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Guest Artists: June 18, 2011 Concert
 CHARLEY RAPPAPORT, is a virtuoso of the mandolin and the ancient Russian instrument, the domra. He performs with brilliant dexterity and has perfected his own distinctive style of gypsy music, drawing deeply on his Russian roots. He has performed in numerous ensembles, including The Tzigane Balalaikas, The Tzigane Folk Orchestra, The Great American Gypsies and currently the Gordon Neidinger Trio, in which he plays guitar. In 2004, he was named a Master Folk Artist by the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts. Charley has appeared as a soloist in many prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center, and is a frequent guest artist of Balalaika Orchestras throughout the U.S. Dubbed the “Johnny Apple Seed” of the Balalaika Orchestra, Charley Rappaport founded the Houston Balalaika Society in 1976, and in subsequent years founded the Atlanta Balalaika Society and co-founded the Atlanta Mandolin Society. In 1978, he co-founded the Balalaika and Domra Association of America and remains an active participant. At BDAA conventions, he leads master classes and his domra choir.
GORDON NEIDINGER: The HBS welcomes Gordon Neidinger in his premiere performance in Houston. In the short time that he has been playing on the concert stage, he has delighted audiences around the country. His appearances include the Synod Hall, Pittsburgh, the Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota, and Kent State University. He has been featured as a soloist for Hrvatski Tanac, a renowned folk ensemble in Pittsburgh, and recently returned from two concerts in Los Angeles and San Diego. Gordon received scholarship grants to the 2007 Steve Kaufman Acoustic Music Camp in Tennessee and the 2010 BDAA Convention in Minneapolis. He is an alumnus of the Calliope School of Folk Music, where he studied with Carol Palmer and now continues his studies on mandolin, domra and tamburitza with Charley Rappaport. He is 16 years old. Joining Charley Rappaport and Gordon Neidinger, will be Judy Sherman on Alto Balalaika and Max McCullough on Contra-Bass Balalaika.
 THE UZORI RUSSIAN FOLK DANCE ENSEMBLE, directed by Yelena Kochourova, captures the fire and grace of Russian folk dance. The name, “Uzori”,is taken from a Russian word meaning “intricate decorations” such as those found on traditional folk costumes. Under the auspices of the American Russian Cultural Exchange, the group is the first Russian dance ensemble to be formed in Houston, and almost all of the members are of Russian descent. Uzori performs original choreographies and adaptations of works from major dance ensembles of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
Click above photo for more Uzori
Russian Folk Dance Ensemble photos
 The nonprofit HOUSTON BALALAIKA SOCIETY promotes cultural ties with Russia and Ukraine and hosts appearances by visiting native artists. The orchestra performs throughout the year at various festivals, cultural and fund-raising events for charity.
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