Headliner
HAYDAMAKY
Kyiv, Ukraine
Ukrainian ethno-rock band Haydamaky is known not only in its country but also in Europe and overseas. The band has been on the scene for 20 years and still surprises its fans. The band’s music is a modern mix of world styles – from Ukrainian folk to Jamaican reggae. Artists are constantly experimenting with sounds, one thing always remains, it is the Ukrainian folk melodies and wind instruments. Since 2001, Haydamaky have recorded and released 8 albums, 2 of which became "golden". Haydamaky constantly work with foreign stars: Che Sudaka, Apollo 440, Kamil Vednarek, Kellerkomando, Vavamuffin, and others. Haydamaky played at the many famous European festivals, toured the old continent playing hundreds of club concerts, and won two European Golden Discs. That is why fans call the band “ambassadors of Ukrainian culture.” The most important events of the new history of the country are constantly reflected in the band’s work. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, three musicians of the band have stood up for the defense of the Motherland, the rest participate in the volunteer movement and continue their concert activities.
BARVINOK DANCE GROUP
Mississauga, ON
For over 52 years Barvinok has been providing instruction to dancers in the church hall of the Dormition of the Mother of God Church (St. Mary’s) in Mississauga. Barvinok has represented the Ukrainian Community of Mississauga on local, regional, national, and international levels. You can start learning about Barvinok by exploring our website. Five decades ago, Barvinok Ukrainian Dance School, with just a handful of dedicated dancers, today, Barvinok provides instruction to over 430 students of different ages. The school is committed to teaching Ukrainian traditional dance.
DUMAI DUNAI
Montréal, QC
Slavic dub-punk missionaries Dumai Dunai have been winning the hearts of audiences worldwide since they first burst onto the scene in 2022. Based in Montreal with members from Ukraine and Bulgaria, the seven-piece combines the deep grooves of dub with the energy of punk rock, the raw ecstasy of the blasting horns of Balkan wedding brass bands, and the joys and sorrows of Ukrainian village polyphony. Featuring past and present members of the Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Orkestar Kriminal, Boogat, and Bad Uncle, Dumai Dunai exists somewhere between the underground scene of their beloved Montreal and the mountains and valleys of their Slavic homelands.
DUO SYNERGY
Montréal, QC
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Synergy. Under the direction of David Piché and Kateryna Bragina, Synergy offers vibrant performances where the violin and the electric cello are featured. Originally from Laval, David is a solo violinist renowned for his international collaborations with Cavalia Odysseo and Cirque du Soleil. Born in Lviv, Ukraine, Kateryna studied cello at the National Academy of Music of Ukraine. She had the honor of performing for the President of Ukraine and the Pope during his visits to Ukraine. In Denmark, she performed in the presence of the Queen of Denmark.
DZVINOCHOK CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Montréal, QC
The children’s choir performs Ukrainian folk songs and Ukrainian songs of known composers in a modern setting.
ALEKSEEVA EVGENIYA
Montréal, QC
Alekseeva Evgeniya, a Canadian singer born in Ukraine, Odesa with a crystal clear voice, and a coloratura soprano, possesses a unique style that combines classical vocals and modern sound.
Winner of numerous international and all-Ukrainian competi-tions. She is currently developing her singing career in Canada, touring with solo concerts and recording a new album.
GERDAN THEATRE
Chernivtsi, Ukraine
Gerdan Theatre, a remarkable folk singing group from Chernivtsi, Ukraine, has been captivating audiences with their authentic Ukrainian music. Their arrangements of traditional folk songs resonate deeply, reinvigorating the ancient melodies from villages across Ukraine. During their tour of Canada in February and March 2024, Gerdan Theatre performed at more than 18 shows. Their performances not only showcase the beauty of Ukrainian culture but also express unwavering strength, hope, and determination for Ukraine to prevail.
GALINA AND TATIANA KNIAZEVY
Dnipro, Ukraine – Lévis, QC
Galina (lyric-dramatic soprano) and twin sister Tatiana (lyric-coloratura soprano) were born in the city of Dnipro but moved with their parents to the city of Cherkasy, where they lived and studied until they were 22 years old. Tatiana studied at the music school Glinky in the city of Dnipro (academic singing). Halyna studied at the music school Lyudkevich, Lviv, and sang in the Lviv Philharmonic. The war destroyed not only the sisters’ house in Bucha but also their plans.
