Linnea Mandell (MFC BAND CO-MUSICAL DIRECTOR - accordion, tambura, bugaria, recorder, vocals)
http://chubritza.com/
Linnea grew up listening to international folk dance music as the child of folk dancing parents, and has many happy memories of attending folk dance camps every summer from the time she was an infant carried in the dance line. As part of her lifelong love of dance, she spent many years performing in international dance and music ensembles including the Northcountry Folk Ensemble, the Humboldt Ballet Folkórico, and Arcata Salsa Rueda.
Linnea’s musical education began in her parents’ station wagon as a result of her family’s tradition of part-singing in the car, rather than turning on the radio. She studied classical music growing up, and began playing folk music in college. In the folk dance world, Linnea plays bugarija, tambura, guitar, baglama, tupan, dumbek, accordion, recorders, flutes, and any new instrument that looks like an adventure. Linnea regularly combines her dance knowledge and expertise with playing music. Whenever possible, she learns the dances along with the music, so when playing or singing folk dances, she is always dancing along inside her shoes, helping create the best possible dance feel.
Linnea directs Chubritza International Folk Band (www.chubritza.com) which has a long history of playing for the folk dance community including Stockton Folk Dance Camp, Mendocino Folklore Camp, Kolo Festival, the San Francisco Tamburitza Festival, the California Folk Dance Federation Statewide Festivals, Veselo Festival, a 10-day tour in Israel sponsored by 2 folk dance clubs, and numerous parties, weddings, and cultural events in Humboldt County.
Linnea has also collaborated for many years with John Morovich, Mark Forry, and Bill Cope as a member of the Kolo Festival Band, MFC Camp Band and other tamburitza and international bands at festivals and camps. Linnea has promoted folk music and dance for many years as a regular music and dance teacher in the Humboldt area, Music Director for the Arcata Folk Dance Festival, previous board member of the East European Folklife Center (EEFC), and most recently, Kolo Festival board member.
Linnea’s musical education began in her parents’ station wagon as a result of her family’s tradition of part-singing in the car, rather than turning on the radio. She studied classical music growing up, and began playing folk music in college. In the folk dance world, Linnea plays bugarija, tambura, guitar, baglama, tupan, dumbek, accordion, recorders, flutes, and any new instrument that looks like an adventure. Linnea regularly combines her dance knowledge and expertise with playing music. Whenever possible, she learns the dances along with the music, so when playing or singing folk dances, she is always dancing along inside her shoes, helping create the best possible dance feel.
Linnea directs Chubritza International Folk Band (www.chubritza.com) which has a long history of playing for the folk dance community including Stockton Folk Dance Camp, Mendocino Folklore Camp, Kolo Festival, the San Francisco Tamburitza Festival, the California Folk Dance Federation Statewide Festivals, Veselo Festival, a 10-day tour in Israel sponsored by 2 folk dance clubs, and numerous parties, weddings, and cultural events in Humboldt County.
Linnea has also collaborated for many years with John Morovich, Mark Forry, and Bill Cope as a member of the Kolo Festival Band, MFC Camp Band and other tamburitza and international bands at festivals and camps. Linnea has promoted folk music and dance for many years as a regular music and dance teacher in the Humboldt area, Music Director for the Arcata Folk Dance Festival, previous board member of the East European Folklife Center (EEFC), and most recently, Kolo Festival board member.
