A Tale of Two Cle Transplants
Anya Gogoua & Elizabeth Marshall Perform This Weekend

On Friday, October 19th, Cleveland is in for an early Halloween treat. The 806 Wine & Martini Bar will be hosting the much-anticipated solo singing debut of Anya Gogoua in the United States, accompanied by Elizabeth Marshall, the celebrated cellist. It is a rare opportunity to hear a fusion of classical and authentic Russian folk music.

Anya and Elizabeth are both Cleveland transplants. Anya, originally of Moscow, Russia, came to the United States ten years ago. “We came to Cleveland because of the opportunity to further my and my younger sister's education at Case,” Anya says in her mild Russian accent. “My stepfather was offered a position at Case, and we used it to our advantage.” Academics weren’t the only draw Cleveland produced for Anya.

“Cleveland is great because it has so much to offer. There’s a little bit of everything, the orchestra, a great art museum, the lake, ski resorts… You can go ice skating in the middle of the summer. If you’re interested in something, you can find it in Cleveland. I’m not planning on going anywhere!”

And then there was singing. “When I came here, I joined the St. Sergius Russian Orthodox Church’s choir. I really love the Russian community here in Cleveland.” While loving Cleveland and all it has to offer, Anya still finds great joy in singing, particularly in Russian. She continues to be a strong member of the choir, but has recently decided to try her luck singing solo in the United States.

Through mutual friends, she met Elizabeth Marshall. Elizabeth is a talented cellist, and a graduate of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). Originally from Las Vegas, Elizabeth has had great success playing throughout the United States and abroad, in countries such as China and Italy. She is currently the Professor of Cello at Heidelberg College, and the cello consultant for The New Cleveland Group and Goronok String Instruments.

It’s interesting to hear Elizabeth’s take on Cleveland. It’s clear that music is her passion in life, and Cleveland is a great place to expand her musical consciousness. But there is more to it than that. She explains, “l really like the eclectic mix of people that you meet here. And I love the fall here… we never get to experience a real autumn in Las Vegas.”

Anya and Elizabeth are both talented musicians but from opposite sides of the musical spectrum. Elizabeth is a classically trained cellist who began learning the instrument at the age of five. And the music is in her blood: “my dad is a jazz trombonist,” she says. Anya’s introduction to music was less formal. “Folks songs are often sung during any type of social gathering or celebration,” she explains. “People get together after dinner, one of the guests would have a guitar, and that's when the entertainment of the evening would start. That’s how I learned all the songs I still sing.”

Listening to the collaboration of two such artists gives the listener an odd thrill of listening to something completely unique and altogether beautiful. Anya and Elizabeth will be performing at the 806 Wine & Martini Bar at 9PM on Friday, October 19th. The 806 Wine & Martini Bar is located at 806 Literary Avenue, in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kimberly Tilley kimberlysonrisaAThotmail.com
(:divend:)