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EDT Folk Orchestra

edt_folk_orchestra

EDT instrumentalists have studied collectively and individually under renowned musicians from around the world, including Nazir Azizi (Afghanistan), Gezim Halili (Albania), Dimitr Gueorguiev (Bulgaria), Nickolay Gueorguiev (Bulgaria), Minko Iliev (Bulgaria), Ivan Milev (Bulgaria), Nikola Nikolov (Bulgaria), Ivo Papazov (Bulgaria), Georgi Zeljaskov (Bulgaria), Goce Dimovski (Macedonia), Friedrich Lips (Russia), and Mark Levy (United States).

Folk Orchestra Roster for 2008-2009:

Colleen Bertsch

  • Seasons in EDT: 8
  • Instrument(s): Violin, Bass
  • Expertise/Background: B.M. in Violin Performance from Concordia Unversity-Moorhead; B.M. in Music Education from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
  • Fun fact: Three-time marathon runner.

Dee Langley

  • Seasons in EDT: 10
  • Instrument(s): Accordion, Harmonium
  • Expertise/Background: Polish folk music (through Dolina Polish Folk Dancers); Classically trained; B.A. in Music and Psychology; Studied with folk muicians in Poland and Bulgaria.
  • Fun Fact: Positive-minded due to her understanding and respect for astrology.

Natalie Nowytski

  • Seasons in EDT: Many but first year in the EDT Folk Orchestra
  • Instrument(s): Flute, Vocals
  • Expertise/Background: Natalie Nowytski honed her vocal skills at her grandmother's knee and climbed her way onto the lap of Mila Vocal Ensemble, which she directed for five years.
  • fun fact: Likes glitter and loves her kitty (who she calls "myshka," or "mouse" in Ukrainian).

Katrina Mundinger (Orchestra Director)

  • Seasons in EDT: 9
  • Instrument(s): Clarinet, Flute, Frula, Sopilka, Prim
  • Expertise/Background: Balkan folk music; B.M. from Oberlin; M.M. from Northwestern University; Studied with folk musicians in Bulgaria.
  • Fun Fact: Spins yarn.

Kim Salisbury

  • Seasons in EDT: 20 (or so)
  • Instruments: Violin, Prim
  • Fun Fact: Kim has a devoted and intimate relationship with coffee.

Jenny Schultz

  • Seasons in EDT: 5
  • Instruments: Hackbrett
  • Fun Fact: Don, Mark and Renee LaCourse's niece

Where else you can spot EDT musicians:

Colleen Betsch, Dee Langley, Katrina Mundinger, and Natalie Nowytski in Orkestar Bez Ime

Colleen Betsch, Jenny Schultz, Kim Salisbury and Natalie Nowytski in the Ukrainian Village Band

Natalie Nowytski in Supple Puppy

Colleen Betsch in Szaszka

Concert Facts:

Did you know that?

Coming Soon. . . Factoids for THEN and NOW, EDT's Spring Show 2011

Photo advertising "Then and Now," the 2011 Spring Concert Series of the Ethnic Dance Theatre

Click to enlarge

May 13-15

Ethnic Dance Theatre presents THEN and NOW, its 37th Annual Spring Concert Series featuring the music and dance of Bosnia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iran, Norway, Sweden, and Turkey at the Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis.

One of the most compelling elements of a people's identity is its folk culture. EDT is known for the authenticity it brings to interpreting ethnic music and dance for the stage, and is respected for its work in promoting ethnic music, dance, and costume as art. The first half of the show--THEN--demonstrates our signature performance style at its best.

Folk cultures are constantly evolving, and the manner of presenting folk music, dance and costume on the stage has been undergoing much change around the world in recent years. In some instances, change in the style of presentation has preserved the baby of tradition, while in others, we feel it has not. In the second half of the show--NOW--audiences will experience something of a departure from EDT's traditional style as we present our own contemporary interpretation of ethnic dance, music and costume!

Presentation of THEN and NOW is made possible in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, the McKnight Foundation, the Target Foundation, and our individual donors.

**If you know something interesting--including your own personal story--about a culture represented in our current season, please tell us about it here!

Click here to read previous factoids