NUMBER 76 APRIL 2014 626 BATHURST ST. TORONTO, ON ISSN-0703-9999

Marking Taras Shevchenko’s bicentenary The 200th anniversary of the birth of Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko, nation-al poet of Ukraine, is being marked and celebrated this year, not only by Ukrai-nians, but by writers, artists and others in literary and cultural spheres. Concerts, lectures and exhibits of his art will be held in many Canadian cities as well as in Ukraine and throughout the world. Although born a serf, Shevchenko’s talent as an artist, recognized in his early years, eventually led to his free-dom from serfdom. He was taken to St. Petersburg where, in addition to art, he studied zoology, physics, physiology, the French language and history, espe-cially the history of Ukraine. He was introduced to the most pro-gressive thinkers of the day and partici-pated in discussions on philosophy and issues of humanity. It was then that Shevchenko began to write his poems which spoke powerfully of injustice and particularly of the op-pression of his Ukrainian people under serfdom. Taras Shevchenko’s words, espousing the ideals of equality, brotherhood, toler-ance and compassion for all humankind, reached beyond his people, encouraging others to aspire to freedom and equality.

Concerts in Shevchenko’s honourAmong the groups and organizations marking this significant anniversary this

year is the Shevchenko Musical Ensemble. On February 22, “A Blending of Cul-tures” (story on page 3), was presented by the Shevchenko Choir and the Jubi-late Singers of Toronto. It paid tribute to Shevchenko and his legacy by perform-ing selections written to Shevchenko’s poems, and performing works of justice, freedom and equality. On March 1 the Shevchenko Choir was featured in a concert “Celebration Taras” presented by the Counterpoint Community Orchestra of Toronto (story on page 5). On May 18 the Shevchenko Musical Ensemble, in its Annual Concert, will

feature a “kobzar” (wandering minstrel with bandura), the Desna Ukrainian Dance Co. and the Taras Shevchenko Museum in a special tribute to this giant among men. (details on page 12)

Shevchenko’s Ukraine today These concerts are one voice for Taras Shevchenko’s legacy – his hope that the Ukrainian people, and the people of the world, would live a peaceful, prosperous life in harmony with each other, a life free of injustice and inequality. It is our fervent wish that his legacy be even more evident and meaningful today as his beloved country, Ukraine, experi-ences the current turmoil. For it was Shevchenko’s dream that Ukraine would be a united, independent state; that the Dnieper River, on whose banks his body and soul rests, would not divide Ukraine and its people, but be the unifying force of all Ukrainians for whom Shevchenko remains a living inspiration.

In this issue …• Toronto Mandolin Orchestra in Glenn Gould Studio

• Shevchenko Choir concerts celebrating Taras Shevchenko

• TMO hosts Ger Mandolin Orchestra

Monthly meetings of Club 626 Seniors continue to engage interesting guest speakers on a variety of subjects such as health issues, financial advise, the arts and much more.

In November the meeting was dedicated to Remembrance Day and paid tribute to Anton Kulchin, a long-time member of the Shevchenko Male Chorus and a WW II veteran who was recently officially recognized by Veteran Affairs Canada for his outstanding service during that horrific world conflict. The Club’s annual Christmas Party held last December 8 was once again alot of fun with great entertainment and delicious food. Club’s new program An exciting new outing for Club members and friends will be a boat cruise on the Grand River on June 25. And on August 10 the Club’s annual Bar-B-Q (better known as the “Garlic Fest”) will be held once again at the

This was followed by Lichu v Nevoli (I Count the Days…), a reflection of Shevchenko’s loneliness in prison. In Ohni Horiat (Lights are Blazing) two of Shevchenko’s poems are combined, one a lament of his lost freedom, the other a celebration of youth.

A long standing tradition of these choral concerts is to introduce young tal-ent. Lizzie Naumova, all of 9 years old, sang the Bach/Gounod Ave Maria and young pianist Fima Kazmin performed Montagues and Capulets from Romeo and Juliet: Piano Pieces by Prokofiev. In the second half Lizzie sang Je veux vivre by Gounod, and Fima jazzed it up with the Maple Leaf Rag by Joplin. Both were received with loud and warm applause.

