Festival 2007 Performers
Hutsuliya (Ukraine)
Kolomiya, the gate to the Hutsul region of Ukraine, is a region famous for its trembita and cymbalon playing, for its song and vigorous dance, honest and generous people. Hutsuly are passionate about music, so it was no surprise that in 1971, under the patronage of the regional cultural center, the group Hutsuliya was formed under the leadership of Petro Terpelyuk, now a national artist of Ukraine. In 1972 the collective was given the title “folk amateur orchestra”. Future leaders of the group included sopilka player virtuoso and folklorist Michail Timofiiv, Ivan Arsenich, and Petro Terpelyuk who returned to lead the ensemble.
From 2001 to the present, the head of Hutsuliya is the talented cymbalon player, Mikola Kovtsunyak. Under his leadership, Hutsuliya was, many times, named a laureate of various competitions and festivals, and in 2004 the orchestra won the Grand Prix XIV of the International Hutsul Festival. The city of Kolomiya aso recognized the group's achievements by honoring them with the status of official municpal performers.
The National Ensemble of Folk Instruments Hutsuliya is supported by the tourism and cultural division of Kolomiya, Ivano-Frankivsk region, and presents the authentic folklore of the Hutsul region. With a wide variety of traditional instruments, Hutsuliya brings to us traditional Ukrainian music the way it has been played for ages.
Ukrainian Barvy – (Kyiv, Ukraine) http://www.ukrbarvy.ho.com.ua/
Ukrainian Barvy (Colors) is a vocal-instrumental ensemble which had its start in 1999. All four performers are classically trained musicians, individually active in the world of classical music in Kyiv and other Ukrainian centers of culture. The primary goal of the project is to demonstrate to the international audience the great diversity of Ukrainian music.
Ukrainian Barvy performs church, classic, folk, modern and pop music. They tour Ukraine and Europe extensively. They have performed in countries such as France, Hungary, Germany, Poland and Serbia. Since 2000, Ukrainian Barvy has toured the United States many times, maintaining a busy schedule to satisfy the great demand for their appearances in cities where there is a concentration of Ukrainian audiences.
The main aim of the project is to demonstrate the diversity of Ukrainian music. The music played is not limited by any definite style. The ensemble uses the following instruments: violin, clarinet, accordion, sopilka (folk flute), bass sopilka, bells, zozulia, telynka, dvodentsivka, drymba, various drums, banjo and others. The works are presented in various forms: a cappella, instrumental, solo musical numbers, duets, trios, quartets, etc. The ensemble has recorded five CD albums.
"Ukrayina" Dance Ensemble (Toronto)
The Ukrainian School of Arts, established during the summer months of 1998, is entering its 10th year as one of the finest and largest schools of its kind within the greater Toronto area. The school offers a complete and
challenging dance program to students of all ages and skill levels and serves as the base for the “Ukrayina” Dance Ensemble. The school boasts a unique repertoire, utilizes a variety of regional styles and costumes, incorporating components of character and classical technique as well as vocal interludes.
The school’s founders and Artistic Directors, Aleksandra and Valeri Movchan, are qualified instructors with extensive experience in dance and choreography. Having received instruction and professional accreditation in Ukraine, they maintain a unique and authentic personality within their roles accentuated by vitality and character. They promote a superior level of traditional Ukrainian dance by devoting attention to the development of both the artistic and technical abilities of dancers. The school utilizes guest instructors with specific unique talents and perspectives to enrich the dance experience for students. During concert tours to Ukraine, special seminars were hosted by Myroslav Vantukh, Artistic Director of “Virsky”, Ukraine’s National Dance Company.
The school continues to capture performance invitations and enjoys opportunities to further enhance its extensive performance array. Debut performances often result in repeat appearances and the school has performed at various festivals, annual tributes, uniquely-themed Rotary events, commemorations, and “praznyk” events, within the greater Toronto Area and the northeastern United States highlighted by extensive concert tours to Poland and Ukraine. Last summer, the “Ukrayina” Ensemble represented Canada during the 4th World Forum of Ukrainians held in Ukraine’s Capital City, Kyiv, and participated in several concert performances commemorating Ukraine’s 15th Anniversary of Independence.
Passion makes this dance troupe unique --- a passion for Ukrainian culture, a passion for dance and above all, a passion for the human spirit. A true balance between technical excellence and free-spirited performance can be accomplished through practice, exercise, repetition, devotion, camaraderie and a love of one’s heritage. The school’s future rests in the richness of Ukrainian dance!
AKORD - Ukrainian Men's Choir (Ottawa) - http://www.akordchoir.ca/
The name AKORD is symbolic of both the richness of Ukrainian choral tradition and the melodious quality of this four-part choir. AKORD originated in 1993 with six, then ‘younger,’ men who shared an interest in Ukrainian liturgical music. Olya Katruszenko, music director since 1994, broadened the ensemble’s repertoire and versatility. She is a graduate of the M. Lysenko State Conservatory of L’viv, Ukraine, where she studied composition and musical theory. After completing her studies, Olya worked as a folklore researcher and music events organizer at the L'viv Museum of Rural Life. Olya also teaches piano and musical theory and develops her own arrangements and adaptations of choral works.
