San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble
Performing authentic Russian and Eastern European folk music
About Us
The San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble performs on balalaikas of various sizes from prima to kontra-bass; plus domras of various sizes from small to bass. Also present are Russian and Ukrainian folk woodwinds: zhaleika and brelka (Russian single and double reeds), svirel (Russian flute), rozhok (Russian wooden trumpet), sopilka (Ukrainian flute), accordion and bayan (Russian button accordion), and violin (for Ukrainian music).
Our Instruments
Balalaika
The iconic Russian three-stringed instrument with a triangular body, available in various sizes from piccolo to contrabass.
Domra
A round-bodied, long-necked Russian string instrument with three or four strings, providing melodic brilliance.
Bayan
A chromatic button accordion that is the heart of Russian folk music, offering rich harmonic textures.
Zhaleika
A traditional Russian single-reed woodwind instrument with a distinctive, penetrating sound.
Sopilka
A Ukrainian end-blown flute made from wood or reed, producing a haunting, pastoral tone.
Violin
A versatile string instrument common in Ukrainian and Jewish folk melodies with expressive nuance.
Performances
We'll be performing at the 2026 San Francisco Slavic Festival on Jan 31 in the afternoon. See you there!
Contact Us
If you are interested in playing with the ensemble or
booking us for a performance, please reach out
here.
We're always interested in welcoming new members!