Join us for a special night! A full night of Vadalma trio playing unique, vibrant arrangements of Hungarian folk songs, with the debut of new songs, special guests from the Hungarian Folk Singing Circle, homemade Hungarian dessert, and more!
Friday, October 28
Doors 7:30pm, Concert 8pm
CMC Hall, 544 Capp St, San Francisco, 94110
$15 General, $10 Students/Seniors
VADALMA
Vadalma (“Wild Apple”) is a collaborative project led by Zina Bozzay with Matthew Szemela and Misha Khalikulov that creates vibrant, intimate arrangements of old Hungarian folk songs. Zina sings songs directly from village traditions in Transylvania, Moldavia, Transdanubia, and other parts of the Carpathian Basin, and the musicians integrate both traditional and original accompaniment to frame these rich melodies.
Zina Bozzay - voice
Matthew Szemela - violin
Misha Khalikulov - cello
Let us know you're planning to come!
This performance is supported by a grant from the Zellerbach Family Foundation, and is fiscally sponsored by Intersection for the Arts.
Feel free to come in costume if you're coming from or going to a Halloween party!
About the performers:
Zina Bozzay is the founder, leader, and singer of Vadalma, bringing the songs and her original arrangements to the ensemble. Trained by master Hungarian folk singers in Hungary, including Éva Fábián, Gergely Agócs, Mariann Nyitrai, and Andrea Navratil, Zina has performed at the Táncháztalálkozó, Hungarian Heritage House, and National Theatre in Budapest. Soloist at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and the Golden Festival in New York, she is also a regularly invited soloist for Hungarian community events around the Bay Area, including the annual Hungarian Heritage Festival. Zina is founder and leader of the Hungarian Folk Singing Circle (Népdalkör) in San Francisco, and teaches traditional folk songs to Hungarians and Americans, beginners through professionals. She has taught and counseled members of KITKA, Janam, Stellamara, Zhena Folk Chorus, Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble, and others. Zina worked on Hungary’s successful nominations to UNESCO’s Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, gives lectures and conference presentations on this heritage, and has been funded by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, SF Community Music Center, and the Creative Work Fund. Zina is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music with Honors, and holds a Masters degree in Music Composition.
Praised by the New York Times for his “outrageous fiddling,” Matthew Szemela brings his passionate energy and skillful playing to Vadalma. He has toured the US, Europe, and Asia extensively, and appeared with artists as diverse as Sting, Susan Sarandon, Beyoncé Knowles, and Olivia Newton John. He currently performs with the Berkeley Symphony, Quartet San Francisco, Rupa & the April Fishes, Alta California, and other Bay Area ensembles encompassing a wide range of genres.
Cellist Misha Khalikulov, originally from Uzbekistan and raised in San Francisco, brings his dynamic, soulful playing and dedication to stylistic detail to Vadalma. Misha also performs with the Blind Willies, Stringquake, Amy LaCour trio, and Rupa & the April Fishes, with whom he's toured in 25 countries.