Nevenka Folk Ensemble

Nevenka Folk Ensemble Nevenka is a Los Angeles-based women's folk chorus performing songs from Eastern Europe.

Nevenka's repertoire includes songs from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Russia, Greece, Armenia, Ukraine, and Georgia, as well as the Ladino Sephardic and Romani traditions

Nevenka is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization - visit our website to make a Paypal donation!

04/21/2026

Visit nevenka.org/events for tickets! We'll be joined by our longtime friends and mentors Tsvetanka and Ivan Varimezov

04/18/2026

3pm on Sunday the 26th at the Gloria Kaufman Performing Arts space in West LA! See link in bio for our events page

From our Director, JenI first discovered Balkan music as a student at the University of Oregon. I’d been classically tra...
04/17/2026

From our Director, Jen

I first discovered Balkan music as a student at the University of Oregon. I’d been classically trained before that, and was fascinated by this whole other world of modes and rhythms. Back in LA, I found an international folk dance class taught by AMAN alum Sandy Allman… who was also a Nevenka singer! She brought me to a rehearsal one night, and that was it.

So glad to have found such a wonderful community of women who share my love of this music. 🧡

Sandra Allman

Nevenka costumes through the ages. Some certainly more flattering than others! Which era is your favorite? As a group pe...
04/12/2026

Nevenka costumes through the ages. Some certainly more flattering than others! Which era is your favorite?

As a group performing songs from many different cultures and places, we strive to evoke the spirit of the diverse songs we sing but not represent any one tradition.

Don't forget to get your tickets to the 50th anniversary show! See link in bio

In our 50 years of singing, our group has become multi-generational. Singer Shira O'Keefe reflects on how her love of Ea...
04/08/2026

In our 50 years of singing, our group has become multi-generational. Singer Shira O'Keefe reflects on how her love of Eastern European music stemmed from hearing rehearsals as a child. "My mother was in the original group, so I grew up listening to Nevenka rehearse in my living room. I would fall asleep at night listening to Susie sing the opening strains of "Vido Vido", and now I get to sing with her! It's a full-circle moment; I love being part of a multi-generational group."

Photo (featuring Shira's mom) circa 1979 at McCabes Guitar Shop

Do you remember when the Getty Center was brand new? Nevenka had the opportunity to perform there within the first few y...
03/27/2026

Do you remember when the Getty Center was brand new? Nevenka had the opportunity to perform there within the first few years of the iconic marble outdoor space being completed.

Performing at spaces throughout our home city of continues to be a huge joy.

Nevenka turns 50 this year and we're celebrating with a concert on April 26th. See link in bio for our events page and ticket link.

What is so special about singing together?From singer : I love coming into this community of women where age doesn’t ma...
03/24/2026

What is so special about singing together?
From singer : I love coming into this community of women where age doesn’t matter. Honestly these women have become some of my best friends because we share so much over time. We all work hard, and sometimes we struggle with illness or grief, and we come together anyway with a common intention to make beautiful music together. There is no greater experience of community than this one!

This photo is from a circa 2006 performance here in LA. . . 20 years ago!

As we celebrate 50 years, our long time members are reflecting on their history and what brought them to the group. Sing...
03/24/2026

As we celebrate 50 years, our long time members are reflecting on their history and what brought them to the group. Singer Ronda Berkeley reflects:

50 years ago I had just been recruited to the AMAN Folk Ensemble as a young dancer when the lovely OG Nevenka women departed the company and began performing their extraordinary repertoire. I knew nothing about Balkan music or singing but I knew that they were doing something I wanted to hear--a lot. It was sublime. I never dreamed that twenty years later, when I retired from AMAN, I would actually be invited to join Nevenka. My time with Nevenka has been a wonderful journey in music and friendship. I know how lucky I am.

We're lucky to have you Ronda!

Another moment from early Nevenka days. While a huge part of our repertoire has always been a capella--building on regio...
03/22/2026

Another moment from early Nevenka days. While a huge part of our repertoire has always been a capella--building on regional traditions of women singing together while going about their daily lives--we also have always benefitted from amazing instrumental musicians who accompany us on the livelier party tunes.

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Los Angeles, CA

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