Tuesday, May 20, 2025 6:30 to 7:30 pm
Oleg Kruglyakov, Balalaika Virtuoso
Canal Fulton Public Library, 154 Market Street NE, Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614
Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach (ORMACO) and the Canal Fulton Public Library present Oleg Kruglyakov, a balalaika virtuoso. Oleg began playing the balalaika at age 7 and later was educated at the renowned Yekaterinburg Conservatory. Join Oleg as he performs classical, folk and ethnic music on this unusual and beautiful instrument.
This program is free. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call 419-853-6016.
About Oleg
Oleg Kruglyakov, was born in Omsk, Siberia, Russia. Many of his early experiences growing up centered around singing together with family members. He has a keen ear for musical styles and a deep respect for cultural tradition. He is fascinated by the history of the Russian people and well-versed in the etymology of the Russian language. Oleg began playing the balalaika at age 7 and later was educated at the renowned Yekaterinburg Conservatory, studying conducting and pedagogy. He is a protégé of Yevgeny Grigorovich Blinov, the foremost balalaika virtuoso of the Soviet Union, who performed the world over and added many beautiful pieces of music to the balalaika-piano duo repertoire. While in conservatory Oleg performed with many types of ensembles, including an ethnic music singing group.
Oleg taught at the Irkustsk School of Music, Perm College of Music, and the Perm Institute of Culture. Since coming to the United States, he has given workshops with “Russian Duo” as part of their mission to share Russian culture and demonstrate the art of collaboration. Oleg has performed as balalaika soloist with many Folk Russian groups. From 1989-91, he toured Moscow, St. Petersburg, Siberia and Ukraine with the Urals State Folk Choir. For three years Oleg played with the band “Siberian Mosaic” touring the Irkustsk region of Siberia. Between 1993 and 1998, he traveled with the Urals Folk Ensemble “Prikamie” performing in France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Malta, and Turkmenistan. Oleg has also appeared with the Russian Folk instrument quartet “Golden Russia.” He has participated in many International Festivals, among them the 1997 Folklore du Monde Festival de Bray-Dunes. He had the honor of performing at the United Nations when he first came to the US.