About Manchester Balalaika Society

The Manchester Balalaika Society

The Society is an organisation dedicated to promoting and preserving the rich and distinctive sounds of the balalaika and domra. Founded to bring together enthusiasts and musicians of all skill levels, the Society offers a welcoming space for learning, playing, and celebrating these unique instruments.

Through regular workshops, concerts, and community events, the Manchester Balalaika Society fosters musical development, cultural exchange, and social connection. Members enjoy opportunities to perform individually and as part of ensembles, sharing the vibrant sounds of Eastern European folk music with audiences in Manchester and further afield.

Committed to education and inclusivity, the Society welcomes anyone with an interest in playing the balalaika or domra, whether beginners or seasoned players, helping to keep these timeless traditions alive for future generations.

The Society is comprised of four different groups:

Kalinushka balalaika ensemble - beginner group, where new members learn the basics.

Kalinka balalaika ensemble - intermediate group

Kalina balalaika ensemble - advanced players

Kalina singers - 

All of our groups perform both separetly and together at various events throughout the year.


History of the balalaika and domra

The balalaika and domra are traditional Russian stringed instruments that play a central role in Russian folk and classical music.

The balalaika is a three-stringed instrument with a distinctive triangular body. It comes in various sizes (prima, secunda, alto, bass, and contrabass) and is typically strummed or plucked. It produces a bright, percussive sound.

The domra is a round-bodied, long-necked lute-like instrument with three or four metal strings, usually played with a plectrum. It has a bright, clear, resonant tone.

Vasily Vasilievich Andreev (1861-1918) was a key figure in the revival and modernisation of Russian folk instruments. He redesigned the domra (which had fallen into obscurity) and standardised the balalaika, adapting them for ensemble performance. Andreev founded the Great Russian Orchestra, which helped elevate these instruments to national and international prominence. His efforts transformed the balalaika and domra from peasant instruments into respected tools for concert performance.