Zado California Arts Council Grant 2020-21
Artists in Communities: "The Artistry of Balkan Singing"
WORKSHOPS SUMMARY
Master Class and Three Workshops - Taught (via Zoom) by Michele Simon and Tzvetanka Varimezova
- December 8, 2020 (Tuesday) - Master Class, 7:00 to 9:00 PT
- January 9, 2021 (Saturday) – Workshop #1, 12 noon to 2:00 pm PT
- January 16, 2021 (Saturday) – Workshop #2, 12 noon to 2:00 pm PT
- January 30, 2021 (Saturday) – Workshop #3, 12 noon to 2:00 pm PT
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In 2020, Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble received a 2020-21 California Arts Council (CAC) grant for "The Artistry of Balkan Singing" project and, with the help of its community, raised funds to meet the matching fund requirements of the grant. In the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, Zado revised its in-person grant events into online, virtual formats in order to implement its grant activities. During December 2020, as a precursor to the workshop series, Zado held a master class via Zoom, wonderfully led by master vocalist, Michele Simon. Local singing groups Slavitza Folk and Zado participated. Michele taught Zaspo Janko and vocal techniques to 11 enthused Sacramento singers. In January 2021, Zado co-presented with Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble three free public workshops via Zoom for the Sacramento area and beyond. These incredible events were led by two renowned Balkan vocal master teachers, Michele Simon and Tzvetanka Varimezova, with additional assistance of a third master teacher, Briget Boyle. These wonderful masters taught two well-known Balkan folk songs, Dragana I Slaveja and Zaspo Janko, during the three workshops. These two songs were designed to serve various levels of singers from casual to professional. The workshops brought together a spirited and inspiring community of more than 225 Balkan singing enthusiasts from around the globe.
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Participant Feedback
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Zado collected participant responses from the December 2020 master class via email and from the three January 2021 workshops via an online survey:
Click here to access The Artistry of Balkan Singing Participant Survey questions. Despite reminder requests to workshop participants to submit our post-workshop survey, we received only 32 responses (14%). However, we received many online comments and suggestions from the Zoom chat during each of the workshop meetings. And we received background information during registration. All of the feedback helped us tell the story of our workshops, adjust our processes during implementation, and learn valuable information that helped us plan future programs. Thank you to all who took the time to respond. |
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Summary Master Class and Workshop Feedback
"Exceeded expectations. I think I made a breakthrough with the attention from these gifted singing teachers."
"The whole thing was great! Just so lovely to get to sing with people again."
"I loved working with Tzvetanka and Michele (and Briget, when she subbed). They are just incredibly talented and knowledgeable, yet approachable and explanatory about some of the harder-to-describe aspects of these styles of singing. "
"A masterful job of teaching!"
"I absolutely loved the workshops. I am very grateful to Tzvetanka, Michele, Briget, and everyone who made them possible."
"It was amazing to see and hear Tzvetanka performing. Her love for the music resonated even through Zoom and made singing along that much more enjoyable. Michele's teaching was so clear and helpful."
"I loved learning the songs and nuances from these vocal masters! Both Michele and Tzvetanka are wonderful teachers. I loved singing with them!."
"The most enjoyable aspects of the workshops for me was the teachers' professionalism of helping us understand the songs, their meaning, and the importance of using the breath in Balkan singing."
"I really liked Michele Simon's teaching and Tzvetanka's tips and warm-ups!"
"I have known traditional Bulgarian songs for a long time, but this is the first time that I can experience them well in my body, without fear of damaging my voice. Thank you!"
"I enjoyed learning about the details of pronunciation, ornaments, and dynamics for Dragana I Slaveja from someone who has sung it with one of the top choirs in Bulgaria."
"I knew the songs, so for me the most satisfying parts were the explanations of each part's role in relations to each other - 'a river with sparkling stones' - and explanation of dynamics in relation to words. I loved singing my part while the master teachers demonstrated other parts, in harmony."
"I found it all satisfying and enjoyable. I remark on the high standard of quality of the workshops and the generosity of those who made it possible for sharing their knowledge and resources."
"Exceeded expectations. I think I made a breakthrough with the attention from these gifted singing teachers."
"The whole thing was great! Just so lovely to get to sing with people again."
"I loved working with Tzvetanka and Michele (and Briget, when she subbed). They are just incredibly talented and knowledgeable, yet approachable and explanatory about some of the harder-to-describe aspects of these styles of singing. "
"A masterful job of teaching!"
"I absolutely loved the workshops. I am very grateful to Tzvetanka, Michele, Briget, and everyone who made them possible."
"It was amazing to see and hear Tzvetanka performing. Her love for the music resonated even through Zoom and made singing along that much more enjoyable. Michele's teaching was so clear and helpful."
"I loved learning the songs and nuances from these vocal masters! Both Michele and Tzvetanka are wonderful teachers. I loved singing with them!."
"The most enjoyable aspects of the workshops for me was the teachers' professionalism of helping us understand the songs, their meaning, and the importance of using the breath in Balkan singing."
"I really liked Michele Simon's teaching and Tzvetanka's tips and warm-ups!"
"I have known traditional Bulgarian songs for a long time, but this is the first time that I can experience them well in my body, without fear of damaging my voice. Thank you!"
"I enjoyed learning about the details of pronunciation, ornaments, and dynamics for Dragana I Slaveja from someone who has sung it with one of the top choirs in Bulgaria."
