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Dunava

Dunava (Bulgarian for "the Danube") is a Seattle-based women's vocal ensemble specializing in a cappella folk music of the Balkans. They perform "village" songs that are centuries old as well as contemporary arrangements of traditional folk melodies. Dunava's goal and mission is to share the beauty and power of Balkan folk songs with authenticity and exceptional quality.Their first CD was released in 2009, and can be previewed on CDBaby.

Dunava was founded in 2005 and has performed at various venues throughout the Seattle area, including Town Hall and the Seattle Folklore Society concert series. The choir has been an audience favorite with the Blue Moon Concert Series in Shoreline for five years, and has packed rooms of all sizes at Northwest Folklife Festival. This year, Dunava will be featured on the Northwest Folklife 2010 CD, Roots and Branches. Dunava has also collaborated with other local groups, such as Balkan Cabaret and Dave and the Dalmatians.

Dunava singers come from diverse musical backgrounds that include classical, American folk, improvisation, and blues. Their repertoire includes songs from the cities and villages of Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Macedonia, Russia, and Serbia. All singers share a passion for the distinct and beautiful harmonies of Eastern Europe, and individual singers have travelled to the Balkan countries on song-learning missions. The group regularly consults with professional singers and native speakers from the Balkans to ensure the performance is culturally authentic.

Dina Trageser, founder and director of Dunava, has been studying and singing music from the Balkans for over 13 years. Her background includes years of studying classical music and performing with renowned choirs such as the Eugene Vocal Arts Ensemble and Seattle Pro Musica. She currently is also a member of Orkestar RTW.

Visit Dunava online at www.dunava.org and www.myspace.com/dunava.