YURIY KONEVYCH
Ternopil, Ukraine – Montréal, QC
Yuriy Konevych is a lyrical tenor from Montreal with a large experience in stage performance and who possesses classical vocal talent. Yuriy has been singing with multiple choirs as well as the OSM choir. He performed at various festivals and official events around Canada. In his repertoire, there is mainly classical music, Ukrainian baroque works, Ukrainian folk songs, world classical arias, and art songs. Yuriy mastered vocal at the McGill Conservatory.
REV. VOLODYMYR KOUCHNIR
Montréal, QC
Rev. Volodymyr Kouchnir was born in Ukraine, Bukovyna. In 1990, he immigrated to Canada. Besides his pastoral ministry, he is active in cultural life. His music trilogy “To Serve God- Serve the People” set to the poetry of Metropolitan Ilarion Ohienko; the second album – “Your Foot Print”; and the third “Embroidery of Life”, working closely with Montreal composer-songwriter Oksana Senkiv and the distinguished artist of Ukraine, Oleg Shak.
LOS IANKOVERS
Colombia
The soloist of the band Ianko Bohdan Penfort was born in Colombia, his dad is Colombian and his mother is a Ukrainian from Kyiv. Other members of the band are not of Ukrainian origin. The group sang more than 50 Ukrainian songs – adding Latin American instruments and rhythms. Most of the band’s repertoire is Ukrainian folk songs and Ukrainian insurgent songs. For several years, Ianko and his band have been spreading Ukrainian music and their mixes in Colombia and in European countries. Videos with performances of Ukrainian songs in different parts of Europe and Latin America are gaining millions of views on social networks.
MARIA
Kyiv, Ukraine – Montréal, QC
Maria is Spanish and married to a Ukrainian, she was living in Kyiv when the Russian attack started. Maria is a choreographer and a professional dancer. She was also Flamenco coach for Natalia Mogilievskaya, Monatik (Lida Lee), Olya Tsybulskaya. She considers herself a choreographer from Ukraine.
MARUNCZAK DANCE GROUP
Montréal, QC
The Marunczak Ukrainian Dance Ensemble was founded in 1945 by Peter Marunczak, and has been under the artistic direction of Donna Marunczak for over 20 vears. The ensemble currently performs at weddings, festivals, receptions, and other events in and around Montreal.
MURMUROSI COMMUNITY ENSEMBLE
Montréal, QC
The Murmurosi Community Ensemble sings ancient polyphonic masterpieces of Ukrainian folklore. With the sounds of traditional harmonies and the rhythms of poetry, this ensemble immerses the listener in ancient meditation and touches the strings of the soul with piercing melodies. The group performs old songs from different parts of Ukraine. These are examples of a singing culture that has become a UNESCO heritage, and of an oral folk art.
NEGODA (ANNA NEGODIUK)
Loutsk, Ukraine – Montréal, QC
NEGODA was created in 2019 as a cover band. The project took an active part in the life of the city. Later, the war brought major changes, and in 2022, NEGODA began her solo career with her own songs. NEGODA is a performer, vocal coach, and songwriter from Lutsk, including the song “Doroga”, which reached the top 100 songs of Ukraine in 2023. Anna has been living in Montreal for the past two years, where she continues her creative career in performing and teaching skills.
VIACHESLAV NITRUTSA
Montréal, QC
Viacheslav Nitrutsa is an author and performer in the style of popular dance music. Honored pop artist of Ukraine who came to Montreal from Kyiv in 2023. He has a ready-made concert program of his own original songs.
MARTINA NOVYTSKA
Mykolaiv, Ukraine – Montréal, QC
Martina Novytska, 16 years old, was born in Mykolaiv (Ukraine), where she lived all her life until March 2022. She is fond of music, plays saxophone, guitar and sings. In the first months of the war in Ukraine, Martina moved to Montreal, where she still lives. Her father taught Martina to sing, he is a composer and musician, and now he is in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. She sang/performed in Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and Montreal. She played in a jazz band and an orchestra.