The Jubilate Singers began their set with a medley of Georgian and Ukrainian songs, all in the traditional languages. Then they switched to Rus-sian in Va Kuznitse (In the Smithy), a lively Russian folk song.

In Svite Tykhiy, Jubilate sang of Shevchenko’s query to Ukraine…“why do you perish? did you not teach your children our customs?”

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“A Blending of Cultures” Choral collaborationClub 626 Seniors News

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On February 22, at St. Simon-the-Apostle Anglican Church, two prominent Toronto choirs joined their voices in tribute to Taras Shevchenko on the occasion of his Bicentenary. As written in the program: “A Blend-ing of Cultures aptly characterizes both the Shevchenko Choir and the Jubilate Singers. Shevchenko Choir… sees its role as to not only present the heritage of Ukraine but to reflect a truly Canadian culture…The Jubilate Singers specializes in an eclectic international repertoire.”

Founded in 1969, the Jubilate Singers is a mixed-voice chamber choir under the direction of Isabel Bernaus.

In their current season, however, the choir is directed by Caroline Spear-ing, a musician, singer, conductor and music teacher.

The program was opened by the Shevchenko Choir, under the direction of Alexander Veprinsky, with Hom-mage à Chevtchenko, words by Taras Shevchenko and music by Canadian composer Morris Surdin from his Suite Canadienne written for the Ensemble’s Ukraine tour in 1970.

In addition to songs written to Shevchenko’s poetry, both choirs per-formed songs which reflect his desire for equality and freedom from oppression. Such songs included We Rise Again by contemporary Nova Scotian Leon Dubinsky, and Bread and Roses in which women textile workers declare their fight, not only for bread, but for the beautiful things in life personified by roses.

Jubilate’s performance of Bogorodi-tse Devo (Russian Orthodox All-Night Vigil) was solemn, yet beautiful. The Russian Folk Song Kalinka, performed by the Shevchenko Choir with tenor soloist Hassan Anami, brought the roof down with loud applause.

In the finale, 50 voices of the Jubilate Singers and Shevchenko Choir rang out in Reve ta Stohne Dnipr Shyrokiy’ (The Mighty Dnieper Roars and Bellows), words by T. Shevchenko, music by M. Lysenko, conducted by Alexander Veprinsky.

The concert ended with Oscar Pe-terson’s Hymn to Freedom conducted by Caroline Spearing, a fitting reflection of the legacy of Taras Shevchenko.

The BULLETIN Published semi-annually with the support of the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council • Issued by the National Shevchenko Musical Ensemble Guild of Canada, a federally incorporated charitable cultural institution, Reg. Nº 11905 1910 RR0001626 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5S 2R1 Phone 416-533-2725 • Fax 416-533-6348 E-mail: info-sme@bellnet.ca www.shevchenkomusic.comEditorial: Ginger Kautto, Anna VeprinskaContributors: Ira Erokhina, Tamara Volskaya, Edward Lew.Photographs by Wayne Gilbert of GPS Digital Photo Images unless otherwise noted.

In Fond Memory

The National Shevchenko Musical Ensemble Guild

of Canada gratefully acknowledges contributions in memory

of the following:

Millie Demchyshyn2014

Henry Karpus2014

Frank Mihay2014

Phil Shcherbak2014

Club 626 Seniors Executive CommitteeElected March 5, 2014

Florenz Seychuk, PresidentJune Morris, Vice-President

Adele Paraschuk, Recording Secretary

Stan Nazarec, TreasurerLydia Kit, Membership Secretary

June Morris & Lili Pelowich, Social ConvenersMembers at large:Jim LukianchukEvelyn Nazarec

Nina Rasiuk

Fima Kazman, pianist Lizzie Naumova, soprano

Shevchenko Choir accompanied by Elena Zviagina on piano. Finale of 50 voices in The Mighty Dnieper Roars and Bellows.

Jubilate Singers accompanied on piano by Sherry Squires

Christmas Party lucheonSanta’s Jolly

BartenderDelicious lunches at

every meeting

home of Stan and Evelyn Nazarec.In October, the seniors will travel to

see a Shaw Festival prodution.This year’s Christmas Party is set

for December 7 at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre at 1604 Bloor St. W.

Everyone is welcome to join the Club (annual membership fee is only $20) and members and non-members alike are welcome to attend the events and participate in the outings.

