.5-%2 -!2#( !4(523434 4/2/.4/ /.)33. Toronto Mandolin Orchestra a … · 2013. 7. 25. · .5-"%2...

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Toronto Mandolin Orchestra a triumph in Welland Virtuoso performances bring crowd to its feet was the heading in the Welland Tribune reviewing the concert present ed by the Toronto Mandolin Orchestra on December 4. The concert, second in the series of the WellandPort Colborne Con cert Association, was performed to a sold out audience of over 1,100. The concert was special in that it was dedicated to the memory of the late Philip Crouch who was “a pillar” in the Association. His daughter Leanne, in making the dedication, noted that it was particularly tting that this concert be dedicated in his memory as Philip Crouch was of Ukrainian parentage and loved and appreciated his heritage. Featured performers with theToron to Mandolin Orchestra were Tamara Volskaya and Anatoliy Tromov who “…electried the audience” with “ying ngers demonstrating extraor dinary skills”. Tamara Volskaya, who performs on the 4string domra is a Merited Artist of Russia and a winner of many competitions. She has trav elled widely both as a soloist and as part of their Russian Duo. Anatoliy Tromov is a Professor of his instrument the bayan. His arrange ments for this duo and other groups Ira Erokhina, TMO resident domra soloist, amazed the Welland audience. The “Russian Duo” Tamara Volskaya andAnatoliy Tromov kept the audience spell bound with their “…extraordinary skills…”on their respctive instruments. more on page 3 reect a high degree of musicianship and creativity. The repertoire of this famous Russian Duo ranges from folk tunes to some of the great classics originally written for violin. The Duo presented two sets of Russian, Ukrainian and classical selec tions. Specially arranged for them by Anatoliy, the William Tell Overture performed by a single domra and bay an, made one think you were listening to a complete orchestra. Ira Erokhina, the TMO’s resident soloist, was outstanding in her perfor mance of Russian Gypsy Variations and the Introduction and Waltz from the lm Dr. Zhivago.

Transcript of .5-%2 -!2#( !4(523434 4/2/.4/ /.)33. Toronto Mandolin Orchestra a … · 2013. 7. 25. · .5-"%2...

  • Toronto Mandolin Orchestra a triumph in Welland Virtuoso�  

performances�  

bring�  

crowd�  

to�  

its�  

feet�  

was�  

the�  

heading�  

in�  

the�  

Welland�  

Tribune�  

reviewing�  

the�  

concert�  

present-ed�  

by�  

the�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra�  

on�  

December�  

4.

    The�  

concert,�  

second�  

in�  

the�  

series�  

of�  

the�  

Welland-Port�  

Colborne�  

Con-cert�  

Association,�  

was�  

performed�  

to�  

a�  

sold�  

out�  

audience�  

of�  

over�  

1,100.�  

The�  

concert�  

was�  

special�  

in�  

that�  

it�  

was�  

dedicated�  

to�  

the�  

memory�  

of�  

the�  

late�  

Philip�  

Crouch�  

who�  

was�  

“a�  

pillar”�  

in�  

the�  

�  

Association.�  

His�  

daughter�  

Leanne,�  

in�  

making�  

the�  

dedication,�  

noted�  

that�  

it�  

was�  

particularly�  

fitting�  

that�  

this�  

concert�  



    be�  

dedicated�  

in�  

his�  

memory�  

as�  

Philip�  

Crouch�  

was�  

of�  

Ukrainian�  

parentage�  

and�  

loved�  

and�  

appreciated�  

his�  

heritage.

    Featured�  

performers�  

with�  

theToron-to�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra�  

were�  

Tamara�  

Volskaya�  

and�  

Anatoliy�  

Trofimov�  

who�  

“…electrified�  

the�  

audience”�  

with�  

�  

“flying�  

fingers�  

demonstrating�  

extraor-dinary�  

skills”.�  

Tamara�  

Volskaya,�  

who�  

performs�  

on�  

the�  

4-string�  

domra�  

is�  

a�  

Merited�  

Artist�  

of�  

Russia�  

and�  

a�  

winner�  

of�  

many�  

competitions.�  

She�  

has�  

trav-elled�  

widely�  

both�  

as�  

a�  

soloist�  

and�  

as�  

part�  

of�  

their�  

Russian�  

Duo.

    Anatoliy�  

Trofimov�  

is�  

a�  

Professor�  

of�  

his�  

instrument�  

the�  

bayan.�  

His�  

arrange-ments�  

for�  

this�  

duo�  

and�  

other�  

groups�  



    Ira�  

Erokhina,�  

TMO�  

resident�  

domra�  

soloist,�  

amazed�  

the�  

Welland�  

audience.

    The�  

“Russian�  

Duo”�  

Tamara�  

Volskaya�  

and�  

Anatoliy�  

Trofimov�  

kept�  

the�  

audience�  

spell�  

bound�  

with�  

their�  

“…extraordinary�  

skills…”on�  

their�  

respctive�  

instruments.

    more on page 3

    reflect�  

a�  

high�  

degree�  

of�  

musicianship�  

and�  

creativity.�  

The�  

repertoire�  

of�  

this�  

famous�  

Russian�  

Duo�  

ranges�  

from�  

folk�  

tunes�  

to�  

some�  

of�  

the�  

great�  

classics�  



    originally�  

written�  

for�  

violin.�  

The�  

Duo�  

presented�  

two�  

sets�  

of�  



    Russian,�  

Ukrainian�  

and�  

classical�  

selec-tions.�  

Specially�  

arranged�  

for�  

them�  

by�  

Anatoliy,�  

the�  

William�  

Tell�  

Overture�  

performed�  

by�  

a�  

single�  

domra�  

and�  

bay-an,�  

made�  

one�  

think�  

you�  

were�  

listening�  

to�  

a�  

complete�  

orchestra.�  



    Ira�  

Erokhina,�  

the�  

TMO’s�  

resident�  

soloist,�  

was�  

outstanding�  

in�  

her�  

perfor-mance�  

of�  

Russian�  

Gypsy�  

Variations�  

and�  

the�  

Introduction�  

and�  

Waltz�  

from�  

the�  

film�  

Dr.�  

Zhivago.

  • Amount

    2

    The�  

new�  

CD�  

of�  

the�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra,�  

a�  

retrospective�  

on�  

50�  

years�  

from�  

1956�  

to�  

2006,�  

is�  

now�  

available.

    It�  

covers�  

performances�  

from�  

vari-ous�  

venues�  

such�  

as�  

school�  

auditori-ums,�  

Massey�  

Hall,�  

Manitoba�  

Centen-nial�  

Centre,�  

Quinte�  

Arts�  

Council�  

in�  

Belleville�  

and�  

others.�  

Selections�  

on�  

the�  

CD�  

are�  

conducted�  

by�  

the�  

three�  

conductors�  

who�  

worked�  

with�  

the�  

TMO�  

over�  

the�  

fifty�  

years:�  

Eugene�  

Dolny�  

for�  

�  

almost�  

30�  

years,�  

Andrew�  

Markow�  

for�  

10�  

years�  

and�  

Alexander�  

Verprinsky�  

in�  

the�  

latter�  

10�  

years.

