Grove, CA and was founded in July 2018 with the goal of promoting Slavic folk traditions in the form of both music and traditional attire. These fabulous singers perform locally in the Sacramento and surrounding areas in Northern California. Zado is thrilled to be learning some songs from them and teaching some of our songs. More info about Slavitza is at:
https://www.facebook.com/slavitzafolk/ |
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Journey of Friends 2018
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“Wow, beauteous!...It’s a wonderfully finessed project…I have goosebumps!” - Gilda Taffet, Sacramento Musician and Artist.
Available at Bandcamp, Amazon, YouTube, online retailers, and streaming services (e.g., Apple Music, Spotify, etc.). More info on Zado Music page. Drawing inspiration and energy from traditional village folk melodies and music of the Balkans, Zado creates a new, fresh, and compelling take on a cappella and accompanied songs and dance music “from the East” with the goal of reviving and honoring older folk songs that have meaning and relevance even in today’s world. Journey of Friends is a celebration of folk songs from Armenia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Israel, Kosovo, Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, and Ukraine, sung by Zado in original languages and accompanied on some pieces by several very gifted local musicians. There are songs about love, war, children, home, a zest for life, and our place in the universe. Across the songs is the underlying sense that the human spirit overcomes adversity and continues to thrive during challenging times—a theme that has meaning and relevance even in today’s world. |
See "About Us" web page for more information and photos of past events.
Links to Styles of Balkan Folk Singing
There are various regional styles of singing in Balkan folk music, particularly in Bulgarian folk singing. Each region has a distinctive style. The Bulgarian people take pride in the songs and vocal styling even today. More recently, traditional village melodies have been embellished and refined into popular, modern compositions—sometimes containing classical, impressionistic, and jazz musical elements. Links to examples of Balkan/Bulgarian styles of folk singing can be found on our Zado web page News, Links, & Inspirations.