User:Stevezak9/Elina Karokhina

Elina Karokhina was born April 24, 1973 in what was then Leningrad / now Saint Petersburg Russia.

Ms. Karokhina took up the balalaika as a young teen, and quickly established herself as a rare talent upon the instrument. She began her formal training at the Mussorgsky Music College of St. Petersburg and continued her training at the N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, earning a degree as an Orchestra Soloist.

She continued her training at the Conservatory, including a residency in Germany. After, she returned to her native St. Petersburg, where she earned her Doctorate of Music/Balalaika.

Ms. Karokhina serves in the Russian Army in the Military Ensemble in the Northwest Order of Red Stars. This ensemble has won many awards in competitions across Russia, including in Moscow and Sochi in 2009, and has performed a number of private command concerts for high-ranking generals.

She has performed across Russia and in many countries including Thailand, Crete, Finland, and the United States. She also belongs to the Russian folk group “Izba Trio”, whose other members also tour with her with the Moscow Circus under the name “Smirnoff’s Folk Orchestra.

Over the years, she has also worked with numerous orchestras and artists and has a number of recording credits to her name.

Ms. Karokhina performs regularly during the summer on a tourist ship in St. Petersburg, performing traditional Russian folk songs with her fellow musicians for tourists and giving them a taste of true Russian culture.

Ms. Karokhina is in the process of immigrating to the United States and is expected to arrive in October 2009.

Recording Credits
With Anthony Thistlethwaite (formerly of “The Waterboys")- “All The Way” and “Welcome to the White Nights” on the album “Crawfish and Caviar”, recorded 10/95  (Demon Records) in St Petersburg Russia with special guest Mick Taylor, formerly of the Rolling Stones.

Izba Trio- self-titled CD, 2007

Russian Army Order of the Northwest Red Stars- “Songs of Russian Heroic Fame”

Kupola Folk Ensemble- self-titled CD

State Russian Concert Orchestra of St. Petersburg- self-titled CD,   2003

Nadir Mamedoff- “My Russia”, toured/recorded CD as a member of his backing musical trio “Troika”.