Yaala Ballin was born in Israel and graduated from Thelma Yellin’s High School of the Arts. She then moved to New York City to study with Sheila Jordan in 2004. Yaala has released three CDs: “Travelin’ Alone”(Smalls Records), On The Road (Gallery Records), and “Live Session” (Gut String Records). She was also featured on “The Music Of Duke Jordan” (Steeplechase Records) as part of the Chris Byars Septet for which she wrote original lyrics. She has performed at concerts and festivals in Europe, as well as in New York City (Smalls, Smoke, Birdland). Yaala was a Vocal Jazz Instructor in the U.S. State Department’s “Jazz Futures”, a six-year cultural diplomacy program run by the U.S. Embassy, Cyprus. She has also conducted workshops for the State Department of Turkey and Ukraine. She is a member of the City College of New York’s Vocal Jazz Department and at Tel Aviv Conservatory’s Center For Jazz Studies. She regularly conducts master classes both in the U.S. and internationally. From www.yaalaballin.com
