Dave Kantor, a founding member of Veseliyka, grew up listening to music of the Balkans in his home. After years of classical and jazz training on clarinet and piano he returned to the music of his youth. He learned to play gaida and kaval and, after moving to Madison WI began performing in folk ensembles. Dave has performed with music and dance ensembles in Ohio, Michigan, California, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Bulgaria. In Madison Dave has performed with many ensembles including Malo Selo, The Reptile Palace Orchestra, Extra Shmaltz, and Yid Vicious.

Yuli Yordanov, a founding member of Veseliyka, is originally from Lovech, Bulgaria. He graduated from the Academy of Music and Dance Art in Plovdiv. Prior to graduation, he worked as a choreographer, teacher, and coach for youth dance groups and ensembles in the city of Lovech. Yuli and his students participated in many concerts, celebrations, and international festivals throughout Bulgaria and the rest of Europe. In May 1995, He and his group were selected to appear on a Bulgarian Television program celebrating folklore and traditional culture. Upon moving to the United States Yuli settled in Madison WI but is also active in the folk communities of Milwaukee and Chicago. He travels throughout the United States teaching the dances of his homeland.

Ed Feeny began folk dancing in gym class as a freshman at City High School, sparking his interest in the music and dance of regions ranging from the Middle East to Scandinavia. At 17, he picked up the electric bass and sometime thereafter helped create Napred, a group which played Eastern European folk music on traditional as well as non-traditional instruments. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Ed is a member of The Reptile Palace Orchestra, and Motor Primitives. Ed learned to play the tambura and the entire setlist for his first Veseliyka performance in 5 weeks.

Flora van Wormer discovered the cello at age twelve after an early retirement from piano and violin. She taught in the Cincinnati area and then lived in Western Massachusetts for five years. There, she taught cello in the public schools, a Waldorf school and privately. She also performed as a freelance cellist, and played with the Pioneer Valley Symphony, the Wholesale Klezmer Band and Druzhina. She is a member of the Recons Klezmer Band and the Monroe St. String Quartet. Flora has traveled to Bulgaria to study it's language and music.