BORYS OSTAPIENKO
Toronto, ON
Borys Ostapienko is a professional bandurist and pianist. He started playing musical instruments at the age of 6 and at the age of 10 became the youngest member of the Canadian Bandurist Capella, where he is currently the concert maestro. He has performed and placed 1st in numerous competitions, Kiwanis, Etobicoke Musical Festival, and the Ukrainian Music Festival. He had the chance to perform at the Fifth International Bandura Competition in Kharkiv, Ukraine, where he had been awarded for being the youngest bandura player and playing the best Hnat Khotkevych song. In 2018, he received the first prize from the Mykola Lysenko Bandura Competiton in Kyiv, as the first Canadian born Ukrainian to do so ever in a bandura competition in Ukraine.
ELÍAS ROLDÁN, GABRIELLE CHEVALIER
Montréal, QC
Originally from Medellin, Colombia, Elias Roldan began his dance training at the age of 7. Elias trained in Argentina at the Julio Bocca Foundation and at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. In 2021 Elias began his classical dance studies at the École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec. He had the opportunity to participate in The Nutcracker by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, “Colossus” by Stephanie Lake, and “Daphnis et Chloe” by Andrew Skeels.
Originally from Montreal, Gabrielle Chevalier began her dance studies at the age of three. At the age of 10, she was accepted into the professional program at the École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec. She has participated in artistic productions including The Nutcracker with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Colossus, and Continuum. Gabrielle will also be in Ballet Ouest’s The Nutcracker for the 2024 edition.
SAF SAFRON
Piedmont, QC
My name is Bohdan Safroniuk, my stage name is Saf Safron. I am Ukrainian hip-hop artist based in Piedmont. I will present the video and song recorded and dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukraine. You will see the beauty of Ukraine and its lands in my video. Слава Україні!
SOLODA (DUO ANDRONATII)
Kyiv, Ukraine – Montréal, QC
We invite you to a performance by pianist Dmytro and singer Khrystyna Andronatiia, who have been living in Canada for two years and actively participate in charity concerts. As part of their new project “Soloda”, they present the song “Strong”, which tells about love in the conditions of war. The program also includes Ukrainian songs from the repertoire of Kvitka Tsisyk. Dmytro and Khrystyna consider it a great honor to have the opportunity to sing Ukrainian songs and represent Ukrainian culture.
TRIO ROSSA
Montréal, QC
Sonia Kulycky, Natalia Bedik, and Nina Semchyshyn’s shared love of song shines when performing their vast repertoire of traditional and contemporary Ukrainian songs as Montreal’s Rossa (POCA) Trio. Grand prix winners of the 2020 Bereginia Euro Virtual Festival, featured in the Spivanka documentary by Mo-D Productions, and guest performers at the Ukrainian Embassy in our capital, Ottawa, their close harmonies and smooth vocal range continue to capture the hearts of their audiences across North America. They look forward to continuing to perform and share their love of Ukrainian music with you. Слава Україні – Героям Слава!
TROYANDA DANCE GROUP
Montréal, QC
For almost 35 years, under the artistic direction of Bohdan Klymczuk, Troyanda has been exploring the many unique dance regions Ukraine has to offer. Teaching Ukrainian folklore through theatrical dance with a hint of circus arts. The school welcomes all ages and levels and offers a unique program for children 3 to 6. For more information or to register, contact us by e-mail: [email protected]
SVITLANA TULIEVA
Montréal, QC
Svitlana Tulieva, a pianist from Ukraine, with roots from Poltava and Zaporizhzhia, obtained her bachelor degree in piano and organ from the Donetsk Music Conservatory.
A few years after arriving in Canada, she pursued a higher education and earned her Master’s degree in piano performance at McGill University.
A firm believer of democracy, she is fighting for a better future for her motherland, Ukraine, as an independent country with citizens free to make their own choices.
VIDLUNNYA CHOIR
Montréal, QC
The “Vidlunnya” Choir is a Ukrainian choir established under the aegis of the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) in Montreal. Since its founding in 1995, the Choir has been an important centre of Ukrainian musical life in Montreal. The choir interprets choral compositions of Ukraine, Ukrainian folk music, liturgical and religious pieces, and carols in Ukrainian. It performs its own concerts and collaborates with other choirs to promote Ukrainian choral and vocal traditions. Currently, the Choir director is Nataliya Kuchmiy.