"I knew the songs, so for me the most satisfying parts were the explanations of each part's role in relations to each other - 'a river with sparkling stones' - and explanation of dynamics in relation to words. I loved singing my part while the master teachers demonstrated other parts, in harmony."
"I found it all satisfying and enjoyable. I remark on the high standard of quality of the workshops and the generosity of those who made it possible for sharing their knowledge and resources."
Master Class Participant States, Countries, and Groups Represented
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Our "Artistry of Balkan Singing" workshops created networks among many singers near and far. Thank you all for your voices and your presence! We asked registrants to provide their city, state, country, and singing group affiliation. Well over half of the singers were from California. There were also vocalists from other states and countries representing a wide variety of singing groups and organizations.
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UNITED STATES
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Arizona
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Mzekala
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California
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Zado, Kitka, Nevenka, Sing Along with Glynis, Slavitza Folk, Gradina, Mendocino Chorus, Vocal Art Ensemble, Rimti Singers, Bard College, Berkeley Community Chorus, Threshold, Slavyanka, Tonality, USC, BCCO, Synergism, Worldsong, Da! Mozhem, Balkan Yurt Orchestra, Tactus
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Colorado
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Planina
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Hawaii
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Illinois
Indiana |
Ensemble Alioni (Chicago)
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Louisiana
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Trendafilka, Blato Zlato
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Massasschusetts
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Burikes Balkan Kezmer Band
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Michigan
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formerly Bulgarian Voices of Berlin
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Minnesota
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Mila Vocal Ensemble
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North Carolina
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Hampshire
New Jersey
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New Mexico
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Black Sea Hotel, Zozulka, Ensemble Hilka, Sevda Choir
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New York
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Brooklyn Community Chorus
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Ohio
Oregon
Texas
Georgia
Oregon
Texas
Georgia
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Washington
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Dunava, Zakuska, The Lonely Coast, Xiranda, Ederlezi Quartet, Seattle Celebration Choir, Bulgarian Voices of Seattle
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OTHER COUNTRIES
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Canada
Belgium
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Ubuntu, Kelowna Community Choir
Air de Rien
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Colombia
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Bulkarib
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Denmark
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GLAS Vocal Ensemble, Vocal Group NOOR, Usmifka
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Estonia
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Finland
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Kukuvitsa (Helsinki), Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares Vocal Academy choir in Sofia, Sibelius Academy, AMTII Plovdiv
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France
Germany
Germany
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Great Britain
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Porthkerry Community Choir, Women's singing group of Bristol, Unucad
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Greece
India
Italy
India
Italy
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Japan
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Prolet
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Netherlands
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Cubrica
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Russia
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Dara Yara
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Slovakia
Workshops Participant Survey Responses
Geographic Distribution
While international in scope (17 countries in total), participation was greatest from the United States (75%). Of the 19 states participating, California drew the largest number of singers, representing more than half of all U.S. workshop participants (52%). Of the California participants, the Sacramento area drew a third of the state's singers (33%).
Participant Characteristics
Participants were all adults at or above 21 years of age. Thirty percent were between 31 and 50 years, and 53% were 60 or more years. Nearly all (94%) were female. Ethnicity distribution was 6% Asian; 9% Aftrican-American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; 72% White; and 13% other. The annual income categories on the survey ranged from less than $30,000 to over $100,000. Forty-one percent of participants reported less than $30,000 per year, and 25% reported between $31,000 and $50,000 per year.
Impact of Workshops
In the post-workshop survey, participants were asked to reflect on the change they observed, if any, in their experience of Balkan singing before and after the workshop series and to rate this degree of change on a 11-point scale.
- Of the 32 responses received, the majority of participants indicated they perceived some significant degree of change. More than one third of respondents (37%) answered “10 A Great Deal” and more than 71% of respondents rated this change with a score of 7 or higher. It is remarkable in that even within a very diverse gathering of singers, ranging from absolute beginners to very seasoned teachers and performers, everyone who responded to the survey indicated that they had experienced some growth in their knowledge, appreciation, and/or training in one or more aspects of Balkan singing.
- Several suggestions clustered around the online workshop format/agenda and time management, particularly after the first workshop. For example, several people who had desired to learn a non-soprano part of Dragana I Slaveja expressed the desire to have spent less time on demonstrating and teaching the soprano part. Another instance is that some suggested it would be helpful to impose clear time limits so that all aspects of the workshop agenda would have a more time allotment. Some adjustments to the format and agenda were made for the remaining two workshops to address the issues.
- For example, a few suggestions were that the instructors use a separate playback device (e.g., their phone or a speaker) to play the song quietly while the instructor demonstrates a particular vocal part, singing in harmony with audio playback. These suggestions were helpful but provided at the final workshop session. They were noted for future events and projects.
- Not everyone attending knew how to read music, so sheet music was consciously not often referred to during the workshops.
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This project was made possible through funding and support from: California Arts Council, Shira Cion, Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble,
National Endowment for the Arts, Sacramento Big Day of Giving, Sacramento Region Community Foundation Giving Edge,
James E. Shoemaker & Jan Volkoff, Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble, and 95 individual donors.
National Endowment for the Arts, Sacramento Big Day of Giving, Sacramento Region Community Foundation Giving Edge,
James E. Shoemaker & Jan Volkoff, Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble, and 95 individual donors.
We are incredibly honored to have sung with all of you, to make beautiful music together, and to honor the Balkan singers, composers, and music that have inspired our group and many others. Thank you!
