Name: We carry a green wreath . . .
Start: 2026-07-11T18:30:00
End: 2026-07-11T21:00:00
Location: Union Congregational Church of Ward

Songs of spring and summer from Eastern EuropeJoin Planina – Songs of Eastern Europe at the historic church in Ward, Colorado, for&nbsp;a concert celebrating spring and summer traditions from Eastern Europe . . . songs of nature, planting and tending crops, and songs with roots in ancient pagan Slavic ritual. Planina’s 17-member chorus of singers and instrumentalists will present treasured music from Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Poland, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine. The songs range from intimate, a cappella trios to breathtaking choral pieces and rousing songs with instruments to get people’s toes tapping.Adults: $20Students 8-18: $12Children under 8: FreeDONATIONS ARE WELCOME. Planina is a 501(c)(3) organization. Concert proceeds and any donations you add to your online ticket purchase will be divided between (1) Planina's 2027 cultural and musical study trip to Croatia and Serbia, and (2) the Union Congregational Church of Ward and several Ward-based 501(c )organizations: the library, the community garden and the food box. Or donate at either website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://planina.org">planina.org</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://unioncongregationalchurchofward.org/">uccward.org</a>.THE VENUE: The town of Ward, CO, established in 1860, is a former mining settlement located about 45 minutes northwest of Boulder at an elevation of 9,450 feet above sea level.. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://unioncongregationalchurchofward.org/">The Union Congregational Church of Ward</a>, also known as the Ward Community Church, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a&nbsp;charming setting for this informal, non-amplified concert. Please be aware, however, that the building is not ADA compliant and has stairs for entry.PARKING: Park on the road in Ward, below the church, and walk up the hill, about a 5-minute walk. For those who need a ride to the door, there is a small drop-off area (but no parking) at the top next to the church.GRAPHIC:&nbsp;Fortunetelling on the wreaths (detail), by Simon Kozhin, 2008

We carry a green wreath . . . 

ONLINE TICKET SALES HAVE ENDED. YOU CAN STILL OBTAIN TICKETS AT THE DOOR.A rare opportunity for Louisville and broader Front Range community members to experience the unique and relatively little-known traditional music of Ukraine. This 2.5-hour, Sunday afternoon public workshop will be led by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nadiatarnawsky.com/">Nadia Tarnawsky</a>, a Cleveland-based singer, ethnomusicologist and Ukrainian song specialist who will be appearing in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.handstamp.com/e/oi-tam-na-hori-oh-yonder-on-the-mountain-concert-c4ertcwr">concert with Planina in Louisville</a> the night before.&nbsp; Planina is hosting the workshop. Both events are&nbsp;made possible by an Arts Grant&nbsp;from the City of Louisville, CO.&nbsp;The singing workshop is open to: Singers of all genders, backgrounds, and levels of experience — ages 10 and up. All songs will be taught in the oral tradition. Ability to read Ukrainian or musical notation is not required. Some of the time in the workshop will be spent on the vocal technique used to create the folk singing style.Approach: The workshop will aim to teach one to two Ukrainian songs in choral style (that is, with multiple voice parts). This will be a supportive and low-stakes environment in which community members can try out vocal styles that are very different from Western artistic style. Learning to unleash one’s voice to make new kinds of sounds, and singing together in new harmonies, can be a profound experience that builds the confidence of young and old, practiced musicians and novices alike.Tickets:&nbsp;Adults $30 in advance, $40 at the doorStudents 10-18 $20Questions:&nbsp;Email <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:info@planina.org">info@planina.org</a>.Artwork: "Here it comes, here it goes my little heart . . . ,” 1972, by Ivan Honchar; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://honchar.org.ua/">Ivan Honchar Museum collection</a>,&nbsp;Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian Singing Workshop with Nadia Tarnawsky

Planina in Concert with Guest Singer Nadia TarnawskyONLINE TICKET SALES HAVE CLOSED, BUT YOU CAN STILL BUY TICKETS AT THE DOOR.Songs of heartbreak . . . of humor . . . of winter and spring traditions . . . Planina presents a concert highlighting songs from Ukraine — ethnically Ukrainian songs as well as songs from minority populations in Ukraine — plus some of our favorites from other countries in Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Poland, Serbia). The group is joined for this concert by Cleveland-based singer, ethnomusicologist and Ukrainian song specialist <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nadiatarnawsky.com/">Nadia Tarnawsky</a>.We are excited to bring this concert to Louisville.&nbsp; Along with a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.handstamp.com/e/ukrainian-singing-workshop-with-nadia-tarnawsky-wqpdmhzx">public workshop on Ukrainian folk songs</a> presented by Nadia Tarnawsky the following day, it is part&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;project&nbsp;made possible by an Arts Grant from the City of Louisville.&nbsp;Planina, a Colorado-based, 17-member mixed chorus of singers and instrumentalists, has been bringing traditional music from Eastern Europe to Colorado audiences since 1988. The group has made study trips to Bulgaria and Georgia, has recorded three CDs, and performs at local schools and senior living facilities as well as in concert and at festivals. Learn more at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://planina.org">planina.org</a>. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Planina has worked to increase its Ukrainian repertoire, provide welcome to Colorado’s Ukrainian refugee community, and support humanitarian aid to Ukraine. A portion of the proceeds from this concert will benefit the Boulder-based nonprofit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sunflowerseedsukraine.org/">Sunflower Seeds Ukraine</a>.Nadia Tarnawsky has been studying and performing Ukrainian music since childhood and has performed with and led workshops for some of the United States’ premier interpreters of Eastern European music. She has traveled to Ukraine many times, including on a Fulbright grant in 2017-2018 to study and collect recordings of traditional songs. &nbsp;Learn more at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://nadiatarnawsky.com">nadiatarnawsky.com</a>.Artwork: “Hutsul Dancing” (L), "Hutsulian Woman” (R), both 1935, Olena Kulchitska (1877-1967), Lviv, UkraineTickets:Adults $20 in advance, $30 at the doorChildren 6-12 - $12Children under 6 - Free

