The practitioners of the ancient art of alchemy often sought to transform or combine a variety of elements. In a similar manner, the members of the ensemble Alchymeia gather folk song ingredients from various cultures and arrange them in new and fascinating ways. The repertoire reflects the varying backgrounds of the ensemble’s founding musicians.

Nadia Tarnawsky has been studying Eastern European singing techniques for nearly two decades with Ukrainian singers Mariana Sadowska, Lilia Pavlovska, Albanian singer Merita Halili, and Bulgarian singers Maria Bebelekova and Donka Koleva. S

Brandon Vance is a two-time Open U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and the youngest player ever to attain the national title at age 14. Brandon has performed with numerous Celtic artists including Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, and Carl Peterson.

Nadia and Brandon began performing together in 2008 and in 2010 they enlisted some of Seattle’s finest musicians to create Alchymeia.

Artist Support Program 2011 : Recorded their debut album Alchymeia.

Sound Clips
  • Alchymeia - Drinking Songs
  • Alchymeia - Medley
Recent Posts
Announcing Summit Sound, a public audio gallery at the Seattle Convention Center

December 19, 2023

Jack Straw is thrilled to announce Summit Sound, an audio gallery at the new Seattle Convention Center Summit Building on Pine St. Summit Sound was envisioned by the SCC Art Program as “an outdoor space where residents and visitors can immerse themselves in one of our region’s revered creative disciplines–sound.” As the new home to […]

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Wooden bench and platform adjacent to a glass and metal building in the background. Speakers mounted on black columns over the bench.

Categories: Art and Heritage Partnerships, Artist Support Program, Writers Program, Youth Education Programs

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