David Chrapkiewicz (Rapkievian) of Bar Harbor has been a professional award-winning violin maker for almost 5 decades. In his younger years he was a choreographer, director, and dancer in multiple dance groups. He has danced in Polish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Armenian dance groups. Musical interests led him to study balalaika in Kiev, Armenian oud with John Vartan, Arabic oud at the Arabic Music Retreat, and fiddle with teachers from Scotland to Cape Breton. While in the NYC area, he regularly performed solo balalaika at the Russian Tea Room, formed the very popular "Icebreakers Folk Balalaika," and was the balalaika soloist with Russian Carnival Ensemble. David also plays fiddle with the Big Moose Band. His grandparents on his father's side were Polish immigrants. As a child, David learned Polish music from the bands in the Polish/Ukrainian neighborhood in Detroit. David is the musical director of the Kotwica Band.
Carolyn Okoomian Rapkievian has researched, taught, directed, and performed dance in a professional capacity for more than 30 years. Carolyn grew up dancing at Armenian family and social functions. She has studied and performed Armenian, Greek, Russian, Polish, and Hungarian dancing and ballet. In addition to Armenian dance, she has taught international folk dancing, character ballet, and ballroom dancing for dance companies, universities, and public folk festivals. Carolyn has been performing guitar with David since they married in 1991. She recently retired from a 50-year career in museums including 26 years at the Smithsonian. Carolyn is manager of the Kotwica Band.
Anne Stancioff Tatgenhorst, inspired by her Bulgarian roots, began performing songs from Eastern Europe with Kirsten Stockman, Kim Reiss, and the original Maine Women's Balkan Choir in the 1990's. For several years, she studied Bulgarian folk singing with Elitsa Stoyneva of Turgovishte, Bulgaria. In addition to the choir, she has sung with various trio ensembles including Sviata Duma, Trio Elitsa, and Rucheya in New England, DC, Toronto, and Bulgaria. Currently, she is directing the Maine Balkan Choir in two locations- Belfast and Ellsworth. Anne is a kindergarten teacher and lives in Winterport, Maine. She is thrilled to be the vocal director for the Kotwica Band.
Kevin Stone is one of the very finest accordion players in the area. He hails from the beautiful and bucolic Benton, Maine. As a software engineer, coming from a non-musical family and upbringing, he loves the challenge of learning music as an adult, as well as the interesting patterns and rhythms of different musical traditions. For several years he has played the chromatic button accordion, and participated in local jam sessions with friends. While initially self taught, he has received ample training from Swedish accordionist Sunniva Brynnel. He enjoys playing a variety of traditional music styles, from Celtic, Quebecois, and New England contra dance styles, to Swedish, Polish, Ukrainian, and Balkan music.
Eloise Schultz grew up in New York City, where she studied classical voice and performed with ensembles around the city. Her interest in folk traditions was shaped by klezmer and shape note singing. Previously, she toured with the indie-folk group GoldenOak and performed with the Maine Balkan Choir. She sings and plays percussion in the Kotwica Band. Eloise is also a volunteer programmer for WERU 89.9.
David Quinby of Sedgwick is an enthusiastic double-bass player with many local orchestras, with the Big Moose Contra Dance Band, and with smaller ensembles. Dave runs a successful business of supplying educational and scientific aquatic specimens which requires regular attendance on his boat.
Frances Stockman is a vocalist in the Kotwica Band and assists Carolyn with demonstrating some of the band's dances. Her interest as a vocalist is rooted in her aunt Kirsten Stockman's legacy in Balkan music.