Call Lydia Kit at 416-534-5272 to join the Club and June or Lili to register for the special outings.

All meetings are held at the Shevchenko Centre, 626 Bathurst St.

WW IIveteranAnton Kulchin honoured

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Andrew Markow RCM scholarshipannouncedHearing that The Andrew Markow Memorial Scholarship had been established at the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Shevchenko Musical Ensemble Guild, in honour of An-drew’s years as Artistic Director of the Ensemble, contributed to that fund in his honour. In a letter of thanks, Krista O’Don-nell, Chief Development Officer of the RCM, said: “…in the four de-cades as a member of the Conserva-tory’s piano faculty, Andrew touched the lives of many, both in his teach-ing studio and in his work to develop The Conservatory piano syllabus. The Andrew Markow Memorial Scholarship will allow Andrew’s memory to live on by supporting a young piano student studying at the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Acad-emy for Young Artists.” The scholarship will be given to the student demonstrating the great-est financial need. Anyone wishing to participate in this Fund may contact the RCM, 273 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W2, or call 416-408-2824.

‘Celebration Taras’ features Shevchenko ChoirThe second appearance of the Shevchen-ko Choir as part of the Bicentenary of Shevchenko’s birth was as featured guests in a concert presented by the Counterpoint Community Orchestra of Toronto. This was held on March 1 in St. Luke’s United Church. Under the direction of Taras Kowal-czuk, the program was made up entirely of Ukrainian music which was unusual for this orchestra and their loyal audi-ence but certainly did well in introduc-ing, not only different music, but Taras Shevchenko and why he is being cele-brated. Guest artist Victor Mishalow, perform-ing on the bandura, sang a Prélude in Memory of Taras Shevchenko by Yakiv Stepovy, and performed a Concertino for Bandura by Kost Maiskov, arranged by Victor himself. The choir sang two selections to the words of Shevchenko: Hommage à Chevtchenko (from ‘Suite Canadienne’) by Morris Surdin, and I Count the Days and Nights in Captivity (Lichu v Nevoli) by Denys Sichynsky. Soprano Jennifer Rasor and tenor Hassan Anami were soloists in the Finale from ‘A Cossack Beyond the Danube’, the Ukrainian Folk Opera by Semen Hulak-Artemovsky. The first half ended on a high note with the Ukrainian folk song Unharness the Horses, Lads (Roz-pryahaite, khloptsi, koni) with soloist Valeriy Galatsan. The choir’s performance was beau-tifully supported by the symphonic

orchestrations done for this event by Alexander Veprinsky. Good nuances and fine sensitivity were in evidence in all their numbers and the choir and soloists alike were very well received. In the second half of the concert, the symphony opened with the Taras Bulba Overture by Mykola Lysenko followed by Tchaikovsky’s Symphony Nº 2 in C minor known as ‘The Ukrainian’. This orchestra, established in 1984 and incorporated as a nonprofit organi-zation in 2005, was the first Gay-Les-bion-Gay-Positive orchestra in Canada and the world. Taras Kowalczuk, a musicologist/conductor, has been with them since 1998 and has vitalized the orchestra by bringing in new soloists and performers, and by developing a challenging music programme. This was a heartwarming event not only because of the beautiful music, but because the audience of this com-munity orchestra, in the main, are not people of Ukrainian descent, and many of whom may not even have heard of Taras Shevchenko before coming to this concert. Through the music, the words of Vic-tor Mishalow in his introduction, and by the extensive information in the printed program about the music, the compos-ers and Taras Shevchenko himself, a yeoman job was done in acquainting this audience with the life and work of Ukraine’s national poet and why he is revered and celebrated, not only in his Bicentenary year, but always.

