Goran Alachki will be running a folk seminar this spring, in addition to his usual Pearl summer seminar. The new seminar will run from April 22 to May 4, and include stops in Skopje, Ohrid, and Berovo. There will be dancing and singing classes each day, and evening parties with local musicians. Details can be found on Goran's revamped website.

The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe has curated an incredible exhibit of Macedonian bridal costumes, largely based on the extraordinary collections of Ron Wixman, Steve Glaser and Bernard Ziobo. It runs Oct 1, 2011- January 6, 2013. There will be a lecture and music series on Macedonian cultures. For details, as well as a selection of photos, see the Museum of International Folk Art

It didn't matter that it rained—poured—most of the week: Stefče and Dragi made a big, positive impact on the EEFC Iroquois Springs Balkan Music and Dance Workshop. They played two evening sets at the dance parties with enthusiastic musicians, and an energetic dance crowd kept the momentum going. They also played a late-night kafana set, with David Bilides and Henry Goldberg providing back-up. This was on the 17th, which just happened to be a birthday for both! People sent food and drink over to their table afterwards, and sang them a tribute.

Stefče's first camp was a pleasant surprise for him, as he met many new musicians of all levels of expertise. He had a chance to talk with them and play with them.

Photo by Ann Mosconi

His openness was infectious and led to many collaborative musical moments, such as him playing along with the Rodop gajda ensemble. He also played at the student demonstration with the 100+ member Albanian ensemble.

Although everyone was sad that Goran, Adrijana, and Bajsa were not able to make it to the camp, there were many comments that this was one of the best representations of Macedonian music in memory. Dragi was in great voice, his singing class joined forces with David's Macedonian village ensemble at the student demonstration, and he and Stefče were much in demand during the week. Everyone is hoping that this is just the first of many EEFC camp experiences for Stefče, and that his rich collaboration with Dragi will continue in the years to come.

Here are the details for the two performances in Seattle in early August.

Macedonian Live Music and Dance Party
with Stefče Stojkovski (Skopje, Republic of Macedonia) and Dragi Spasovski (Seattle, WA)
Friday, August 5, 2011
8:00 to 11:00 pm
The Russian Community Center On Capitol Hill In Seattle 704 19th Ave E. (Corner of 19th E. & E. Roy)
Sponsored by Izvor Music
Hosted by the Seattle Balkan Dancers
(Please bring party food to share with everyone)
Donations Requested for this evening of dancing to live Macedonian music:
$15 for adults
$8 for students 14-20
$25 for families of 3 or more
Free for children 13 & under

"Echo of My Soul" Dinner Show
with Stefče Stojkovski (Skopje, Republic of Macedonia) and Dragi Spasovski (Seattle, WA)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
7:30 to 11:00 pm
Café Paloma 93 Yesler Way (at 1st) in Seattle
Sponsored by Izvor Music
Very Limited Seating! Reservations (a must): 206-405-1920
$10 cover plus fabulous dinner and drink from the Café Paloma menu

Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby, has written Anything You Want, an e-book, sharing what he learned during starting, building, and selling CD Baby. It comes with a free gift: a code to download 241 hand-picked MP3s from his "top CD Baby artists." I'm happy to say that Dragi Spasovski made Derek's cut, out of thousands of other artists. I chose the song, Stani, Bre Sine Stojane from his Beyond the Mountain—Zad Planinata CD. Congratulations, Dragi!

Due to problems unrevealed to us and out of our control, Goran, Adrijana, and Bajsa were unable to receive their visas from the Consular Section of the US Embassy in Skopje. Despite having 4 different congressional offices involved in seeking a reason for the interminable delay, we still do not know! In the meantime, time ran out, and a decision had to be made. Many people are disappointed, and plans have had to be changed. My thanks to the many promoters and friends who worked so hard to make this tour happen

The good news in this is that Stefče Stojkovski did receive his visa, right away, and will be coming to the US for an abbreviated stay. He will appear in Seattle and at the EEFC Iroquois Springs Workshop. Dragi Spasovski will also appear at all those venues with Stefče.

Makedonski Biseri is comprised of five internationally renowned Macedonian musicians: Goran Alachki, Adrijana Alachka, Bajsa Arifovska, Stefče Stojkovski (Republic of Macedonia) and Dragi Spasovski (United States). The musicians will be performing July through September 2011 for concerts, dances, and festivals, teaching workshops and individual and group lessons, and lecturing.

This tour is organized, coordinated, and managed by Izvor Music and co-sponsored by Izvor Music and the East European Folklife Center (EEFC).

