Overview

The Gypsy Music Series celebrates the diverse, electrifying traditions of Romani music and its global influence. Featuring world-renowned artists, it showcases the creativity and cultural richness of the Romani people through captivating performances, workshops, and storytelling.

Mission Statement

The series honors Romani music and culture by fostering artistic expression, cross-cultural understanding, and audience inspiration.

Event Highlights

Headline Performances:

Traditional and contemporary Romani musicians blending flamenco, jazz, klezmer, Balkan, and folk-punk.

Collaborations:

Unique cross-genre performances with celebrated world music artists.

Workshops:

Interactive sessions on Romani dance, music, and storytelling.

Cultural Talks:

Discussions with artists and scholars on Romani history and arts.

Community Engagement:

Local artists and Romani organizations enrich the program.

Featured Artists

Alfonso Ponticelli

Virtuoso guitarist and Chicago gypsy jazz pioneer, influencing the local scene and founding the Chicago Gypsy Jazz Festival.

Zingaresca Ensemble

A collaboration between Romani virtuoso Vadim Kolpakov and Juilliard-trained baritone Anton Belov, blending Eastern European guitar traditions with Romani and Jewish diasporic music.

Vadim Kolpakov, Guitar

Leading Roma 7-string guitarist, former Theatre Romen artist, and collaborator with Madonna on her «Sticky & Sweet» tour.

Anton Belov, Vocals

Classically trained baritone with a career spanning opera and recital performances across the U.S.

Fugu Dugu

Chicago’s female-led international gypsy rock band, merging Moldovan, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Klezmer influences. Known for their electrifying performances and 2024 debut album Lunatic Parade.

Ishti Collective Dance

A troupe blending Romani-inspired choreography with contemporary influences.

Kinnari Vora

Co-founder and Bharatanatyam specialist with international performance experience.

Preeti Veerlapati

Co-founder combining Kuchipudi expertise with contemporary styles.

Tuli Bera

Bengali-American artist exploring identity through diverse dance forms.

Chitra Nair

Bharatanatyam virtuoso enhancing Ishti’s outreach and operations.

2025 Plans

The Gypsy Music Series premiered at Chicago City Winery in 2024, marking the start of a new tradition. Chicago, a city with a long-standing history of hosting Gypsy music festivals, has served as the foundation for this celebration. In 2025, the series plans to expand its reach, traveling across the USA to bring the rich and vibrant traditions of Romani culture to new audiences nationwide.