Bandurist Victor Mishalow introduces Taras Shevchenko to a new audience

Banquet honours a long-time activistA festive crowd gathered at the Guild’s Annual Banquet on October 20 to hon-our Stan Nazarec, a man who has been active in the Ukrainian and Russian communities since childhood. Fred Panasiuk, an original member of the Shevchenko Male Chorus, acted as MC. Opening the event he invited the guests to enjoy a delicious meal featur-ing both Ukrainian Chicken Kyiv and Russian Pel’meni. Dinner was followed by lively enter-tainment provided by vocalist Svetlana Litvinova accompanied by Vasya Julea on accordion. Svetlana was dressed in a beautiful Russian folk costume. Her repertoire, too, was of Russian folk songs sung in the traditional sonorous folk voice. The performance of this duo was received with warm applause. In the tribute to Stan Nazarec, Ginger Kautto spoke of Stan’s participation in music and Ukrainian language classes, and his beginnings as a dancer in Ft. William with the group sponsored by the International Co-op Stores. After completing Business College, Stan moved to Toronto where he be-came active in the Federation of Russian Canadians. He began teaching dancing in the Russian, Ukrainian and Car-patho-Russian communities. When Troyka, a parcel service and book store, was opened, Stan became its first manager. He learned the Rus-sian language the hard way by reading catalogues and invoices and dealing with Russian personnel. Later Troyka dropped the parcel service and became a unique Russian gift boutique exhibiting at trade shows, Expo ’67 and the Cana-dian National Exhibition. After 26 years at Troyka, Stan decid-ed on a change and bought a 50 acre farm where he planted an acre of garlic. The more he studied garlic and its medicinal benefits, the more interested he became in health products and soon opened his own health food store, the ‘Garlic Grove’. Stan still grows garlic in his huge garden in his backyard. After retirement, Stan became active in Club 626 Seniors. As President for four years, he was the first to introduce

lectures on health topics. In addition to his role in the Club, Stan served on the Board of the Shevchenko Guild, and has been looking after the finances of the Ensemble’s 1000 Club lottery for a number of years. Stan and his wife Evelyn have hosted the Club’s summer bar-b-q in their beautiful backyard for many years, giving bags of fresh grown garlic as door prizes. In her closing remarks, Ginger said: “…it is because of people like Stan, who was called a radical in his youth when he fought for peace and workers’ rights, that we now experience a better world.” The evening ended with the Grand Final Draw of the 1000 Club Lottery conduct-ed by Pat Ignacz.

Fred Panasiuk, MC

Performers Svetlana Litvinova and Vasya Julea

Stan Nazarec expresses his thanksStan pulls the lucky number

Winners in the GRAND FINAL 1000CLUBDRAW•October 20, 2013

$100 - No.630 - Dawn-Ann Zuk No. 218 - Shirley Sawchyn No. 177 - Ginger Kautto No. 520 - Nadia Leshyk No. 728 - Edna Rigby $500 - No. 508 - Lisa Dzatko $1,000 - No. 164 - Olga Dolny

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Mandolin and harp strings: a perfect blend

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The Toronto Mandolin Orchestra played its opening concert this season at Glenn Gould Studio on December 1, 2013. Music lovers, listen up. Anyone who hasn’t heard this talented and brilliantly led ensemble has indeed missed a very good thing. Do you like wonderfully interesting music, delivered in perfect balance with great bass support, sparkling high notes and warm middle range tones? This is what you’ll get. The TMO delivers in spades! The program had lots to offer musi-cally with pieces that provided sensitive moments, mysterious sounding solos, varied and heart-breakingly beautiful melodies and harmonies, bright and cheery performances with great punch and beautifully glorious full-bodied sound. Add to the above, brilliant, envigorating domra solos, ethereal harp sounds and wonderfully floating flute solos. Featured guest artists included a rare combination with Andrew Chan on harp and Anya Podrezo on flute. The TMO’s own concertmaster, Ira Erokhina, also was a featured soloist. The concert opened with the Overture to the opera Taras Bulba by Mykola Lysenko in which the orchestra was per-fecty balanced. The Eine Kleine March by Morris Surdin was very surprising, complete with whistles. It was bright and cheery and very dynamic. Andrew Chan, featured harp soloist, playing a gorgeous instrument, produced a very beautiful sound, both glorious and full-bodied with the orchestra in Handel’s Concerto in B Flat Major. Before his next number, Mr. Chan gave a brief history of the harp which dates back 5,000 years and has been traced to Paris. He then favoured the audience with a lovely piece from Paris. The orchestra, with two specially cho-sen musical selections, expressed their

