Tum Balalaika is one of the longest living Klezmer bands in Chicago and has entertained Chicagoans for over 20 years. There is hardly a venue in and around Chicago where Tum Balalaika have not performed – from United Center (the home of Chicago Bulls) to universities, radio stations and popular venues like City Winery, Navy Pier and Lincoln Park Zoo. We area favorite for many long-standing festivals, including the Chicago Summer Dance, Evanston Arts Festival, Octoberfests and many others!
Tum Balalaika has also enjoyed a great success introducing wide audiences to folk music in a concert environment, recently at Colorado State University and Old Town School of Music and various public libraries.
Tum Balalaika’s music is a highly successful combination , with musical professionalism of its members, a deeply rooted tradition of folk music influenced by other Eastern European sounds, and a desire to bring this tradition into the contemporary world in the format that is felt and understood by today’s listener.
Tum Balalaika has also enjoyed a great success introducing wide audiences to folk music in a concert environment, recently at Colorado State University and Old Town School of Music and various public libraries.
Tum Balalaika’s music is a highly successful combination , with musical professionalism of its members, a deeply rooted tradition of folk music influenced by other Eastern European sounds, and a desire to bring this tradition into the contemporary world in the format that is felt and understood by today’s listener.
Peter Sadkhin, bayan (button accordion), founder and band leader
After receiving a Master’s Degree in Musical Education from Kishinev Conservatory, Peter has served as a faculty in music schools in Moldova and Ukraine, has been a concertmaster of a folk orchestra and dance group in Tiraspol, and performed with the Red Army Band in Odessa. Peter founded Tum Balalaika in 1993 and has been actively promoting the Klezmer genre in the Chicago music scene. He is the most versatile and in-demand accordionist in Chicago, performing gypsy jazz and zydeco, in addition to Klezmer.
After receiving a Master’s Degree in Musical Education from Kishinev Conservatory, Peter has served as a faculty in music schools in Moldova and Ukraine, has been a concertmaster of a folk orchestra and dance group in Tiraspol, and performed with the Red Army Band in Odessa. Peter founded Tum Balalaika in 1993 and has been actively promoting the Klezmer genre in the Chicago music scene. He is the most versatile and in-demand accordionist in Chicago, performing gypsy jazz and zydeco, in addition to Klezmer.
Vladimir Liberman, saxophone, vocals
As a soloist in the Grand Orchestra of the Kiev Circus, Vladimir toured Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He has Master Degree in Music and plays soprano and tenor saxophone. Vladimir has enjoyed a long professional music career, taught music to countless young musicians, played in many jazz and folk orchestras, and translated many of the old standards that he sings into Yiddish.
Valery Yavor, woodwind
Valery attended Belarus State Conservatory of Music. A virtuoso of flute, sopilka, dudka and other folk woodwind instruments, he has performed with world-renown folk ensembles Khoroshki and Zabava. His sounds have amazed the listeners around the world. Valery conducted a Folk Woodwinds Master Class at Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Peter Klepacki, drums
Peter attended Conservatory of Music in Belarus. He is a professional percussion teacher and performer and has toured the world with folk ensembles Zabava and Khoroshki
Alexander Kaminsky, bass
Alexander graduated from Dragobych Music College and from Kharkov Institute of Arts in Ukraine and has performed regularly with a chamber orchestra. He has been with Tum Balalaika for over ten years and brings a spirit of experimentation and innovation to the Klezmer tradition.
Alexander graduated from Dragobych Music College and from Kharkov Institute of Arts in Ukraine and has performed regularly with a chamber orchestra. He has been with Tum Balalaika for over ten years and brings a spirit of experimentation and innovation to the Klezmer tradition.
Boris Gorelik, violin, vocals
Boris’s 40-year music career has earned him fame around Eastern Europe and Chicago. He enjoyed many wonderful years as a soloist of Minsk Symphony in Belorussia State Philharmonic and has been entertaining Chicago since 1990.
Rosie Makagon – emcee, hand drums
Rosie has been a member of Tum Balalaika band for over 20 years. She plays hand drums, coordinates and emcees the events. She, also, researches Jewish and other ethnic music and brings on board new content and programming.
Rosie has been a member of Tum Balalaika band for over 20 years. She plays hand drums, coordinates and emcees the events. She, also, researches Jewish and other ethnic music and brings on board new content and programming.