Balalaika Fantasie

Group Biographies

Angelina Galashenkova-Reed (domra) has toured the world as a soloist with the Andreyev Russian Folk Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Russia, performing with them at Carnegie Hall’s 100th anniversary. A virtuoso of the three-string domra, she is a winner of Russia’s prestigious “Cup of the North” competition and holds the title of “Laureate of International Competitions of Professional Folk Artists”. Immigrating to the U.S. in 2001, she has had numerous solo appearances, most notably at Spivey Hall, and is the concertmaster and domra soloist of the Atlanta Balalaika Society Orchestra. 

David Cooper (balalaika, domra, vocals) has been recognized for his artistry as a balalaika soloist. Pennsylvania-born, Mr. Cooper studied conducting and performance at the Glier Institute of Kiev, Ukraine; currently he is the artistic director and conductor of the Atlanta Balalaika Society Orchestra. Mr. Cooper’s diverse talents also make him in demand in jazz, Klezmer and steel drum ensembles.

Gregory Carageorge (contra-bass balalaika) has been a professional contrabass balalaika and string bass player for over thirty years, performing in numerous ethnic music groups such as Klezmorim, Troika Balalaikas, Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival, and several Greek folk music bands. He was the leader of the house band at New York’s Russian Tea Room and has appeared with numerous folk, bluegrass, and jazz ensembles. 

Natalia Rezvan (tenor domra), before immigrating to the United States in 2008, was concert master for the Russian Folk Instruments Orchestra in Kharkiv, Ukraine under the direction of Valentina Nikolayevna Belenkaya.  As a member of that orchestra, Natalia performed extensively throughout Eastern Europe.  She graduated with honors from the Lyatoshinsky Music College and the Kotlyarevsky Institute of Arts Conservatory in Kharkiv.  Ms. Rezvan joined the Atlanta Balalaika Society Orchestra in 2011.

Kirill Chernoff (alto and prima balalaikas, vocals) grew up playing prima balalaika with the Atlanta Balalaika Society Orchestra since age 13. He studied balalaika under various professionals both in Atlanta, Georgia as well as in Kirov, Russia, and in his birthplace of St Petersburg, Russia. He started playing alto balalaika with Balalaika Fantasie in 2015.  In 2020, Mr. Chernoff was also elected as President of the Balalaika and Domra Association of America (BDAA).

All musicians of Balalaika Fantasie are members of the Atlanta Balalaika Society Orchestra.

The five musicians of Balalaika Fantasie draw their inspiration from their life-long passion for Eastern European folk music and their diverse cultural backgrounds. Performing on authentic, traditional instruments – prima, alto, contra-bass balalaika and prima, alto domra - the group’s repertoire includes Ukrainian, Russian, Gypsy, and Jewish folk music.