A first-generation Ukrainian-American and Minnesota native, Natalie Nowytski trained classically with her grandmother, the legendary vocal coach Oksana Bryn. Her Ukrainian heritage and love for traditional folk music brought Natalie to the internationally acclaimed Ethnic Dance Theatre in 1996, ultimately leading her to direct the renowned Mila Vocal Ensemble , specializing in the vocal styling of traditional Central and Eastern European music. She has traveled to Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France and Ukraine to study culture and folk music from professional musicians and villagers alike, including Le Mystere des voix Bulgares soloists Svetla Karadjova Ivanova and Lilyana Galevska. Often dubbed a "chameleon voice," Natalie sings in more than 40 languages and in over a dozen distinct vocal styles. In addition to her growing roster of private voice students, Natalie frequently conducts multi-level vocal workshops and has served as consultant for various choirs, including The Rose Ensemble and KITKA . Through her work over the last 25 years, Natalie has become respected as a master artist of Eastern European vocal styling.Her performance credits include appearances with Peter Ostroushko , Ruth MacKenzie, Joe Chvala and the Flying Foot Forum , and Ethnic Dance Theatre. She has also performed several times on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion as well as the prestigious Koprivshtitsa folk festival in Bulgaria. Although she calls the voice her main instrument, Natalie plays over a dozen folk and classical instruments and is the vocalist/percussionist/bassist/flautist for the Midwest's most sought-after folk dance band, Orkestar Bez Ime (OBI) . When she's not folking, she writes, performs and records original music with Reid Kruger as the indie-ish duo Supple Puppy .click here
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