A Colorado native and lover of all things Balkan, Valerie has devoted much of her life to music from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and other parts of Eastern Europe. She sings and plays percussion with Planina Songs of Eastern Europe, a vocal ensemble sharing the vibrant music of the Balkans and Eastern Europe since 1988. When she isn’t making music – she also plays the piano – she enjoys photography, cooking and hanging out with her husband and two grown sons with their families. Her favorite pizza is bacon, pineapple and jalapeño with honey.