BY EDWARD LEW

fond memories and gratitude for the vast musical legacy of the recently departed Mary Kuzyk, who served as concert-master for over 60 years. The first, Meditation, was sensitively played by Andrew Chan on harp and Ira Erokhina on domra with the TMO. The milking of the artists was very effective. Budashkin’s Concerto for Domra and Orchestra was also played in memory of Mary. The performance displayed great punch, even with some timing issues. The sensitive harmonies between domra and oboe were heart-breakingly beau-tiful, the accordion solo very sobering, and the solo domra work very crisp and authoritative (it reminded me of the historic 1962 Mercury recording of the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra). The concert’s first half, a “blockbust-er” if you love gorgeous music and great sound, ended with the Overture to the film Children of Captain Grant by Isaak Dunayevsky. Refreshingly unique, this was performed with great energy. Part II of the concert opened with Overture to the operetta Angels’ Quar-ters by Mikis Theodorakis. The first

section is slow and sad with beautifully sensitive Greek flavours, the second happy, the third section played with full symphonic feel to the sound. Sha-Shtil, based on Jewish Folk Songs, featured some mysterious sounding solo playing by Ira Erokhina on domra and there was some noticeable timing imprecision with the orchestra. Romaleska, based on Gypsy themes, contained some gorgeous melodies and harmonies. A completely different sound, light and airy, was evident in Fantasy for Flute, Harp and Orchestra by Canadain Chinese composer Mizi Tan. Featuring Anya Podrezo on flute and Andrew Chan on harp with the mandolins, this sounded great in this venue with flute solos freely flying high. A truly lovely arrangement of Silent Night, orchestrated by Alexander Ve-prinsky and featuring Andrew Chan on harp, surely put a smile on God’s face as he heard this serenely beautiful perfor-mance. Pedlars, based on a Russian folk theme, was competently played, very

Edward Lew received his initial music

instruction at age 8 on piano accordion

from his father, Ivan Lew. He continued

his musical training and music theory at

Prom Music Center in Sudbury and later

completed Royal Conservatory of Music

Grade Ten studies at Karl Pukara School of

Music. He performed with his father’s and

other bands for many years. He also sang

in, directed and accompanied a number

of Ukrainian, Finnish and church choirs in

Sudbury and Kanata. His other interest in

music is as an audiophile & occassional

sound technician.

arousing. For the encore, the orchestra played a brief excerpt from Pedlars. Perhaps it might be a good thing if future encores could feature a different short piece to conclude the show. All in all, a memorable concert, a very enjoyable musical event. Now, if someone can think of a practical way to avoid exhorbitant parking charges in downtown Toronto during special sporting events, we have quite a musical bargain indeed!

The pièce de résistance at any concert: Anya Podrezo getting a “high 5” for her wonder-ful performance from her little daughter Victoria.

Photos compliments of Wayne Gilbert, GPS Digital Photo ImagesAll images copyright © 2013 by GPS. All rights reserved.

Ira Erokhina, Andrew Chan and Toronto Mandolin Orchestra performing Meditation by Jules Massenet conducted by Artistic Director Alexander Veprinsky Anya Podrezo, flute, Andrew Chan harp in Fantasy for Flute, Harp

and Orchestra by Mizi TanMagical fingers of young Andrew Chan

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More Tributes to Mary Kuzykby TAMARA VOLSKAYA

I would like to share my memories of Mary – a person devoted to music, the mandolin and Shevchenko Ensemble – whom I had the pleasure of knowing since 1992. When I met Mary during my first visit to Canada I could see that she carried the great responsibility and pride of be-ing the concertmistress of the mandolin orchestra with immense dignity! My first impression was right. Mary was a person that combined all the fea-tures needed to lead an orchestra: very good rhythm and coordination of play-ing the mandolin, a rich tremolo, well organized technique that allowed her to play without fatigue even as she passed into her nineties, and good reaction to the conductor’s gestures. The next requirements are not very often present. But Mary possessed them in abundance: a queen-like posture, a beautiful facial expression full of charm and energy, and a sense of fashion. Mary came early to rehearsals and concerts to tune the mandolins of many musicians of the orchestra! I remember Mary surrounded by members during a concert intermission. It was very natural for them to obtain a little energy from their leader for the rest of the program. When Mary played her mandolin, she led the line with no hesitations or doubt! I should point out that the personal voice of her mandolin is very well heard on every orchestra recording. The voice of a leader!

