Mission Statement
Nevenka East European Folk Ensemble is a non-profit women’s folk chorus that was founded in 1976. Our purpose is to research, learn and perform music from the rich array of cultures of Eastern Europe. Nevenka regularly participates in festivals, community cultural events, lectures and workshops, and folk/world music concerts.
It is our passion to bring Balkan music to audiences well-rooted in the genre, as well as to people unfamiliar with the compelling rhythms and striking harmonies of this music. We hope that our performances will help raise awareness and tolerance of other cultures, and promote cultural interchange and understanding through the power of music.
Our repertoire frequently focuses on women’s issues, especially the hardship of women’s lives in the past. We feel that many of these issues are still relevant in current society.
Cultural Equity and Inclusion Statement
The Nevenka board of directors, staff, volunteers and artists embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. We commit to welcoming people of all backgrounds to engage with and learn about Eastern European music. The Nevenka board recognizes that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or identity, education, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and work to ensure that all voices are valued and heard. Part of our Mission Statement is “to raise awareness and tolerance of other cultures, and promote cultural interchange and understanding, through the power of music.”
We practice and encourage transparent communication, we lead with tolerance, and we allocate time and resources to encourage diverse leadership within our board and staff. We pool resources and expand offerings for underrepresented constituents by connecting with other arts organizations committed to diversity and inclusion efforts.
Nevenka is a folk choir which performs music from Eastern Europe. We currently sing in fifteen languages: Albanian, Armenian, Bulgarian, Bosnian, Croatian, Georgian, Greek, Hungarian, Ladino, Macedonian, Romani, Russian, Serbian, Turkish and Ukrainian. We are coached by native and expert singers to ensure that we understand the lyrics and cultural relevance of the music, that our pronunciation is accurate, and our vocal styling is idiomatic. When we perform, we share information with our audience about the meaning or background of our songs.
Nevenka believes everyone deserves equal access to the music we steward. We pursue outreach and partnership opportunities to reach a wide and diverse audience and artist community. We actively listen to, learn from, and promote the collective power of multiple voices.