Juliana & PAVA

Juliana & PAVA is a vocal ensemble performing ancient Russian folk songs.

Beautifully harmonized, these songs have been integrated into the fabric of rural life for centuries, carried on from generation to generation only by oral tradition. Some of the songs are performed a cappella, while others are accompanied by authentic folk instruments, such as the Russian hurdy-gurdy, balalaika, various flutes or percussion instruments.

Performance by Juliana & PAVA is much more than just a concert its a journey many years back into the life of a typical Russian village. Some of the songs refer to celebrations like Easter, weddings or funerals, while others relate to the cyclical rituals of the year, like harvest or midsummer.

The singers wear eye-catching, colorful, authentic costumes that were actually worn in the villages. These costumes, some of which are over 200 years old, contribute to evoking an atmosphere and an image of a culture that all at once seems very exotic and yet not all that foreign to the Western world.

PAVA was founded by Juliana Svetlitchnaia, Russian singer and ethnomusicologist, in 2000 in Denmark. The ensemble became well respected for their unique authentic style and wide educational activity. Danish national TV filmed a program about PAVA. Juliana & PAVA have received grants from the Danish Ministry of Culture (2001), the National Music Council of Denmark (2001) and World Music Denmark (2004). PAVAs CD was nominated for The World Album of the Year at the Danish World Awards (2005) and was used as a learning material in a number of schools of music in Moscow, Astrakhan and Altai.

After moving to the United States in 2005, Juliana gathered together the second lineup of PAVA. The ensemble frequently performs at various Russian and multicultural events in the US. The list of past performances includes such events and venues as the Northwest Folklife festival, 10th Anniversary of Benaroya Hall, Cultural Crossroads, Slavic Festival, University of Washington, Russian Cultural Center, Seattle Public Library, Sister Cities International Film Festival and others.

In 2008, Juliana Svetlitchnaia, the leader of PAVA, received "The Person of the Year" award by the Russian Cultural Center and the Russian Consulate General in Seattle. In 2009, Juliana & PAVA received a grant from Artist Trust for releasing their first CD in the US, as well as the Russel Jaqua Award for Artistic Excellence.

In February 2010 Juliana & PAVA represented the Russian community of the United States at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC by performing at Russky Dom (Russian House) the official residency of the Russian Olympic team.

In September 2010 Juliana & PAVA performed in Baghdad at Zeriab - the first postwar international music festival in Iraq. They became the first group from the US to perform for Iraqi people after the war.