by IRA EROKHINAMary was the greatest influence on my life – the most remarkable, amazing woman I ever knew. I feel blessed and privileged to have known her and to have been close to her for the last 13 years. Our friendship grew and deepened with years. She was a big part of my life – my support, shoulder to cry on, my listening ear. Her wisdom and encour-agement helped me in many difficult personal situations. We shared a lot of good, happy times together – playing music, laughing, talking. Through our long conversations I learned a lot about Mary’s childhood and career, about really amazing things, that had happened in her life a long time ago. She was a very intelligent and confident person and she lived her life beautifully. Mary had absolutely no regrets about her life and often told me, that if given a second chance in life, she would not change one thing about it. I will always remember Mary with those sparkles in her eyes. She had an enthu-siasm for life, a deep appreciation of life and she enjoyed life. This is probably the most important lesson I have learned from Mary – how to live a life with joy of living. She nev-er judged people and always was kind to everyone. She was a woman with a great heart and could cry all her tears for everybody else. Music was the biggest passion of Mary’s life. Her role in the creation and success of the Shevchenko Mu-sical Ensemble is beyond calculation. There is no cure for old age, but Mary just couldn’t stop playing, even when she started to have some serious health problems. At the age of 93 she was able to accomplish her dream – she played her last solo recital on violin and man-dolin and she played with the energy and passion of someone half her age, for music kept her young.

Tamara Volskaya and Mary Kuzyk performing Vivaldi’s Concert for Two Mandolins, Columbus Centre, 1992

Mary respected talent and loved to meet talented people. When she liked a performance she showed her feelings and happiness for the performer. It was a pleasure to get a big smile from Mary during a rehearsal or after a concert. Mary was a “trade mark” of the orchestra and will be terribly missed. It would be great to establish a “Mary Kuzyk chair” to have Mary with the orchestra as long as the Shevchenko Ensemble exists. I am sure that her soul will be present at every rehearsal and concert, just like she was there for more than fifty years since the very beginning.

Ira Erokhina and Mary, 2012

Ger Mandolin Orchestra at George Weston Recital Hall, November 7, 2013

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TMO hosts special guests

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Last November members of the Toronto Mandolin Orchestra and Shevchenko Guild had the pleasure of welcoming to their ‘home’ musicians of the Ger Man-dolin Orchestra. The October 2011 issue of the Bul-letin carried an article by Eric Stein about the present day version of the Ger orchestra, its first performance in Berkeley, CA, and their memorable appearance in Poland both in the town of Gora Kalwaria (Ger in Yiddish) and in Warsaw. The founder of Ger, Avner Yonai (USA), while searching for his family roots, found an old photograph of his grandfather playing in a pre-WWII Jewish mandolin orchestra in the town of Gora Kalwaria.This inspired him to create a replica of this orchestra as a memorial to the those who perished in the Holocaust. The visit of the Ger Mandolin Orchestra to Toronto was presented by the Ashkenaz Festival and the Neuberg Holocaust Education Centre as part of Holocaust Education Week. Mike Marshall, one of the world’s most accomplished instrumentalists and a master on the mandolin, was enlist-ed as Music Director of the group. He in turn brought together the very best mandolinists from across North Amer-ica, Europe and Israel to comprise this orchestra. Besides Mike Marshall, members of the orchestra included Chris Acquavella (San Diego) an award-winning classical mandolinist; Tom Cohen (Israel), an ac-complished soloist, composer, arranger and conductor; and Tim Connell (Port-land, OR) a virtuoso multi-instrumental-ist deep into Brazilian and Irish music. Also from Portland is Brian Ober-lin, an internationally acclaimed solo mandolin player and educator; from San Francisco, Dana Rath, classical, bluegrass and folk music; and Adam Roszkiewicz, who also plays classical, bluegrass, country and folk. Don Stiernberg (Chicago) is a lead-ing exponent of jazz mandolin; Jeff Warschauer (Brooklyn) is an interna-tionally renowned guitarist, mandolinist