    The�  

price�  

of�  

the�  

CD�  

is�  

$20.00�  

plus�  

$4.00�  

shipping�  

and�  

handling�  

in�  

Canada�  

(USA�  

orders�  

$5.00�  

Cdn).�  

Interested�  

people�  

may�  

call�  

the�  

Ensemble�  

office�  

at�  

416-533-2725,�  

send�  

an�  

e-mail�  

to:�  

[email protected],�  

�  

or�  

fill�  

out�  

and�  

return�  

the�  

order�  

form�  

below.

    CD Programme

    Hopak................... A. Shtoharenko

    Musical Moment............ A. Petrov

    Just a Plain Song......... B. Kiyanov

    Caucasian Sketes............................

    .........................M. Ippolitov-Ivanov Suite Nº 1

    Solveig’s Song.................. E. Grieg from Peer Gynt

    Russian Fantasy........N. Budashkin

    Lad With a Concertina.G. Sviridov

    Ukrainian Symphony........Unknown1st Movement

    Eine Kleine Xylophone.. .M. SurdinSoloist: Lydia Ciglan

    Polka................... D. Shostakovichfrom Ballet Suite Nº 2

    Evening Bells...............A. Mosolov

    Barrel Organ Waltz........................

    ............................ D. Shostakovich

    La Paloma.......... Cuban Folk SongSoloist: Ira Erokhina, domra

    Ukrainian Rhapsody... I. LevytskySoloist: Tamara Volskaya, domra

    Burlesque............ D. ShostakovichFinale of Violin Concerto Nº 1

    Soloist: Tamara Volskaya, domra

    Flight of the Bumble Bee...............

    .......................N. Rimsky-KorsakovSoloist: Ira Erokhina, domra

    The�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra,�  

with�  

outstanding�  

instrumental�  

and�  

vocal�  

soloists,�  

will�  

present�  

the�  

“2nd�  

Annual�  

Romanza”�  

on�  

Saturday,�  

April�  

9�  

in�  

the�  

King’s�  

Garden�  

Banquet�  

Hall.

    Last�  

year’s�  

event�  

was�  

a�  

huge�  

success�  

and�  

people�  

are�  

now�  

looking�  

forward�  

to�  

another�  

night�  

of�  

“dancing�  

and�  

romance”�  

to�  

the�  

mandolin�  

music�  

of�  

this�  

exceptional�  

orchestra.�  



    Artistic�  

Director�  

Alexander�  

Veprin-sky�  

and�  

the�  

orchestra�  

are�  

working�  

on�  

a�  

new�  

program�  

of�  

waltzes,�  

polkas,�  

songs�  

from�  

operettas�  

and�  

classical�  

arias.�  



    �  

The�  

roster�  

of�  

soloists�  

to�  

appear�  

on�  

April�  

9�  

includes�  

domra�  

virtuoso�  

Ira�  

Erokhina�  

with�  

the�  

“Waltz”�  

from�  

Dr.�  

Zhivago,�  

and�  

vocal�  

soloists�  

Helen�  

Spi-ers,�  

Artour�  

Razgoev,�  

Tetyana�  

Shkym-ba,�  

Tanya�  

Podolskaya�  

and�  

Herman�  

Rombouts.�  

The�  

mandolin�  

orchestra,�  

of�  

course,�  

will�  

provide�  

music�  

to�  

which�  

�  

the�  

audience�  

will�  

dance.�  



    In�  

addition�  

to�  

the�  

concert,�  

hors�  

d’oeuves�  

and�  

wine�  

at�  

each�  

table�  

is�  

�  

included�  

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the�  

admission�  

price�  

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    Seating�  

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so�  

we�  

urge�  

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to�  

organize�  

your�  

table�  

party�  

(up�  

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10�  

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table),�  

get�  

you�  

dancing�  

shoes�  

ready�  

and�  

order�  

your�  

tickets�  

now�  

by�  

calling�  

416-533-2725.

    Romanza2nd  Annual TMO�  

Retrospective�  

CD

    ORDER�  

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TORONTO�  

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  • 3

    Tetyana�  

Shkymba,�  

who�  

sang�  

the�  

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folk�  

song�  

Handzia�  

and�  

Karambolina�  

from�  

Kalman’s�  

operetta�  

“The�  

Violet�  

of�  

Montmarte”;�  

tenor�  

Artour�  

Razgoev�  

who�  

sang�  

Caruso�  

and�  

Nessun�  

Dorma;�  

and�  

clarinet�  

soloists�  

Mykola�  

Stadnyk�  

and�  

Pavel�  

Markelov�  

performing�  

Intermezzo,�  

were�  

all�  

“bril-liant�  

in�  

their�  

respective�  

performances”.�  

�  



    No�  

less�  

than�  

“heart�  

stopping”,�  

in�  

the�  

words�  

of�  

the�  

Tribune�  

reviewer,�  

were�  

the�  

dances�  

by�  

the�  

Desna�  

Ukrai-nian�  

Dance�  

Co.�  

which�  

were�  

received�  

with�  

loud�  

applause.

    One�  

of�  

the�  

highlights�  

of�  

the�  

eve-ning�  

was�  

the�  

performance�  

of�  

Tamara�  

Volskaya�  

with�  

the�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra�  

as�  

she�  

played�  

Ukrainian�  

Rhapsody�  

by�  

I.�  

Levytsky�  

in�  

the�  

first�  

half.�  

At�  

the�  

end�  

the�  

concert�  

was�  

�  

brought�  

to�  

a�  

resounding�  

climax�  

with�  

her�  

performance�  

of�  

Gershwin’s�  

Rhap-sody�  

in�  

Blue�  

arranged�  

for�  

solo�  

domra�  

and�  

orchestra�  

by�  

Mr.�  

Veprinsky.

    Volunteers�  

of�  

the�  

Concert�  

Associa-tion,�  

and�  

the�  

cooking�  

class�  

at�  

Centen-nial�  

Secondary�  

School,�  

�  

prepared�  

a�  



    TMO in Welland from page 1 delicious�  

hot�  

turkey�  

dinner�  

with�  

all�  

the�  

trimmings�  

for�  

the�  

performers.�  

�  



    Appearing�  

in�  

the�  

Dr.�  

Ennis�  

Audi-torium�  

of�  

the�  

Centennial�  

Secondary�  

School,�  

for�  

some�  

Ensemble�  

members,�  

was�  

déjà�  

vu. On�  

a�  

number�  

of�  

occasions�  

in�  

the�  

1970s�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Male�  

Chorus�  

and�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orches-tra,�  

then�  

under�  

the�  

direction�  

of�  

Eugene�  

Dolny,�  

performed�  

in�  

this�  

same�  

theatre.

    Congratulatory�  

MessageFollowing�  

this�  

memorable�  

concert�  



    of�  

December�  

4�  

congratulations�  

were�  

received�  

�  

from�  

Stella�  

Crouch,�  

Artistic�  

Director�  

of�  

the�  

Welland-Port�  

Colborne�  

Concert�  

Association.

    She�  

wrote:�  

“What�  

a�  

wonderful�  

con-cert�  

the�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra�  

performed�  

for�  

the�  

Welland�  

audience!�  



    Desna�  

dancer�  

flying�  

high�  

in�  

Hopak!

    The�  

saucy�  

Karambolina�  

aka�  

Tetyana.Artour’s�  

beautiful�  

tenor�  

voice�  

thrilled�  

the�  

Welland�  

audience.

