Szászka is a local band that performs traditional Transylvanian village dance music and various tunes from the complicated past of Romania and Hungary. We will encourage them to tell tales of their research abroad. This year marks Szászka's 30th year anniversary!
Szászka features:
Colleen Bertsch, Ph.D. - Violin
Anastasia Verdoljak - Violin
Sara Bruins - String Bass
Doug Code - Kontra (3 string viola), Koboz
Colleen has a Ph.D. Ethnomusicology from the U of MN and lived in Transylvania for a year, conducting her dissertation research by working side-by-side with string musicians of the region. She is a violinist and music arranger specializing in east-central European folk music and has received multiple Minnesota State Arts Board's Artists Initiative grants to support her research.
Anastasia is a native of Duluth, MN, has her MAE from Augsburg University and is a licensed K-12 instrumental music teacher working in the Robbinsdale Area Schools. She also has performed with Ethnic Dance Theatre since 2014 and joined Szászka in 2020.
Sara plays upright bass and violin and is one of the founding members of Szászka in 1996. Her desire to learn the many different styles of the traditional music of the Hungarian villages in Transylvania has led her to study with many of the most famous village musicians of this region. Sara holds a Masters degree in Library and Information Studies from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Doug is also one of the original members of Szászka, and has been playing the Kontra (3-string viola), an instrument unique to Transylvania, for over 30 years. Doug performs with and has directed the Ethnic Dance Theater Folk Orchestra, and many of us know him as a member of the Reptile Palace Orchestra from Madison for many years.
Every World Music night is recorded in multi-track, and we hope you will be in the audience to cheer on our guests!
Other Country Ensemble (OCE) features veteran musicians from the Twin Cities, performing traditional music from the northern Mediterranean region ranging from Spanish Sephardic to Greek and Turkish music, and original compositions inspired by the regions. They weave tales of the history of the music from 711 A.D on and the fusion of sounds that spread through the Mediterranean, as well as the instruments they perform.
OCE is:
Steve Clarke - bass, alto and C flutes, and soprano sax
Laurie Knutson - bass and alto clarinet
Scott Nieman - oud, bouzouki, mandocello
Michael Ziegahn - flamenco guitar, cajon, voice
Mark Black - frame drums, darbuka, and various percussion
OCE on Facebook
Szászka Website
Tickets are $10 in Advance / $15 at the Door. Doors open at 7pm. Online ticket sales end at 5:30pm.
Our full restaurant and bar service is available in the theater! Order from your seat and enjoy the show, we'll take care of the rest.
We recommend arriving early to grab a drink and find your spot; please keep in mind that we stop seating 30 minutes after the show starts. We do not do refunds or exchanges.