and Yiddish singer; and Radim Zenkle, originally from Czechoslovakia, is an award-winning mandolin soloist. Our very own Eric Stein played the mando-bass in the orchestra and was deeply involved, as Artistic/Executive Director of Ashkenaz, with organizing their visit and performance in George Weston Recital Hall. Needing rehearsal space, Eric turned to the Shevchenko Ensemble which was only too happy to accomodate the group. With the group’s arrival and first rehearsal, members of the Toronto Mandolin Orchestra prepared a lunch for the guests. TMO members excitedly anticipated the opportunity to meet these amazing musicians and exchange some musical/instrumental facts. The theatre was packed for Ger’s performance on November 7 and every selection was greeted with loud and warm applause. The first half of the program con-tained many traditional Yiddish pieces, mostly arranged by Eric Stein. Ger also presented a Polish Dance Suite, Italian number and a Romanian Med-ley, all superbly performed by these top-notch musicians. In the sec-ond half of the program the individual artists were presented either in solo or in duo and trio performances.

This highlighted some of the unique and unusual techniques these masters have created on the humble mandolin. These performances also featured the variety of genres which are successfully performed on the mandolin. The program notes stated…“the new Ger Mandolin Orchestra stands now not merely as a ‘living memorial’ to one family or community, but to an entire musical and cultural tradition that has sadly disappeared from Jewish life…”. Ger’s performance on November 7 certainly brought that tradition back to life for a very appreciative Toronto audience.

Getting ready for the big show at the Shevchenko Centre

After a nice lunch, time to work

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Long-time Board member remembered Jerry Szach, who passed away in Van-couver last June, will be fondly remembered as an ac-tive Board member from Western Canada who participated in the early years of incorporation of the National Shevchenko Musical Ensemble Guild of Canada. Even from a distance, Jerry was a strong supporter of the work of the Guild and Ensemble. He found in it a fulfillment of his love for his Ukrainian heritage, the music and songs so much a part of this life growing up in Winnipeg. Jerry also acquired a lifelong belief in and fight for social justice which was expressed in his political activities. He loved folk music of all kinds through which he could express his strong feel-ings about justice, peace, and equali-ty. He was a founding member of the Milestones, a popular folk song group in Vancouver which sang in support of peace, freedom and other progressive ideals throughout British Columbia and beyond. In 2009, Jerry revisited his love for writing in an article Playing in the Shadow of the Ukrainian Labour Temple for the publication Manitoba History: the Journal of the Manitoba Historical Society. Jerry went into the travel business and in 1970 he established Travel Unlimit-ed, the first unionized agency in British Columbia, and opened offices in Van-couver, Winnipeg and Regina.

Board of DirectorsNational Shevchenko Musical Ensemble Guild of Canada

Elected January 26, 2014

André Denton, PresidentFlorenz Seychuk, Vice-President

Myron Shatulsky, Vice-President, Western CanadaJanet Stewart-Smith, Vice-President, Quebec

Pat Ignacz, Recording SecretaryGinger Kautto, Treasurer

Alexander Veprinsky, Artistic DirectorMembers:

Annual Guild MeetingOutgoing Guild President André Den-ton, in his report to the Guild’s General Membership meeting held on January 26, noted the progress made over the last year in several areas of work. He report-ed that the new web site was successful-ly up and running (www.shevchenkomu-sic.com), and that work is progressing on the review of the Constitution. This review is necessitated by the federal government’s new Not-for-Profit Corporations Act in which all federally incorporated organizations must review and replace its letters patent and by-laws with new charter documents in order to obtain a Certificate of Continuance. A separate committee has been working preparing a draft of possible changes which will be brought to the Board for discussion and then to a special mem-bership meeting to finalize and adopt whatever changes may be submitted to the government for this transition.André indicated the priorities of the in-

coming Board will be the administration and better use of the building. Artistic Director Alexander Veprinsky reviewed the season’s cultural events, including the very fine, but sad, Tribute to Mary Kuzyk. He proposed the estab-lishment of a music studio to teach more than mandolin or domra; that we have more concerts with other ethnic groups; and that the orchestra collaborate in con-cert with the Counterpoint Community Orchestra in the following season. During discussion there was a call to better nuture the Guild, the Ensemble’s supportive body, as this organization is unique among performing arts groups in Toronto. It was proposed that our building be used for professional music lessons, both vocal and instrumental, and rehearsals of small arts groups. It was also proposed the Board research and implement an apprenticeship fund for administration.