    Clarinet�  

duet�  

by�  

Mykola�  

Stadnyk�  

and�  

Pavel�  

Markelov.

    Taking�  

a�  

bow�  

after�  

“Pedlars”�  

encore�  

performed�  

by�  

soloists�  

and�  

orchestra.

    The�  

comments�  

we�  

heard�  

were�  

‘best�  

concert�  

ever’�  

over�  

and�  

over�  

again.”

    “The�  

soloists�  

played�  

brilliantly.�  

The�  

dancers�  

were�  

dazzling�  

and�  

so�  

precise�  

–�  

they�  

could�  

rival�  

any�  

other�  

profes-sional�  

dance�  

companies.�  

The�  

Master�  

of�  

Ceremonies�  

(Richard�  

Szymczyk.�  

Ed.)�  

did�  

a�  

superb�  

job�  

introducing�  

the�  

vari-ous�  

acts.�  

It�  

added�  

to�  

the�  

performance.”

    Ms.�  

Crouch�  

went�  

on�  

to�  

say�  

she�  

would�  

be�  

“…happy�  

to�  

recommend�  

this�  

concert�  

to�  

any�  

other�  

presenter.”

    Indeed,�  

the�  

performers,�  

including�  

Artistic�  

Director�  

Alexander�  

Veprinsky,�  

although�  

tired,�  

were�  

elated�  

knowing�  

they�  

had�  

been�  

rewarded�  

with�  

a�  

long�  

and�  

tumultuous�  

standing�  

ovation�  

by�  

a�  

capacity�  

audience�  

of�  

the�  

Welland-Port�  

Colborne�  

Concert�  

Association.

  • 4

    Alexander�  

Veprinsky�  

honoured�  

at�  

Annual�  

Banquet�  

The�  

Annual�  

Banquet�  

of�  

the�  

Shevchen-ko�  

Musical�  

Ensemble,�  

held�  

on�  

Sunday,�  

October�  

24,�  

recognized�  

Alexander�  

Ve-prinsky,�  

Artistic�  

Director�  

of�  

the�  

Ensem-ble,�  

for�  

his�  

outstanding�  

contribution�  

to�  

the�  

artistic�  

life�  

of�  

this�  

performing�  

group�  

over�  

the�  

past�  

15�  

years.

    To�  

open�  

the�  

evening,�  

Master�  

of�  

Ceremonies�  

Edna�  

Rigby�  

welcomed�  

patrons�  

and�  

raised�  

a�  

toast�  

to�  

Alexander�  

for�  

his�  

continued�  

good�  

health�  

and�  

suc-cess�  

in�  

his�  

work�  

with�  

the�  

Ensemble.

    After�  

a�  

delicious�  

Ukrainian�  

meal�  

in�  

the�  

King’s�  

Garden�  

Banquet�  

Hall,�  

Edna�  

read�  

greetings�  

to�  

Alexander�  

and�  

the�  

gathering�  

from�  

Tamara�  

Volskaya�  

of�  

New�  

York.�  

Recalling�  

her�  

first�  

meeting�  

with�  

Alexander,�  

Tamara�  

said�  

she�  

met�  

“...the ideal person to work with! an in-dividual with the same attitude towards music, the same energy and desire to fulfill ideas, the same emotions neces-sary to bring an orchestra to the heights of genuine musical achievement.”

    The�  

main�  

presentation,�  

given�  

by�  

Ginger�  

Kautto,�  

related�  

some�  

of�  

Al-exander’s�  

background,�  

especially�  

the�  

high�  

level�  

of�  

education�  

and�  

training�  

he�  

received�  

at�  

the�  

Lviv�  

Conservatory�  

of�  

Music�  

in�  

Ukraine.�  

However,�  

this�  

did�  

not�  

�  

take�  

away�  

from�  

his�  

natural�  

talent�  

as�  

a�  

musician�  

which�  

he�  

displayed�  

as�  

a�  

young�  

child�  

when�  

his�  

parents�  

started�  

him�  

on�  

piano�  

at�  

the�  

age�  

of�  

five.�  

He�  

loved�  

the�  

piano,�  

and�  

showing�  

promis-ing�  

talent,�  

his�  

parents�  

enrolled�  

him�  

at�  

age�  

7�  

in�  

the�  

all-day�  

music�  

school.�  

Alexander�  

learned�  

to�  

play�  

the�  

balalaika�  



    and�  

a�  

little�  

bit�  

of�  

domra.�  

Observing�  

his�  

teachers�  

and�  

other�  

musicians�  

in�  

theatre,�  

he�  

became�  

interested�  

in�  

the�  

magic�  

of�  

conducting�  

and�  

began�  

lessons�  

in�  

that�  

discipline�  

as�  

well.

    When�  

he�  

completed�  

music�  

school�  

and�  

was�  

ready�  

for�  

high�  

school,�  

he�  

wasn’t�  

sure�  

he�  

wanted�  

to�  

continue�  

in�  

music.�  

He�  

liked�  

to�  

experience�  

differ-ent�  

things�  

and�  

was�  

particularly�  

keen�  

on�  

mathematics.�  

But�  

all�  

his�  

teachers�  

advised�  

that�  

with�  

his�  

gift�  

in�  

music,�  

he�  

should�  

pursue�  

that�  

field.�  

A�  

typical�  

teenager,�  

Alexander�  

pro-

    tested.�  

He�  

wanted�  

to�  

try�  

something�  

else.�  

Finally,�  

in�  

order�  

to�  

convince�  

him�  

to�  

enter�  

the�  

music�  

college,�  

his�  

parents�  

bribed�  

him�  

with�  

the�  

gift�  

of�  

a�  

fancy�  

tape�  

recorder�  

of�  

the�  

day.

    After�  

college,�  

he�  

entered�  

the�  

pres-tigious�  

Mykola�  

Lysenko�  

Conservatory�  

of�  

Music�  

in�  

Lviv�  

where�  

his�  

life�  

was�  

steeped�  

in�  

Ukrainian�  

folk�  

and�  

con-temporary�  

music,�  

music�  

of�  

the�  

great�  

classical�  

composers�  

of�  

the�  

western�  

world�  

as�  

well�  

as�  

Ukraine�  

and�  

Russia,�  

and�  

new�  

genres�  

of�  

music.�  

Majoring�  

in�  

operatic-symphonic�  

conducting�  

opened�  

his�  

eyes�  

and�  

ears�  

to�  

the�  

world�  

of�  

opera,�  

symphony�  

and�  

musical�  

theatre.

    After�  

graduation�  

he�  

conducted�  

at�  

a�  

number�  

of�  

musical�  

theatres�  

and�  

it�  

was�  

during�  

this�  

period�  

that�  

Alexander�  

was�  

inspired�  

to�  

try�  

his�  

hand�  

at�  

composing.�  

One�  

of�  

his�  

major�  

accomplishments�  

was�  

creating�  

original�  

music�  

to�  

Olga�  

Kobylianska’s�  

story�  

“U�  

Nedilya�  

rano�  

zilya�  

kopala”�  

which�  

was�  

endorsed�  

by�  



    #1.Here‘s�  

‘Billy�  

the�  

Kid’–�  

with�  

�  

long�  

mous-tache�  

but�  

without�  

the�  

gun�  

and�  

holster.�  

It’s�  

Alexander’s�  

graduation�  

photo�  

from�  

the�  

Lviv�  

Conservatory.�  

�  

We�  

used�  

this�  

photo�  

to�  

introduce�  

Alexander�  

to�  

our�  

readership�  

hoping�  

they�  

didn’t�  

think�  

we�  

were�  

changing�  

our�  

repertoire�  

to�  

coun-try�  

and�  

western.