AKORD, now a 20-man choir, singing in four parts, entertains audiences in performances ranging from concerts in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal to festivals such as the Festival by the River in Almonte, the Outaouais Sacred Music Festival, the Ukrainian Festival in Montreal and performances at the National Gallery of Canada, at the Holodomor Commemoration on Parliament Hill and the Homelands Mass at Ottawa’s Notre Dame Basilica. There goal is to continue to broaden public awareness of the rich diversity of our community, the multicultural fabric of our great country and of our various Ukrainian choral masters. Last year AKORD performed at the Montreal Ukrainian Festival to enthusiastic applause.
Wolodymyr Mota – Bandurist, Basso Profundo (Montreal)
The Bandura – is Ukraine’s National Instrument. The origin of the BANDURA or the KOBZA, as it used to be called long ago, goes back to the 16th century.
Since 1952, Wolodymyr Mota performed with his bandura in numerous Ukrainian celebrations and concerts in Montreal, in other parts of Canada and in the United States, as well as in Montreal`s “Expo – 67”. During the 1970-ies he also trained a new generation of bandurists.
In 1992, during Montreal`s 350th anniversary celebrations, he performed at the official ceremony acknowledging the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Quebec. In 1998, performed at the vernissage of the Treasures of the Steppes, Ukraines` exhibit at the Pointe Au Callière Archeological Museum in Montreal, and provided musical background for the exhibit itself.
In 1999, Mr. Mota was guest performer at the 50th anniversary concert of the Manchester (England) based choir Homin, under the direction of his former bandura teacher, maestro Yaroslav Babuniak, and earlier, in 1995, as singer, he toured Ukraine with this choir.
In 2002, he performed in Ottawa at the official tenth anniversary celebrations of establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Ukraine.
In the summer of 2006, he toured Ukraine again with the Montreal-based choir Vidlunnya. Also, with his bandura, he staged his own independent concerts there. For many years he has been a singer in the choir of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Rosemont, Montreal, and is presently its Director.
Mr. Mota has performed in public, on radio and television, sharing his talent with the Ukrainian community as well as introducing Ukrainian music to the Francophone and Anglophone communities. He has performed at the Montreal Ukrainian festival numerous times.
Marunczak Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (Montreal) - http://www.marunczak.com/
The Marunczak Ukrainian Dance Ensemble has been entertaining since it’s founding in 1945 by the renowned choreographer, the late Peter Marunczak Sr.
They have performed across Canada, the United States and Europe, with the primary focus being to share our culture at various public festivals, museums, national, provincial and municipal venues where Ukrainian traditions may be enjoyed by all.
Frequent performances in Montreal also include varied social events, weddings, anniversaries and business engagements.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull endorsed our performances by proclaiming they “showed vigour, rhythm, grace and precision, dazzling the audience”.
Further accolades were bestowed upon the group by having been selected “best” amongst four Ukrainian Groups competing in a festival of music, song and dance held at Toronto’s Central Technical Auditorium.
“The Marunczak Ukrainian Dance Ensemble is unique in that they have incorporated a modern touch into the colourful and classical, but traditional dances”…excerpt from “Cultures Galore Canada-Fete Canada 1996, Ottawa”.
Carpathia (Montreal)
Carpathia is a world music ensemble that grew out of a collaboration of three musicians during the 2004 Montreal Ukrainian Festival. Since that time, Carpathia has taken its unique blend of traditional Ukrainian, Czech and Slovak music, jazz, and klezmer to festivals in Quebec and beyond, notably the Bloor West Village and Harbourfront Ukrainian Festivals in Toronto.
Carpathia's members are vocalist, Marina Krejcarova-Cernichovska, from Ukraine, Jan Krejcar from the Czech Republic, and Youri Slovak from Slovakia, all musicians with diverse experience ranging from classical to ethnic to electronic music. All three are very active in the music scene in Montréal.
Olya Zelman (Montreal)
Olya Zelman has been singing from the age of 2 and is a regular performer at the Ukrainian Festival in Montreal. Recently she has sung at the Global Warming Concert, the St. Viateur Street Festival on June 1st, her 15th birthday; and she was interviewed for CBC news.
My - Ukrainian dance troupe (Toronto)
In three short years, the Toronto based dance group My has enjoyed impressive success. When they began, they were a small group of young people who literally grew up together personally and professionally. Today the troupe boasts 20 members.
Although traditional Ukrainian dance remains at the core of their performances, they have expanded their repertoire to include other styles such as Latin dance, the tango and hip-hop.
