In 1976, eight women, all former members of Los Angeles’ renowned Aman Folk Ensemble, met to form a Balkan singing group. They had enjoyed many years of performing in Aman, but were starting to raise families and could no longer manage the rehearsal and performance schedule of a large ensemble. Trudy Israel was not able to attend the first meeting, so naturally she was elected to be the director! After meeting weekly for about two months to sing “just for fun,” they realized that having performances to strive for would add to the fun. Their first show was in Ojai, California – a house concert – and that was the beginning of a 45-year tradition of singing and performing together. Today, four Nevenka singers are former Aman performers, and two are children of Aman members.

One constant over the years has been a group that is fun-loving, cohesive, and supportive.  A hallmark of Nevenka's membership is the sense of family that we enjoy. It could be said that we are a family first, and a performing group second. We share joys and celebrate milestones (with rakia or Georgian wine) as well as comforting one another in sad times. Our multigenerational culture has always encouraged each member to do her best and grow as a singer. Our turnover rate is very low. We are proud of being a “no diva zone” – a musical organization in which everyone gets to shine in featured spots, and everyone sings in the chorus.

We are proud of our alumni who have enhanced their solo careers with Nevenka, widening their musical scope to incorporate Balkan styles and repertoire. These artists include Mamak Khadem, Azam Ali and Eva Salina.

We are appreciative of our teachers and mentors. A founding influence was Dr. Anthony Shay, who directed the Balkan division of Aman Folk Ensemble. Dr. Shay always taught us to have a folklorist's respect and appreciation for the songs and dances we learned. He shared his vast knowledge regarding the traditions and vocal styles of the music we performed.

Nena Šokčić, a soloist from the Lado State Croatian Ensemble, was both a teacher and mentor to Nevenka for many years.  In fact, when we chose our name, we had her in mind – Nena is short for Nevenka, from the word neven, the marigold flower. In the early days of Nevenka, we often performed Croatian music, accompanied by a tamburica band.

Tzvetanka Varimezova, our current teacher and mentor, has reshaped the direction of our group over the past 15 years. Tzvetanka has taught us so much about the nuances of Bulgarian singing, and under her tutelage we've had the pleasure of learning a repertoire of wonderfully challenging songs. A highlight of our association was a 2010 tour with the Varimezovi Family to Bulgaria, with performances in Sofia, Pazardzhik, and the international Koprivshtitsa music festival. This tour is recounted in the documentary May It Fill Your Soul by Dr. Timothy Rice. We are so fortunate to have Tzvetanka, professor of Ethnomusicology at UCLA, right here in Los Angeles. She is an inspiration to us all.

Nevenka has also studied with these Balkan music experts: Lauren Brody, Binka Dobreva and Ivanka Paunova (Pazardzhik Ensemble, Bulgaria), Carol Freeman, Joseph Jordania, Michelle Green-Levasseur, Marika Psihountas, Ethel Raim, Angela Rodel, Eva Salina, Aurelia Shrenker, Carol Silverman, Kremena Stancheva, Jane Sugarman and the Zedashe Ensemble from the Republic of Georgia.

From the beginning, Nevenka has collaborated in concert with other world music performers. These include Aman Folk Ensemble, Art in the Dark, the Baksheesh Boys, Dorian Wood, Foreign Born, Fuge Imaginea, Gwen Wyatt Gospel Chorale, Mamak Khadem, Jayme Stone Ensemble, Los Angeles Philippines Chamber Singers, Occidental College Women’s Choir, The Petrovich Blasting Company, Savina, Superdevoiche, Swing Riots Quirktette, True Life Trio, the Varimezovi Family, the Yeseta Brothers, and Zedashe Ensemble.

In our 2010 tour to Bulgaria, Nevenka sang with the following groups: the Pazardzhik Ensemble, the Thracian Ensemble, Djanam from France, Glas and Usmifka from Denmark, Agios Pavrentis from Greece, Kitka from Northern California and Superdevoiche from UCLA. We were accompanied by musicians from the Radio Sofia and Koutev Ensembles. With over 120 singers on stage singing many of the songs together, it was the most incredible collaboration of all!

 Nevenka logo design by Michael Gordon.