    #2.This�  

is�  

Alexander’s�  

famous�  

‘louder,�  

louder,�  

arms-out-to-the-sides’�  

posture.This�  

is�  

one�  

of�  

the�  

basic�  

movements�  

which�  

you,�  

the�  

audience,�  

see�  

as�  

you�  

sit�  

back�  

and�  

enjoy�  

the�  

music.�  

But�  

let’s�  

go�  

to�  

the�  

other�  

side�  

to�  

witness�  

the�  

spectacle�  

from�  

the�  

perspective�  

of�  

the�  

singers�  

and�  

musicians.

    #3.As�  

the�  

concert�  

begins,�  

you�  

can�  

see�  

that�  

Alexander�  

is�  

relaxed,�  

his�  

blood�  

pressure�  

quite�  

normal.�  

That�  

makes�  

us�  

feel�  

good,�  

confident�  

we�  

can�  

perform�  

well�  

and�  

not�  

only�  

please�  

Alexander,�  

but�  

the�  

audience�  

as�  

well.

    #4.�  

Everything�  

still�  

going�  

relatively�  

smoothly,�  

no�  

anxiety�  

yet.�  

Alexander�  

gently�  

motions�  

for�  

the�  

mandolas�  

to�  

keep�  

it�  

at�  

a�  

pianissimo.�  

Blood�  

pressue�  

still�  

normal.

    #5.�  

Alexander’s�  

still�  

tying�  

to�  

get�  

a�  

pianissimo�  

(we�  

are�  

often�  

slow�  

to�  

react).�  

He�  

is�  

still�  

quite�  

calm�  

and�  

this�  

gives�  

us�  

confi-dence�  

we�  

will�  

get�  

through�  

this�  

�  

half�  

of�  

the�  

concert�  

without�  

major�  

castastrophe.

    #6.�  

This�  

is�  

a�  

very�  

unique�  

movement.�  

We�  

call�  

it�  

the�  

‘raindrop�  

from�  

above’.�  

It�  

means…�  

and�  

here�  

I’ll�  

quote�  

Alexander…“JUST�  

CUT�  

IT!�  

I�  

SAID,�  

JUST�  

CUT�  

IT!”

  • 5

    the�  

Ministry�  

of�  

Culture�  

of�  

Ukraine.He�  

wrote�  

original�  

music�  

to�  



    Shevchenko’s�  

“Naimychka”�  

and�  

a�  

number�  

of�  

smaller�  

theatrical�  

shows.�  

Alexander�  

also�  

composed�  

a�  

number�  

of�  

songs,�  

some�  

of�  

which�  

took�  

prizes�  

in�  

competition.�  

His�  

most�  

recent�  

composi-tion�  

is�  

the�  

very�  

moving�  

song�  

he�  

wrote�  

to�  

his�  

eldest�  

daughter�  

on�  

the�  

occasion�  

of�  

her�  

marriage�  

just�  

two�  

years�  

ago.

    In�  

1993�  

the�  

Veprinsky�  

family�  

moved�  

to�  

Canada�  

and�  

shortly�  

after�  

Alexander�  

arrived�  

at�  

the�  

door�  

of�  

the�  

Ensemble�  

office.�  

Ginger�  

Kautto�  

recalled�  

that�  

day�  

“…for�  

a�  

minute�  

I�  

thought�  

I�  

was�  

looking�  

at�  

‘Billy�  

the�  

Kid’�  

–�  

Alexander�  

with�  

a�  

long�  

western-style�  

moustache,�  

only�  

without�  

a�  

gun�  

and�  

holster.�  

In�  

beautiful�  

Ukrainian�  

Alexander�  

presented�  

his�  

credentials.�  

I�  

was�  

immediately�  

taken,�  

not�  

only�  

by�  

his�  

impressive�  

musical�  

education�  

and�  

experience,�  

but�  

by�  

his�  

modesty�  

and�  

sincerity.”

    The�  

tribute�  

continued�  

to�  

speak�  

of�  

Alexander’s�  

creativity�  

which�  

has�  

brought�  

many�  

new�  

ideas�  

in�  

program-ming�  

to�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Choir�  

and�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra.�  

Alexan-der�  

pursues�  

his�  

dream�  

of�  

always�  

doing�  

something�  

bigger�  

and�  

more�  

challeng-ing,�  

regardless�  

of�  

how�  

much�  

work�  

it�  

means�  

for�  

him.�  

His�  

numerous,�  

and�  

very�  

challenging,�  

arrangements�  

and�  

orches-trations�  

are�  

a�  

fine�  

example�  

of�  

this.�  

All�  

this�  

has�  

significantly�  

raised�  

the�  

level�  

of�  

performance�  

of�  

the�  

singers�  

and�  

musi-cians�  

of�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Ensemble.

    But�  

the�  

evening�  

wasn’t�  

all�  

a�  

serious�  

speech�  

about�  

a�  

serious�  

man.�  

We�  

also�  

wanted�  

to�  

acquaint�  

the�  

audience�  

with�  



    a�  

little�  

more�  

of�  

Alexander’s�  

life,�  

with�  

those�  

aspects�  

of�  

his�  

work�  

with�  

the�  

En-semble�  

with�  

which�  

the�  

audience�  

would�  

not�  

be�  

familiar.�  



    With�  

the�  

help�  

of�  

Byron�  

Kautto,�  

a�  

slide�  

show�  

was�  

presented,�  

complete�  

with�  

theatrical�  

narration�  

by�  

Ginger,�  

which�  

showed�  

�  

“A�  

New�  

Perspective�  

on�  

Alexander�  

Veprinsky”�  

as�  

seen�  

by�  

the�  

performers�  

but�  

never�  

the�  

audience.(Follow�  

the�  

photos�  

by�  

number�  

to�  

see�  

the�  

slide�  

show).

    Although�  

taken�  

by�  

surprise�  

by�  

the�  

slide�  

show,�  

Alexander�  

composed�  

him-self�  

enough�  

to�  

sincerely�  

thank�  

every-one�  

for�  

the�  

evening�  

and�  

for�  

welcoming�  

him�  

and�  

his�  

family�  

into�  

the�  

Shevchen-ko�  

family.�  



    Another�  

highlight�  

of�  

the�  

evening�  

was�  

the�  

entertainment�  

by�  

the�  

“Prut”�  

�  

Band,�  

a�  

group�  

of�  

5�  

musicians�  

and�  

vocals�  

on�  

accordion,�  

guitar,�  

violin,�  

and�  

saxaphone�  

who�  

played�  

a�  

set�  

of�  

popular�  

contemporary�  

Ukrainian�  

songs.�  

The�  

icing�  

on�  

the�  

cake�  

was�  

Alexander�  

join-ing�  

“Prut”�  

to�  

sing�  

“Chervona�  

Ruta”�  

in�  

his�  

fine�  

tenor�  

voice.

