Balkan Fuego Trio

The Balkan Fuego Trio combines the rhythms and sounds of the Balkan region with elements of flamenco. Eleanna Pitsikaki (Kanun), Dennis Merz (Guitar) and Vladimir Dindiryakov (Kaval) play mainly original compositions and arrangements and invite their audience on a journey through the musical diversity of the Balkans and the intensity of flamenco. The trio’s unique line-up, their musical expertise and passion for music transcend the boundaries of traditional music and turn every concert into a special performance: full of joie de vivre, energy and power.

Eleanna Pitsikaki is a kanun player and studied world music in Mannheim and jazz improvisation at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. She is a founding member of the Bridges Kammerorchester and a member of the Bridges ensembles Balkan Fuego Trio, Noor Jazz Quartet, Eliá, Lel and RIZA. As an expert in transcultural music education, she also plays in the music education ensemble Tiny Bridges and leads the Bridges Sessions. She works as a composer and arranger for the Bridges Kammerorchester and for other musical projects, including her band EPI Music. Eleanna Pitsikaki also teaches, for example at the Hochschule für Musik Mainz since 2024 and at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln from 2023 to 2024.

Dennis Merz studied guitar in Frankfurt and San Sebastian and is a founding member, guitarist, composer and arranger in the Bridges Kammerorchester. He deals with folkloric music from all over the world and incorporates sounds from flamenco, tango, bossa nova, Arabic and Indian music into his works. The world premiere of his composition Arroyo with the Bridges Kammerorchester in the hr-Sendesaal in 2019 will be particularly memorable. Dennis Merz is also a member of the Bridges ensemble Balkan Fuego Trio. He also teaches at music schools in the Rhine-Main area and performs with his band Nomadenpuls and the Trio Aroha.

Vladimir Dindiryakov attended the renowned National School of Folklore Arts in Bulgaria and won several prizes at national competitions, including first prize at the Pesenna duga nad Kutev (2012) and the first special prize at Primorska Perla (2013). The kaval player is a founding member of the Bridges Kammerorchester, a member of the Bridges ensemble Balkan Fuego Trio and is active in music education with the Bridges Kammerorchester. He is also a music teacher for flute at the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule in Schwalbach (Taunus).

Ensemble

Eleanna Pitsikaki Kanun
Dennis Merz Guitar/Hang Drum/Double bass    
Vladimir Dindiryakov Kaval

Fotos © Salar Baygan