HallOfFame-PaulKauriga

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=62 BGCOLOR="#BBBBBB" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>The Balalaika and Domra Association of America</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B></FONT><B>  |    </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003333" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Balalaika and Domra Association of A"><FONT COLOR="#003333"><B>Home</B></FONT></A></div> <div> <B>RETURN TO   </B><A HREF="hall_of_fame.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE BDAA HALL OF FAME "><FONT COLOR="#000066"><B>BDAA Hall of Fame</B></FONT></A><A HREF="hall_of_fame.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE BDAA HALL OF FAME "><FONT COLOR="#000066"><B> </B></FONT></A><B>  </B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=418 BGCOLOR="#EEEEEE" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>The BDAA Hall of Fame ~ Paul Kauriga</B></I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="10" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="686" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#0000BF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 907 ><NOBR><div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="651" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 875 WIDTH="629"><div> <B>PAUL KAURIGA - 1989</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="5cce0480.jpg" border=0 width="224" height="328" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >     Paul Kauriga's love of the balalaika and Russian music dates back to his childhood when he was introduced to the rich musical heritage of his ancestors on his uncle's farm.  At the age of sixteen, Mr. Kauriga used the wealth of Russian folk music learned in his youth in forming his first balalaika orchestra in Philadelphia, which by the late thirties was performing about 200 concerts per year to sellout audiences.  Soon after this, Paul became conductor of the Russian People's Male Chorus and Russian People's mixed Chorus, which were thought to be the best outside of Russia.  The balalaika orchestra and chorus were often heard on local and national radio programs, being among the first Russian orchestras to use the newly emerging recording technologies for 12-inch records.  </FONT></div> <bR> <div>      By 1939, Paul founded another balalaika orchestra in nearby Chester, PA, that performed numerous concerts in the Delaware County area.  The depth of Mr. Kauriga's commitment to the orchestra was demonstrated on November 15, 1941, when on their wedding day, following the wedding ceremony, Paul and Tania performed in a concert at the Philadelphia Art Museum.</div> <bR> <div>      In 1944, the balalaika orchestra and chorus recorded a 12-inch transcription record at WHAT Radio in Philadelphia, which was distributed in the soviet Union.  At a June 6, 1944 concert at the Lutheran Seminary, the group was informed of the D-Day invasion as they were raising money for war bonds.  Later that year Paul founded yet another orchestra at RUBA Hall, the Russian club in Philadelphia.</div> <bR> <div>      In 1962, Paul was asked to direct the tiny St. Nicholas Balalaika Orchestra in Philadelphia.  Within six months, he developed the group into a 48-piece orchestra with a complete dance ensemble.  The orchestra began an ambitious concert schedule, with songs and orchestrations modeled after the famous Russian orchestras of Andreev and Ossipov.  In 1963, he then formed the St. Nicholas Balalaika Orchestra in Chester, PA, which was modeled after the Philadelphia group and had 39 members.</div> <bR> <div>      Early in 1969, several families (of members from the original orchestra of the thirties) living in Blackwood, NJ were forming a small orchestra and asked Mr. Kauriga to be conductor.  Paul developed this group into what became the Balalaika Ensemble of South Jersey, with a full complement of players.  Around 1972 this ensemble combined with the Philadelphia Balalaika Orchestra,"  At the time this was the country's largest and most famous balalaika orchestra.  A particular memorable concert happened in 1976 when the group performed to much acclaim in Philadelphia's venerable Academy of Music.  At another memorable performance in Atlantic City, the key to the city was awarded to the Philadelphia Festival Balalaika Orchestra for record-setting attendance of any concert given on Garden Pier.  Just a few years later the orchestra members elected to change the name of the group to the Kovriga Balalaika Orchestra, " in honor of Paul Kauriga.</div> <bR> <div>      During this period Paul did not limit his talents to just his own groups.  The Balalaika and Domra Association of America (BDAA) honored Mr. Kauriga by selecting him twice as the official conductor of the combined BDAA orchestra.  This group appeared with over 100 players performing a selection of songs composed by or arranged by Mr. Kauriga who conducted the concerts.</div> <bR> <div>      With a career spanning over five decades, Mr. Kauriga touched the hearts and souls of hundreds of thousands of people in presenting the wonderful world of Russian music.  The joy and knowledge that he has brought to us and others is incredible and will leave a lasting impression on generations to come.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> .</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>