    Edna�  

Rigby�  

then�  

called�  

on�  

Florenz�  

Seychuk�  

and�  

Stan�  

Nazarec�  

to�  

conduct�  

the�  

Grand�  

Final�  

Draw�  

of�  

the�  

1000�  

Club�  

Lottery.�  



    Florenz�  

emphasized�  

the�  

importance�  

for�  

the�  

Guild�  

of�  

this�  

successful�  

fund-raising�  

event�  

and�  

thanked�  

all�  

partici-pants�  

for�  

their�  

generous�  

support�  

for�  

more�  

than�  

30�  

years.�  

The�  

numbers�  

then�  

rolled�  

out�  

of�  

the�  

drum�  

picking�  

the�  

win-ners�  

of�  

the�  

Grand�  

Final�  

Draw.�  

�  

�  



    #7.�  

Now�  

we’re�  

about�  

half�  

way�  

through�  

and�  

feeling�  

pretty�  

good�  

about�  

ourselves,�  

although�  

it�  

looks�  

like�  

Alexander�  

is�  

having�  

second�  

thoughts�  

about�  

being�  

a�  

conductor�  

after�  

all.�  

But�  

some-thing�  

gets�  

his�  

attention…

    #8.�  

YIKES!!�  



    WHO?�  

WHO�  

ON�  

EARTH�  

IS�  

PLAYING�  

IN�  

THE�  

WRONG�  

KEY??

    #9.�  

Alexander’s�  

blood�  

pressure�  

is�  

rising,�  

he’s�  

motioning�  

to�  

us�  

(with�  

a�  

great�  

deal�  

of�  

emotion)�  

to�  

bring�  

the�  

volume�  

down�  

and�  

�  

WATCH�  

YOUR�  

NOTES!

    #10.�  

We’re�  

heading�  

to�  

the�  

climax�  

of�  

the�  

concert�  

now�  

and�  

Alexander’s�  

piercing�  

eyes�  

are�  

a�  

clear�  

indication�  

that�  

we’re�  

not�  

doing�  

so�  

well.�  

Although�  

we�  

are�  

half�  

frightened�  

out�  

of�  

our�  

wits,�  

we�  

try�  

our�  

best�  

but�  

…

    #11.“NO!�  

NO!�  

That’s�  

not�  

what�  

I�  

want!�  

And�  

cellos!�  

Cellos!�  

How�  

many�  

times�  

do�  

I�  

have�  

to�  

remind�  

you�  

that�  

you�  

have�  

5�  

sharps??

    #12.�  

Well,�  

we�  

survive,�  

as�  

we�  

always�  

do,�  

and�  

by�  

the�  

end�  

of�  

the�  

concert�  

Alexander�  

has�  

composed�  

himself,�  

his�  

blood�  

pressure�  

is�  

returning�  

to�  

nor-mal,�  

his�  

eyes�  

begin�  

to�  

sparkle�  

instead�  

of�  

pierc-ing�  

your�  

soul,�  

and�  

he�  

tries�  

to�  

put�  

on�  

a�  

good�  

face�  

for�  

the�  

�  

audience.�  

It’s�  

as�  

if�  

he’s�  

saying�  

–�  

“You�  

heard�  

them.�  

You�  

be�  

the�  

judge.”

    #13.�  

Here�  

we�  

are�  

–�  

full�  

circle�  

–�  

witnessing�  

again�  

what�  

the�  

audience�  

sees�  

–�  

now�  

a�  

calm,�  

self-controlled,�  

and�  

even�  

smiling�  

Alexander,�  

a�  

man�  

who�  

graciously�  

and�  

modestly�  

accepts�  

their�  

standing�  

ovation�  

and�  

thunderous�  

applause,�  

making�  

it�  

all�  

worth�  

while�  

in�  

the�  

end.

  • Remembering�  

Bill�  

Morris�  

at�  

Shevchenko�  

Ensemble�  

Annual�  

ConcertThe�  

Annual�  

Concert�  

of�  

the�  

Shevchen-ko�  

Musical�  

Ensemble,�  

held�  

on�  

No-vember�  

14�  

in�  

the�  

Isabel�  

Bader�  

Theatre,�  

was�  

dedicated�  

to�  

the�  

memory�  

of�  

Bill�  

Morris�  

who�  

passed�  

away�  

in�  

September�  

2009.

    A�  

long�  

time�  

member�  

of�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Male�  

Chorus�  

and�  

later�  

Shevchenko�  

Choir,�  

Bill�  

devoted�  

most�  

of�  

his�  

adult�  

life�  

to�  

the�  

growth�  

and�  

development�  

of�  

the�  

Ensemble�  

and�  

National�  

Guild,�  

serving�  

as�  

volunteer�  

President�  

of�  

the�  

Board�  

of�  

Directors�  

for�  

nearly�  

30�  

years.�  



    The�  

Souvenir�  

Program�  

contained�  

a�  

story�  

about�  

Bill’s�  

life:�  

his�  

beginnings�  

in�  

the�  

Association�  

of�  

United�  

Ukrai-nian�  

Canadians,�  

his�  

active�  

role�  

in�  

the�  

Guild�  

and�  

Ensemble,�  

and�  

his�  

profes-sional�  

life�  

as�  

secondary�  

school�  

teacher,�  

guidance�  

counsellor,�  

president�  

of�  

the�  

teacher’s�  

federation,�  

union�  

negotiator,�  

and�  

active�  

member�  

of�  

many�  

commu-nity�  

groups.

    Bill�  

was�  

very�  

proud�  

of�  

his�  

Ukrai-nian�  

heritage�  

and�  

in�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Musical�  

Ensemble�  

he�  

found�  

a�  

way�  

to�  

participate�  

in�  

the�  

preservation�  

of�  

this�  

culture�  

in�  

Canada.

    The�  

concert�  

program�  

attempted�  

to�  

reflect�  

that�  

which�  

Bill�  

held�  

dear�  

to�  

his�  

heart�  

–�  

his�  

Ukrainian�  

heritage�  

and�  

his�  

unswerving�  

commitment�  

to�  

the�  

ideals�  

of�  

equality,�  

peace�  

�  

and�  

social�  

justice.

    The�  

concert�  

opened�  

with�  

�  

“I�  

Love�  

You,�  

Ukraine”�  

a�  

song�  

of�  

passionate�  

love�  

for�  

Ukraine�  

with�  

soloist�  

John�  

Nieboer.

    Songs�  

from�  

the�  

early�  

male�  

chorus�  

repertoire,�  

such�  

as�  

“Neighbour”�  

(Su-sidka)�  

and�  

“Bandura”�  

(Vzyav�  

by�  

ya�  

banduru)�  

with�  

soloists�  

Artour�  

Razgoev�  

and�  

Fred�  

Panasiuk�  

were�  

among�  

Bill’s�  

favourites.�  

They�  

were�  

performed�  

in�  

new�  

arrangements�  

for�  

mixed�  

choir�  

by�  

Alexander�  

Veprinsky.

    Bill�  

had�  

a�  

strong�  

emotional�  

attach-ment�  

to�  

his�  

heritage.�  

Two�  

new�  

selec-tions,�  

“Nightingale�  

(Soloveyko)�  

with�  

soloist�  

Tetyana�  

Shkymba,�  

and�  

“Wild�  

Geese”�  

(Dyki�  

Husy)�  

beautifully�  

sung�  

by�  

Tetyana�  

with�  

choir,�  

reflected�  

Bill’s�  

beloved�  

heritage.