Karen Fydenchuk Yelena GarberJune Morris Gregg Sperlin Larissa Stavroff

Ontario Rudy Wasylenky

Manitoba Janet ReiseckerHazel Skulsky

Sunday, April 13/14 • 2 PMThe Beauty, Wonder & Power of the English LanguageAn interesting talk on the many intriguing things about the English language you may not know.Speaker, John Boyd. (see story this page). A delicious pot-luck luncheon included.Ukrainian Cultural Centre1604 Bloor St. WCall 416-533-2725 for tickets

Sunday, April 27/14Toronto Mandolin Orchestra with vocal & instrumental soloistsSt. Andrew’s Anglican ChurchScarborough7:30 PM

Sunday, May 18/14 • 3 PMMarking the Bicentenary of Taras ShevchenkoShevchenko Musical EnsembleWandering “Kobzar”Desna Ukrainian Dance Co.Taras. H. Shevchenko Museumat St. Michael’s College SchoolCentre for the Arts1515 Bathurst StTickets: $35 adult/ $15 studentCall 416-533-2725info-sme@bellnet.ca

Thursday, May 29/14 • 7:30 PMToronto Mandolin OrchestraChristie Gardens Residence602 Melita Cres, Toronto

Sunday, October 19/14Annual BanquetKing’s Garden Banquet Hall15 Canmotor AveToronto

November 30/14 • 2:00 PMToronto Mandolin OrchestraA new program (with exciting new guest soloists) in a new venue.Trinity-St. Paul Church(home of Tafelmusik)427 Bloor Street West,west of Spadina Ave.Follow our website (www.shevchen-komusic.com) for information.

what’s happening?How’s your English?The beauty, wonder and power of the English language will intrigue those who attend the lecture by John Boyd on Sunday, April 13 at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre. Even more intriguing and amazing is the fact that John Boyd, this January, turned 101 years old. On a number of occasions John has given short talks at meetings of Club 626 Seniors, but he has delivered this particular ‘paper’ to other groups on per-haps 5 or 6 occasions, both in Toronto and Montreal. In his speech John will answer some questions often pondered: • why do we have spelling in English but not in most other languages? • why does the English language have so many synonyms, antonyms and homonyms? • George Bernard Shaw once concocted the five-letter word “phot.i”. What was he trying to prove?

John Boyd at his 100th birthday party, 2013

To hear the answers to these and other mysteries, come out to this unusual affair on April 13. The event is being presented by the Shevchenko Musical Ensemble. There will be a delicious pot-luck luncheon to complete the afternoon. Call the Ensemble office at 416-533-2725 for more information and tickets. Mark your calendar now so you don’t miss John Boyd and his popular talk about the language we all speak but probably are not aware of the reasons (or non-reasons!) for its eccentricity.

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Call 416-533-2725Email: info-sme@bellnet.ca

Saskatchewan Norman Sawchyn

British Columbia Natalia Denton

Mary Fedosenko

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SHEVCHENKO MUSICAL ENSEMBLE

Marking the Bicentenary of Ukraine’s national poet Taras Shevchenko 1814 d 2014

Alexander Veprinsky, Artistic Director

guest artists

VICTOR MISHALOW BanduraR. H. THOMSON NarratorDESNA UKRAINIAN DANCE CO.TARAS H. SHEVCHENKO MUSEUM PART I

Celebrating Shevchenko’s life and work through song, music and dance including a presentation of his paintings

PART IIA varied program of Ukrainian, Canadian and other songs and music reflecting Shevchenko’s legacy of equality and freedom

Sunday, May 18 • 3pmSt. Michael’s College SchoolCentre for the Arts1515 Bathurst Street a half block north of St. Clair, east side of Bathurst, steps from St. Clair West station

$35 adult $15 studentVISA accepted, add $2 per ticketCall 416-533-2725 info-sme@bellnet.ca

Presented by the National Shevchenko Musical Ensemble Guild of Canada

with the support of the Toronto Arts Council and the Shevchenko Foundation of Winnipeg

Shevchenko Choir, Toronto Mandolin Orchestraand Vocal and Instrumental soloists