They owe much of their success to their choreographer, Diana Gysiva, and their director, Elena Gysiva
Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (Montreal)
The Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble was founded in 1989 by two dedicated and enthusiastic Ukrainian dancers, Tanya Harasymowycz-Kutash and Bohdan Klymchuk. Their goal was to develop a local Ukrainian dance ensemble that would strive towards a high level of artistic achievement.
The ensemble devotes its rehearsals to cultural development, exercise and recreation, while promoting excellence and creativity. It encourages both traditional and contemporary choreography. The ensemble consists of 30 dancers. Their repertoire consists of 12 dances which focus mainly on the central and western regions of Ukraine.
The ensemble has thematic (storyline) dances, comedy dances, sword dances, modern Ukrainian dances, a gypsy dance, a lyrical dance,and the famous "Hopak", just to mention a few. Some noted performances where the Troyanda dancers have performed are: Drummondville International folk festival (the largest folk festival in all of Canada); New York State (the Catskills); Man and His World (Montreal); and Place des Arts (Montreal's cultural arts center). Troyanda is a well known and respected dance ensemble in Montreal and Quebec.
Anastasia Aniskina (Montreal)
Anastasia was born in Ukraine in 1989. From a very early age she showed musical talent and took up the piano. At the age of 10, her parents enrolled her in a music school where she also picked up the clarinet.
After three years studying the clarinet, her teacher suggested she move on to the saxophone, which eventually launched her onto a successful series of performances and competitions throughout Ukraine.
Her style is lyrical and her favorite composition is Adaggio by Albinoni.
Vladimir Humenchuk and Natalia Melnik are a singing duo from Ukraine.
In their duet repertoire they have about one hundred songs, in which they sing about love of their native land, the beauty and grandeur of Ukraine, Ukrainian people, feelings of love and respect to woman, as mother, wife and true friend.
Their repertoire includes songs written in the words of the great Ukrainian poet Stepan Rudanski, where the theme of the Cossacks is important. They perform songs written in different styles and genres, but they give precedence to folk-lore and Ukrainian vaudeville. They execute songs written by composers V.Humenchuk, I.Yurkovski, A.Baranchuk, O.Kolyadoy, Z.Krasulyak, M.Yanchenko and M.Modoy.
Humenchuk and Melnik are well known both in Ukraine and beyond its borders. (in Russia, Italy, Canada, Poland and elsewhere)
With the label “MED”, this duet has put out eight recordings and a DVD.
In 2005, they became the laureates of the television competition Our Song.
Pryvit (Montreal)
Mark Bednarczyk and Roman Kostyk formed Pryvit in 1991, taking the duo’s name from the title song of a debut album, “welcoming” all to a newly liberated Ukraine.
Although the initial repertoire consisted of original material, additional personnel allowed the ensemble to expand vocally and instrumentally. By 1994, the repertoire also included Ukrainian folk and contemporary music. In subsequent years, Pryvit performed extensively around the Montreal area and South Bolton in Quebéc; Toronto, Acton, St. Catharines, and Ottawa in Ontario; Ellenville and Glen Spey in New York.
By late 1997, departures weakened the ensemble, until Irene Michalik joined in 1998. Unfortunate circumstances in 2000 forced an indefinite “sabbatical” from performing. The 2003 Montréal Ukrainian Festival marked Pryvit's first public appearance in three years.
After entertaining at the 2005 Montréal Ukrainian Festival, and the 2006 Toronto and Montréal Ukrainian Festivals, the ensemble currently continues as a vocal trio singing a variety of original compositions, traditional folk, and contemporary cover material.
Cheremshyna Ensemble (Montreal)
Ukrainian folklore - alive in their voices. Transcending time and distance!
Over the years, the Cheremshyna Ensemble has performed extensively for Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian audiences alike, demonstrating that the beauty of Ukrainian song transcends language barriers and speaks directly to the listener’s heart. The Ensemble has cultivated a following of listeners of all ages, and has traveled widely throughout Canada and the United States, giving countless performances, at major festivals and cultural events. Cheremshyna has had the honour of singing for such notable dignitaries as the Prime Minister of Canada, the Governor-General, and several ambassadors. In addition, the state Senate of Illinois adopted a resolution commending Cheremshyna for their “energy, talent and dedication to their heritage”.
Cheremshyna’s repertoire includes a variety of music, from expressive a capella renditions and invigorating rhythmic folk songs, to original compositions. The Ensemble’s five recordings are heard around the world and their popularity led to the selection of Cheremshyna as “ Favourite Ensemble in North America” at the First Contemporary Music Awards, honouring outstanding achievement in the Ukrainian recording industry. In Kyiv, the editor of a Ukrainian cultural journal wrote the following about Cheremshyna: “We are enchanted by the gracefulness, that is to say - the Ensemble’s delicate interpretation of Ukrainian song - both traditional and contemporary.”
The Cheremshyna Ensemble from Montreal Quebec, is made up of three female vocalists: Nadine Zwetkow (soprano), Claudia Melnyk (1st. Alto), and Lydia Ruditch (2nd. Alto).