    The�  

dances�  

by�  

the�  

Desna�  

Ukrai-nian�  

Dance�  

Co.�  

–�  

“Hutsulka”,�  

“Volyn”,�  

Bukovyna”�  

and�  

“Hopak”–�  

were�  

also�  

a�  

reflection�  

of�  

well-loved�  

Ukrainian�  

traditions�  

and�  

were�  

received�  

with�  

loud�  

applause�  

as�  

always.�  

�  



    Although�  

Bill�  

was�  

a�  

young�  

boy�  

dur-ing�  

WW�  

II,�  

he�  

had�  

a�  

profound�  

respect�  

for�  

those�  

who�  

served�  

in�  

this�  

tragic�  

world�  

conflict.�  

To�  

mark�  

the�  

65th�  

Anniversary�  

of�  

�  

the�  

end�  

of�  

the�  

war,�  

the�  

choir�  

and�  

orches-tra�  

performed�  

“The�  

Cranes”�  

(Zhuravli),�  

a�  

plaintive�  

cry�  

to�  

put�  

an�  

end�  

to�  

the�  

madness�  

of�  

all�  

wars.

    The�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra�  

performed�  

the�  

“Waltz”�  

by�  

E.�  

Doga�  

and�  

opened�  

the�  

second�  

�  

half�  

with�  

“The�  

Great�  

Gates�  

of�  

Kiev”�  

by�  

Mussorgsky.�  

�  



    As�  

President�  

of�  

the�  

Guild�  

and�  

a�  

member�  

of�  

the�  

Artistic�  

Committee,�  

Bill�  

encouraged�  

the�  

implementation�  

of�  

inno-vative�  

and�  

creative�  

programming�  

for�  

the�  

Ensemble.�  

The�  

performance�  

of�  

�  

“Night�  

on�  

Bare�  

Mountain”,�  

first�  

performed�  

by�  

the�  

orchestra�  

in�  

Glenn�  

Gould�  

Studio�  

in�  

2009,�  

was�  

once�  

again�  

dedicated�  

to�  

Bill.

    The�  

concert�  

program�  

also�  

reflected�  

the�  

diversity�  

of�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Musical�  

En-semble�  

with�  

“Russian�  

Gypsy�  

Variations”,�  

wonderfully�  

performed�  

by�  

domra�  

soloist�  

Ira�  

Erokhina,�  

and�  

the�  

outstanding�  

per-formances�  

of�  

Helen�  

Spiers�  

with�  

“Climb�  

Ev’ry�  

Mountain”,�  

�  

Artour�  

Razgoev�  

in�  

“Nessun�  

Dorma”�  

and�  

Herman�  

Rombouts�  

in�  

“Windmills�  

of�  

Your�  

Mind”.�  

�  

�  

�  

�  



    As�  

a�  

passionate�  

Canadian�  

Bill�  

was�  

proud�  

to�  

learn�  

and�  

perform�  

Canadian�  

folk�  



    Ira�  

Erokhina,�  

domra

    Herman�  

Rombouts,�  

bass

    John�  

Nieboer,�  

baritone

    6

  • 7

    Taras Shevchenko

    Remembering�  

Bill�  

Morris�  

at�  

Shevchenko�  

Ensemble�  

Annual�  

Concertsongs�  

and�  

encouraged�  

their�  

inclusion�  

in�  

the�  

choir’s�  

repertoire.�  

Included�  

in�  

this�  

concert�  

were�  

a�  

Newfoundland�  

folk�  

song�  

“Feller�  

from�  

Fortune”�  

and�  

“Un�  

Canadian�  

Errant”,�  

French-Canadian�  

folk�  

song.

    The�  

inclusion�  

of�  

Bob�  

Dylan’s�  

“Blow-ing�  

in�  

the�  

Wind”,�  

arranged�  

for�  

mixed�  

choir�  

by�  

Veprinsky,�  

was�  

a�  

reflection�  

of�  

Bill’s�  

strong�  

ideals,�  

the�  

things�  

that�  

brought�  

out�  

the�  

fire�  

in�  

him.�  

This�  

particu-lar�  

song�  

mirrored�  

his�  

desire�  

for�  

a�  

world�  

at�  

peace,�  

and�  

his�  

belief�  

in�  

what�  

was�  

right�  

and�  

just.

    The�  

songs�  

by�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Choir�  

were�  

well�  

blended�  

and�  

displayed�  

a�  

high�  

level�  

of�  

performance,�  

as�  

did�  

the�  

perfor-mance�  

of�  

the�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orches-tra�  

in�  

its�  

orchestral�  

numbers�  

and�  

accom-paniment�  

to�  

the�  

choir�  

and�  

soloists.

    The�  

finale�  

of�  

the�  

concert�  

was�  

a�  

return�  

to�  

the�  

Ensemble’s,�  

and�  

Bill’s,�  

Ukrainian�  

roots�  

with�  

the�  

Ukrainian�  

folk�  

song�  

“Un-harness�  

the�  

Horses,�  

Lads”�  

(Rozpryahaite,�  

khloptsi,�  

koni)�  

with�  

tenor�  

soloist�  

Artour�  

Razgoev.

    The�  

narration�  

of�  

the�  

concert�  

was�  

once�  

again�  

well�  

performed�  

by�  

MC�  

Richard�  

Szymczyk.

    Changing�  

the�  

date�  

of�  

this�  

concert�  

due�  

to�  

the�  

G20�  

Summit�  

from�  

June�  

27�  

to�  

November�  

resulted�  

in�  

a�  

loss�  

of�  

the�  

usual�  

attendance�  

at�  

an�  

annual�  

concert.�  

Those�  

present,�  

however,�  

expressed�  

their�  

enjoy-ment�  

and�  

appreciation�  

with�  

a�  

standing�  

ovation�  

for�  

Artistic�  

Director�  

Alexander�  

Veprinsky�  

and�  

all�  

the�  

performers.

    �  

 �  

 �  

 �  

�  

�  

–�  

G.�  

Kautto

    Tetyana�  

Shkymba,�  

soprano

    Helen�  

Spiers,�  

soprano

    Artour�  

Razgoev,�  

tenor

  • 8

    Choral�  

concert�  

delights�  

audienceGuest�  

artists�  

at�  

this�  

year’s�  

Choral�  

Con-cert,�  

held�  

on�  

January�  

30�  

at�  

Columbus�  

Centre,�  

were�  

singers�  

and�  

musicians�  

of�  

Vox�  

Finlandiae�  

directed�  

by�  

Paul�  

Hietala.�  

“Vox”�  

was�  

founded�  

in�  

1993�  

to�  

sing�  

music�  

of�  

the�  

rich�  

Finnish�  

choral�  

tradi-tion.�  

At�  

the�  

heart�  

of�  

Vox’s�  

repertoire�  

are�  

traditional�  

folk�  

and�  

popular�  

songs,�  

but�  

they�  

also�  

perform�  

classical�  

works�  

by�  

Finnish�  

composers�  

such�  

as�  

Jean�  

Sibelius�  

and�  

others.

    The�  

Shevchenko�  

Choir,�  

conducted�  

by�  

Alexander�  

Veprinsky�  

with�  

piano�  

ac-companist�  

Elena�  

Zviagina,�  

opened�  

the�  

concert�  

with�  

their�  

first�  

set�  

of�  

Ukrainian�  

and�  

Russian�  

songs.