The following cities in the United States are currently organizing concerts, dances, workshops, and lectures:

• Seattle, Washington
• Stockton, California—Stockton Folk Dance Camp
• Los Angeles, California (Macedonian community)
• Santa Barbara, California
• Chicago, Illinois (City of Chicago SummerDance festival)
• Crown Point, Indiana (Macedonian community)
• Dayton, Ohio
• Detroit, Michigan
• Iroquois Springs, New York (week-long seminar, sponsored by the EEFC)
• Putney, Vermont
• Boston, Massachusetts
• New York City, New York
• Portland, Oregon—Balkanalia

A press packet is available, containing a press release, audio samples, CV's, images, and interviews.

We are thrilled to have these musicians from the Republic of Macedonia coming to visit the US and share Macedonian culture with Americans and Macedonian-Americans. If you would like to find out more about Makedonski Biseri, including discussing having them in your city, or if you have any questions, please use the contact form to reach me.

Village Harmony, an umbrella organization based in Vermont, will be hosting a 14-day summer camp in Macedonia from June 30 to July 13, 2011. It will be led by Mary Cay Brass and Larry Gordon, Goran and Adrijana Alachki, and other Macedonian singers & instrumentalists. Village Harmony's stay in Berovo last year was "a resounding success," and they can't wait to go back to Macedonia.

Goran runs a yearly 2-week seminar in Macedonian dance and music in Macedonia. Next year's "Macedonian Pearl" seminar will take place in Berovo, from July 5 to July 15, 2011. There's a short slide show of 2010's seminar you can view, and you can also see his web site for more details.

Village Harmony, an umbrella organization based in Vermont, will be hosting a two-week summer camp in Macedonia this July. It will overlap with Goran Alachki's annual seminar and be run by Mary Cay Brass. Village Harmony has run similar camps before in the Balkans, but this is their first time to Macedonia.

Stefče Stojkovski and Ljupčo Manevski are inviting all to a multi-session summer music seminar this year in the small village of Vevčani. Working together with Snežana Balkanska and Gordana Manevska and others, Stefče and Ljupčo will staff the seminar with music, dance and singing lessons, as well as cooking instruction and other activities. For complete information, including registration, visit the Sunray site.

I am excited to announce that Goran Alackhi, Adrijana Alachka, Stefče Stojkovski, and Bajsa Arifovska are planning on traveling to the US to join Dragi Spasovski on a tour in late July through August 2011. I am happy to say that they have invited me to join them and to organize the tour. In the next few weeks, I will be posting podcast interviews with the musicians I conducted last year. These podcasts will give you a sense of them as people as well as an expanded understanding of their interest and expertise in traditional Macedonian music and how it has fit within their personal as well as professional lives.

I am looking for people in 8 to 10 cities who are willing to act as local producers for concerts, workshops, and lessons in their community. I am particularly interested in this group performing for Macedonian communities. Donations to help make the tour possible are also gratefully accepted, with a gift and/or benefit returned as thanks. Due to the nature of grant and visa application deadlines, organization for the tour has already begun. Any grant money received would cover only a portion of primarily transportation and other non-concert expenses. I am hoping to reach a "critical mass" of enthusiastic producers within the next six weeks.

If you are interested in producing this super group in your community, if you would like to donate to help make the tour possible, or if you would like more information, please let me know via the contact form. Working together, I am confident we can make this rare opportunity possible.

Twenty-five years ago, I lived in Boston and played Balkan music with the group Evo Nas, which I'd helped start in 1974. We primarily played Bulgarian and Macedonian music on village instruments. As part of the East European Folklife Center's (EEFC) attempt to publicize Balkan music nationwide, we organized a small one-night festival. Each year it grew, and this weekend it celebrates a quarter century! I'll be the emcee and also play a short solo Macedonian kaval piece originally recorded by Mile Kolarov and Stefče Stojkovski. The date is Saturday, March 13, and full info is on the BMN web site.

After a long wait, the Well of Pirin set is again available. Listening to it after a longish interval, I've come away even more impressed by Stefče's artistry and mastery of his instruments.

Dragi and I finally have finished podcasts for all of the songs on his Voice of My Soul CD with Goran. Besides the technical hurdles of learning to do a good-sounding podcast, and the logistics of making that work, there's the "real life" factor. EAch of these shows takes some time for me to produce. Dragi is a fount of knowledge and information, so editing can be a challenge. But it's all been worth it, as I've learned so much more about the songs and their associated artists than I was able to put into the book.

There's a final podcast in the Goran series, which includes a live interview with Dragi, Goran, Adrijana, and Bajsa. After that, I'm looking forward to beginning Stefče's CD, which will have 17 more podcasts, plus an introduction. Definitely stay tuned!