Ovation! Management Ensemble Roster

		Duo		The AlmaNova Duo
				AlmaNova is a talented, classically trained flute and guitar duo presenting an eclectic program of music from all over the world. Each of these diverse musicians has been trained in the classical tradition while exploring other types of music. This great love of all musical genres shines through to their audience by way of dynamic performances and mesmerizing stage presence. AlmaNova has traveled all over the world playing their unique blend of music from the Balkans, Spain, Latin America, and the British Isles. more

		Duo		Duo Simpatico
				Duo Simpatico, with Jack Scott on the flute and Steve Ramsdell on guitar, perform classical jazz. Both have performed individually with jazz bands as well as smaller groups in Chicago. They recently made the decision to collaborate, made a CD, and asked Ovation!Management to represent them. Their arrangements of jazz and 'pop' music are exciting and original. Trained as classical musicians they are adept at playing that genre but their 'true love' belongs to jazz. more

		Zarzuela		The Opera Factory
				The Opera Factory made its debut in 1985 as a presenter of Spanish zarzuela with the full length production, with orchestra, of Los de Aragon by Serrano. Performed with the dialogue spoken in English and the arias sung in Spanish; the Chicago premiere heralded the presentation of zarzuela for the next 18 years. TOF (The Opera Factory) has presented Chicago premieres of Moreno-Torroba's Luisa Fernanda and La Verbena de Paloma (Breton) as well as the USA premieres of Bohemios (Vives), El Barbero de Sevilla (Gimenez), Adios a la Bohemia (Sorozabal) and Los Claveles (Serrano). TOF was awarded grants from the National Endomwnt for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago CityArts I, Chicago Community Grant, Spanish Government, the Mexican Government and the Department of Interior of the USA. TOF has toured in Mexico and has appeared in El Paso, Texas at the Festival de la Zarzuela as well as the Siglo de Oro Festival. Other festivals include the Peruvian - American Festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as well as Hispanic festivals in and around Chicago. more

		Dance		Zabava
				Zabava (means 'fun' or 'enjoyment' in Russian. And this is exactly what this authentic Russian dance troupe offers. The company has traveled to India, Africa, throughout Russia, Guatemala, and the midwestern and southern regions of the USA. After winning the International Folk Dance Competition in 1994 the company gave over 30 concerts in Spain alone. They came to the US representing Russia for the World Cup Soccer Championship Games given in Chicago in 1995. They were asked to perform at Disney World in Orlando, Florida and performed on the Main Stage. The dancers perform with their own orchestra. All instrumentalists and dancers were trained at various conservatories in the Soviet Union from the age of six. Each is a master at their respective trade. The hand made costumes are representative of the regional dances. Colorful, energetic, graceful are but a few adjectives describing this awesome group. more