    Their�  

wonderful�  

performance�  

re-sounded�  

loudly�  

throughout�  

the�  

Rotun-da�  

as�  

most�  

of�  

the�  

selections�  

were�  

fast�  

paced�  

and�  

lively.�  



    Andriy�  

Anissimov,�  

14�  

year�  

old�  

domra�  

student�  

of�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

School�  

of�  

Music,�  

performed�  

a�  

chal-lenging�  

medley�  

of�  

Russian�  

tunes�  

and�  

a�  

fast�  

Kozachok�  

accompanied�  

by�  

his�  

17�  

year�  

old�  

sister�  

on�  

piano.�  

Both�  

were�  

�  

warmly�  

applauded.�  



    The�  

Desna�  

Ukrainian�  

Dance�  

Co.,�  

also�  

guest�  

artists�  

on�  

the�  

program,�  

per-formed�  

a�  

fiery�  

Gypsy�  

Dance�  

and�  

their�  

amazing�  

Hopak�  

where�  

one�  

could�  

hear�  

the�  

ooh’s�  

and�  

aah’s�  

from�  

the�  

audience�  

with�  

each�  

leap�  

and�  

twirl.

    Vox�  

Finlandiae�  

is�  

comprised�  

of�  

�  

singers,�  

an�  

instrumental�  

group�  

called�  

Toronton�  

Pelimannit�  

and�  

a�  

vocal�  

quar-tet�  

called�  

The�  

Nice�  

Four�  

pronounced�  



    “nais”�  

�  

–�  

which�  

�  

means�  

�  

“of�  

women”.The�  

Toronton�  

Pelimannit�  

opened�  

their�  



    set�  

with�  

traditional�  

Finnish�  

dance�  

music.�  

The�  

Vox�  

then�  

sang�  

two�  

Finnish�  

songs�  

which�  

were�  

followed�  

by�  

the�  

Nice�  

quartet�  

singing�  

two�  

folk�  

songs�  

and�  

the�  

Vox�  

choir�  

finishing�  

their�  

set�  

with�  

another�  

two�  

tradi-tional�  

songs.�  



    The�  

calibre�  

of�  

performance�  

of�  

the�  

instrumentalists,�  

the�  

quartet�  

and�  

the�  

choir�  

was�  

not�  

only�  

very�  

good,�  

but�  

the�  

songs�  

they�  

chose�  

to�  

perform�  

were�  

very�  

interest-ing,�  

lively�  

and�  

very�  

entertaining.�  



    The�  

musicians�  

of�  

Vox�  

opened�  

the�  

sec-ond�  

half�  

of�  

the�  

program�  

with�  

lively�  

dance�  

music�  

followed�  

by�  

the�  

Vox�  

choir�  

singing�  

a�  

patriotic�  

song�  

of�  

Finland.�  

A�  

�  

highlight�  

of�  

their�  

performance�  

was�  

Vox�  

joined�  

by�  

the�  

Nice�  

quartet,�  

accompanied�  

by�  

Anita�  

Nutikka�  

on�  

her�  

2-row�  

accordion,�  

singing�  

a�  

polka�  

in�  

which�  

the�  

human�  

voices�  

almost�  

appear�  

as�  

musical�  

instruments.

    They�  

all�  

participated�  

in�  

their�  

final�  

numbers�  

“My�  

Roots�  

are�  

in�  

Finland”�  

and�  

another�  

lively�  

polka.

    The�  

Shevchenko�  

Choir�  

returned�  

with�  

an�  

outstanding�  

performance�  

of�  

their�  

more�  

classical�  

repertoire�  

which�  

included�  

Mozart’s�  

“Ave�  

Verum”and�  

the�  

“Chorus�  

of�  

the�  

Hebrew�  

Slaves”�  

from�  

the�  

opera�  

“Nabucco”.�  

This�  

was�  

followed�  

by�  

a�  

moving�  

performance�  

of�  

Dylan’s�  

“Blowing�  

in�  

the�  

Wind”�  

and�  

the�  

Newfoundland�  

folk�  

song�  

“Feller�  

from�  

Fortune”.

    The�  

finale�  

of�  

the�  

concert�  

brought�  

both�  

choirs�  

together�  

to�  

sing�  

a�  

Finn-ish�  

folk�  

song�  

and�  

the�  

wellknown�  

“Reve�  

ta�  

Stohne�  

Dnipr�  

Shyrokiy“�  

(The�  

Mighty�  

Dnieper�  

Roars).�  

Both�  

choirs�  

met�  

the�  

language�  

challenge�  

head�  

on�  

–�  

the�  

Ukrainians�  

singing�  

in�  

Finnish�  

and�  

the�  

Finns�  

singing�  

in�  

Ukrainian!�  



    What�  

a�  

climax�  

to�  

a�  

wonderful�  

afternoon!�  

Performers�  

and�  

audience�  

alike�  

made�  

it�  

clear�  

they�  

would�  

wel-come�  

back�  

this�  

choral�  

collaboration�  

any�  

time.�  



    Concert�  

finale�  

by�  

the�  

Vox�  

Finlandiae�  

and�  

Shevchenko�  

Choir�  

conducted�  

by�  

Alexander�  

Veprinsky

    Vox�  

Finlandiae�  

with�  

Toronton�  

Pelimannit�  

conducted�  

by�  

Paul�  

Hietala Domra�  

soloist�  

Andriy�  

Anissimov

  • Russian�  

Duo�  

of�  

Volskaya�  

and�  

Trofimov�  

in�  

TorontoA�  

periold�  

of�  

ten�  

busy�  

days�  

was�  

in�  



    store�  

for�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Ensemble�  

when�  

Tamara�  

Volskaya�  

and�  

Anatoliy�  

Trofimov�  

came�  

as�  

guests�  

of�  

the�  

Guild�  

to�  

perform�  

in�  

Toronto�  

as�  

their�  

“Rus-sian�  

Duo”�  

and�  

in�  

Welland�  

with�  

the�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra.

    �  

�  

The�  

guests�  

arrived�  

from�  

New�  

York�  

and�  

were�  

treated�  

to�  

a�  

concert�  

in�  

the�  

beautiful�  

new�  

Koerner�  

Hall�  

of�  

The�  

Royal�  

Conservatory�  

of�  

Music.�  

In�  

addition�  

to�  

enjoying�  

an�  

excellent�  

performance�  

by�  

the�  

student�  

symphony�  

orchestra,�  

they�  

were�  

pleased�  

to�  

see�  

a�  

plaque�  

on�  

one�  

of�  

the�  

auditorium�  

seats�  

which�  

reads:�  

“In�  

honour�  

of�  

Ginger�  

Kautto�  

for�  

her�  

dedication�  

to�  

music�  

through�  

the�  

Shevchenko�  

Ensemble”�  

�  

which�  

was�  

purchased,�  

on�  

the�  

initiative�  

of�  

her�  

son�  

and�  

his�  

family,�  

by�  

Ginger’s�  

family�  

and�  

her�  

friends�  

and�  

colleagues�  

in�  

the�  

Ensemble.