Oi, Tam Na Hori (Oh, Yonder on the Mountain)  

<h2>NOTE: ONLINE TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED BUT SOME TICKETS WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.</h2>BALKAN MUSIC FROM SIX LOCAL BANDS + DANCING, FOOD, AND COMMUNITY!The Boulder Balkan Bash is an epic, all-evening event at the Avalon Ballroom that combines live traditional music from SIX local bands specializing in Balkan styes with dancing, food and a fabulous feeling of community. Local folk dance group Gaitani will perform two short sets of Bulgarian dances. Dozens of musicians will perform live music for dancing in genres ranging from village-style Bulgarian and Macedonian to scintillating Serbian and Romani brass band, from exuberant vocals on Croatian and Romanian tunes to Greek taverna-style music and Turkish rhythms. &nbsp;&nbsp;Many of the dances are done in a line and are easy to learn. Not a dancer? Not a problem; the Avalon ballroom has plenty of room to sit, watch and listen. Grab a table with friends and enjoy the evening.&nbsp;FOODIn Eastern Europe, live music and dancing are always accompanied by food . . . and with six hours of dancing, we will need refueling! So roll up your sleeves, make a great dish to contribute to the hors d’oeuvres and dessert potluck and come celebrate! All guests and performers are kindly asked to bring a dish to share. Don’t know what to bring or don’t like to cook? Contact Mary Ann at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="file:///C:/Users/lanca/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml">maesaussotte@comcast.net</a> for ideas. Bottles of wine will be available in exchange for a donation.&nbsp;PROGRAM&nbsp;The dance music program will feature tunes from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, and Roma (Gypsy) traditions.Doors open at 4:30 pm. Live music starts at 5 pm. After the last band's performance, all musicians who are still standing will return to play and sing a few numbers together for the final dances. Everyone is welcome to sing along, with lyrics provided.DANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY!There will be plenty of dances you can easily follow without knowing them beforehand, but if you’d like to dig a little deeper, folk dancer Biz Hertzberg will be teaching dances specifically from the Bash program for the next two weeks at Boulder International Folk Dancers’ regular Friday dances. Sodal Hall at the Avalon, Friday Nov. 14 and 21. Easy beginner dances from 6:30 to 7:30, and then slightly more advanced dances 7:30-8:30, mostly village style, without a lot of choreography to remember. All lessons free (except BIFD members should pay as usual).THE PERFORMERS&nbsp;The Bitovniks 5:00-5:45Planina 5:50-6:35Gaitani (dance performance) 6:40-6:55Barbelfish 7:00-7:45Mishmish 7:55-8:40Gaitani (dance performance) 8:45-9:00Sherefe 9:05-9:50Gora Gora Orkestar 9:55-10:45SMALL CHILDRENPlease be responsible for any small children attending with you. Children are welcome to dance, partake of the potluck and participate in the event. We need your help in assuring that they refrain from running in the building, crossing the dance floor during dances, and disrupting the activities of the other guests. It’s a good idea to bring something for them to do when they’re not dancing. Please make sure your youngsters are safe and under your guidance at all times.CALL FOR VOLUNTEERSIf you’d like to exchange a couple of hours of work for free admission, we have a number of volunteer work-exchange positions, such as shifts doing setup, tear-down, box office, kitchen/potluck, and more. Please contact Mary Ann Saussotte, 720-936-5055 or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="file:///C:/Users/lanca/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml">maesaussotte@comcast.net</a> to volunteer.JOIN US!Join us in celebrating Eastern European traditions of live music, dancing, and food. This is one of Boulder’s most exciting music and dance events and, for Balkan music and dance aficionados, THE event of the year — and it doesn’t happen every year! Your buying tickets in advance really helps us plan.&nbsp; Hope to see you there!TICKETSAdult - $30 advance, $40 at the doorStudents over 12 - $20 advance, $30 at the doorChildren 6-12 - $15Children under 6 - Free

Planina - Songs of Eastern Europe

@planina-songsofeasterneurope