Fanfare Zambaleta (roughly meaning crazy street party with brass) is a ten piece Balkan Brass band specializing in spirited music of the Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Greek and especially the Romani people. Combining a love of the classic brass bands of the past with the modern sounds coming out of the Balkans, Fanfare Zambaleta brings an irresistible blend of old and new to get you dancing!

The band is directed by Gregory Masaki Jenkins (alto sax, clarinet) and features Joey Friedman (alto sax), Noah Levitt, Peter Bonos and Max Miller-Loran (trumpets), Rachel MacFarlane, Adam Waite, and Brendan Mauro (mid horns), Evan Stuart (sousaphone) and Ivan Velev (percussion, vocals).

Filip Filipov was born in Varna, Bulgaria and has been a musician since he was a child. At just 6, he was taken by his sister to the Children's Orchestra at the Macedonian House in Varna. There he began to quickly stand out as a tapan player competing with other yung musicians and performed in his first concert that same year.

At the age of 11 he was invited by Maria Staneva, choreographer of the Bulgarche Ensemble, to join his first international tour. He performed all across Western and Eastern Europe over the next several years. During his military service Filip played in the Army Ensemble in Sliven first as a tapan player and later as an accordionist. After his service Filip joined the Varna Ensemble and also performed in many other wedding orchestras including Aksakovska Group, Orchestra Kabile, Orchestra Panorama and many more, playing accordion and keyboard. He also formed his own wedding orchestra and performed throughout Bulgaria. Filip also performed with various bands in many restaurants and clubs while performing Bulgarian, Serbian and Greek music. He has a DC out of his work and often appears on television playing many of his compositions.

While living in Denmark, Filip found like- minded musicians and joined the Orpheus Balkan Ensemble while continuing to promote Balkan music. He also had the honor of playing with the virtuoso Nedyalko Nedyalkov and his trio. Filip's music workshops and performances have taken him to Germany , England, Scotland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain, the Czech Republic and Brazil. Last year he had the opportunity to perform across the US while accompanying Jaap Leegwater on his dance tour and this year he returns to the US again to teach, perform and play for various dance groups. Don't miss this talented superstar!

Orkestar Unbound features bandleader Will Cope, Amberley and Ariana Rosen on violin, and Janie Cowan on bass, with more musicians to be confirmed. A new group photo will be posted once the full lineup is set.

Tips/Donations:
Venmo to Cope-a-cabana

Known for their broad stylistic range and diverse repertoire, Ariana Rosen and Amberly Rosen Hoins have been presenting duo violin performances together since 1994. Exposed to a wide variety of music from a young age, the Rosen Sisters present eclectic programs of music from around the world. Specializing in Western Classical, American Country/Folk Fiddle, Traditional Irish, Balkan, Mediterranean and Scandinavian folk dance music, they have delighted audiences at venues across the United States, Europe and Asia. Since graduating from the Manhattan School of Music, Ariana has been highly sought after as a teacher and performer (including appearances with Distinguished Concerts International New York and Parlando) in the greater New York City area for the past 19 years. Amberly graduated from Berklee in Boston, and has been seen performing on The Late Show with David Letterman, and the Grand Ole Opry. She is based out of Nashville, TN where she performs, teaches, and enjoys being a new mom.

Sinovi Tamburitzans, formed in the fall of 1980, perform traditional tamburitza music of Croatia and beyond. The group was born out of the Seattle Jr. Tamburitzans for which it served as the music combo for the dance section of SJT. The group consists of two brothers, Tom and George Jovanovich (Brac and Bugarija) and their sons, Nick (brac) and Jake (bass). Lead singer is John Morovich (brac and accordion). They are often joined by Tim Jovanovich on Cello and Steven Mataya on brac.

The group has performed extensively in the Pacific Northwest and California and nationally regularly participating in Tamburitza Extravaganzas since 1981.

Sinovi specializes in the becar style of tamburitza music popular in the turn of the century Croatian American immigrant communities. The group has a large reportoire of traditional Kolo dances and popular Croatian songs.

We're excited to welcome Bulgarian virtuoso Petar Usmifkata Aleksiev (gajda, from Chicago) to Veseljatsi, with the rest of the lineup still being confirmed. Check back for updates!

Chubritza International Folk Band (chubritza.com) from Arcata, CA plays a wide variety of Balkan and international music. The band has a longstanding passion for tamburitza music and music of the former Yugoslav republics. Chubritzans Rick Kruse (bass), Craig Kurumada (prim), Linnea Mandell (bugarija), Derek Shaw (brac) will be collaborating with John Morovich, Michele Simon, and Bill Cope to provide tamburitza/kolo music for the 2022 Kolo Festival. Chubritza plays frequently for a wide variety of dances, festivals, and cultural events including the Tamburitza Extravaganza and the San Francisco Tamburitza Festival. The band has also recorded 2 CDs, (Spice of Life and Opsa!). John Filcich, Kolo Festival founder, now lives near Arcata, and the Chubritza musicians are very appreciative of his ongoing mentorship.

Website/Social Media: Website, Facebook

Tips and Donations
Venmo to Linnea-Mandell