    �  

Rehearsals�  

with�  

the�  

TMO�  

in�  

prepa-ration�  

for�  

the�  

concert�  

on�  

December�  

4�  

in�  

Welland�  

were�  

scheduled�  

and�  

in�  

between�  

these,�  

Tamara�  

and�  

Anatoliy�  

presented�  

a�  

number�  

of�  

smaller�  

perfor-mances�  

in�  

Toronto�  

communities.

    Earl�  

Bales�  

Community�  

Centre�  

�  

�  

On�  

Sunday,�  

November�  

28�  

they�  



    performed�  

in�  

the�  

Earl�  

Bales�  

Commu-nity�  

Centre�  

in�  

north�  

Toronto.�  

Although�  

advertisements�  

were�  

placed�  

in�  

Rus-sian�  

and�  

Ukrainian�  

papers�  

and�  

flyers�  

were�  

distributed,�  

both�  

in�  

Russian�  

and�  

English,�  

the�  

size�  

of�  

the�  

audience�  

was�  

disappointing,�  

especially�  

for�  

artists�  

�  

of�  

this�  

stature.

    �  

But�  

Tamara�  

and�  

Anatoliy�  

did�  

not�  

disap-point�  

those�  

who�  

were�  

present.�  

They�  

performed�  

a�  

complete�  

program,�  

with�  

introductions�  

by�  

Tamara�  

herself,�  

of�  

folk�  

and�  

clas-sical�  

numbers�  

which�  

left�  

�  

the�  

audience�  

in�  

absolute�  

awe.

    Christie�  

GardensOn�  

Friday,�  

December�  



    3�  

the�  

Russian�  

Duo�  

was�  

invited�  

by�  

Ruth�  

Budd�  

to�  

perform�  

at�  

Christie�  



    Gardens,�  

a�  

Toronto�  

residence.�  

Here�  

they�  

performed�  

for�  

a�  

very�  

apprecia-tive�  

audience�  

of�  

over�  

150�  

people,�  

most�  

of�  

whom�  

had�  

never�  

heard�  

a�  

domra�  

or�  

a�  

bayan�  

before�  

and�  

certainly�  

had�  

not�  

heard�  

the�  

calibre�  

of�  

musicianship�  

of�  

these�  

performers.

    City�  

of�  

Welland�  

The�  

next�  

day�  

it�  

was�  

off�  

to�  

Welland�  



    for�  

the�  

concert�  

sponsored�  

by�  

the�  

Welland-Port�  

Colborne�  

Concert�  

Asso-ciation�  

at�  

which�  

Tamara�  

and�  

Anatoliy�  

would�  

be�  

featured�  

as�  

the�  

Russian�  

Duo�  

and�  

Tamara�  

as�  

soloist�  

with�  

the�  

Toronto�  

Mandolin�  

Orchestra.�  

After�  

a�  

very�  

suc-cessful�  

performance�  

and�  

extremely�  

warm�  

reception�  

from�  

the�  

Welland�  

audience,�  

the�  

following�  

day�  

yet�  

another�  

appearance�  

was�  

scheduled�  

for�  

the�  

duo.Club�  

626�  

Christmas�  

Party

    On�  

Sunday,�  

December�  

5,�  

Tamara�  

and�  

Anatoliy�  

provided�  

the�  

entertainment�  

at�  

Club�  

626�  

Seniors�  

Annual�  

Christmas�  

Party.�  

And�  

what�  

a�  

treat�  

they�  

were.�  

Among�  

their�  

many�  

outstanding�  

selections�  

was�  

one�  

which�  

brought�  

back�  

memories�  

to�  

manyof�  

the�  

seniors�  

–�  

the�  

duo’s�  

arrangement�  

of�  

“Meadowland”�  

made�  

popular�  

during�  

WW�  

II.�  



    The�  

party�  

also�  

provided�  

for�  

a�  

day�  

of�  

relaxation�  

for�  

Tamara�  

and�  

Tolya�  

with�  

old�  

and�  

new�  

friends.

    Even�  

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Tamara�  

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�  

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    Tamara�  

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    9

  • FROM�  

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    Since�  

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�  

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    Shevchenko Ensemble Ventures into New Territory

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    A beautiful new venue for the Shevchenko Musical EnsembleJoin�  

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musicals.

    Watch�  

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months�  

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�  

for�  

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    Directions�  

to�  

Theatre

    10

  • Friday, March 11Shevchenko Choir ConcertChristie Gardens602 Melita Cres, Toronto7:30 p.m.

    Sunday, March 20Tribute to Wilfred Szczesny and Peter Krochak12 noon • $351604 Bloor St. WCall Vera 416-253-9821

    Saturday, April 9 “2nd Annual Romanza” by the Toronto Mandolin Orchestra & SoloistsKings Garden Banquet Hall7:00 • Only $30 Table reservatons invited [email protected]

    Sunday, April 10Concert Hahilka Singers & Welland Mandolin Orchestra342 Ontario RdWelland, ON

    Sunday, May 1Concert Hahilka Singers & Welland Mandolin Orchestra1604 Bloor St. W

    Sunday, May 15Mother’s Day CelebrastionFRC • 6 Denison Ave$25 • For reservationsCall Nita 416-769-3402

    Saturday, May 28AUUC Annual BazaarBaking, White Elephant, Tarot Cards. Rent a table.11:00 a.m. 416-588-1639

    what’s happening?

    Wednesday, June 1 Club 626 Seniors Volunteer Luncheon12:00 noon Canadiana Restaurant

    Sunday, June 19, 2011Shevchenko Musical Ensemble in Concert 2:00 p.m. Richmond Hill Centre for the Arts • $35See advertisement fordetails • 416-533-2725

    Friday, July 1Canada Day CelebrationsAUUC • 1604 Bloor St. W

    Sunday, August 14Club 626 SeniorsBar-B-Qat the home of Stan NazarecCall 416-622-1870

    Sunday, September 11Banquet marking 85thAnniversary of AUUC 1604 Bloor St. W

    Sunday, November 13Remembrance DayAUUC • 1604 Bloor St. W Sunday, Nov. 27 • 2:00 Toronto Mandolin Orchestra Glenn Gould StudioCBC • 250 Front St .WDetails to follow

    Sunday, Dec. 4Club 626 SeniorsChristmas Party12 noon •1604 Bloor St. WCall Stan Nazarec 416-622-1870

    The�  

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    In Fond MemoryThe�  

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    of�  

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memory�  



    of�  

the�  

following:

    John�  

Thoroski2010

    Merv�  

Fydenchuk2010

    Mary�  

Mihay2010

    Walter�  

Hunka2010

    John�  

Evanylo2011

    June�  

Beard2011

    Greg�  

Morris2011

    Mary�  

Prokop2011

    11

  • SHEVCHENKO MUSICAL ENSEMBLEAlexander Veprinsky, Artistic Director

    featuring�  

Outstanding�  

vocal�  

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soloists�  

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program�  

offolk,�  

world�  

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classical�  

song,�  

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dance

    Guest�  

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UKRAINIAN�  

DANCE�  

CO.Yuri & Luba Grekov Choreographers/Directors

    an�  

“international�  

journey”�  

in�  

song,�  

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dance

    Sunday,�  

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for�  

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Performimg�  

Arts$35�  

•�  

$15�  

student/childVISA�  

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add�  

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ticket

    416-533-2725E-mail:�  

[email protected]

    How�  

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    12