Artist Directory
Lida Somchynsky
Biography
Lida Somchynsky is a freelance writer. She is also working on a collection of short stories. Lida has written for various publications.
Tanya Sotnikow
Biography
Tanya paints in oil and egg tempura.
Harvey Spak
Biography
Harvey has written, directed and edited a number of short films and documentaries. He is a writer of poetry and now enjoys writing icons.
Sparkling Tones Band
Biography
The Sparkling Tones Band play many weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties and social events (new years, malanka, supper dances). They also perform for stage shows. The Sparkling Tones play old time dance music (polka, waltz, fox-trot) and new. They sing in both Ukrainian and English.
Notes
The Sparkling Tones Band is available to play 7 days a week. They have 3 CD’s available for purchase at any of their events.
St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church Choir
Biography
St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church Choir celebrates their music ministry through the singing of Divine Liturgies, Services, Recordings, Performances and travel within and outside the province of Alberta.
Notes
Please direct inquiries regarding choir availability and CD products, to the
St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church parish office:
– phone: 403 249-4818;
– email: [email protected]
Steppe
Biography
Steppe is an Edmonton based Ukrainian zabava band.
Notes
Steppe will perform at community events, as well as social functions (weddings, anniversaries, Malankas, festivals, etc.)
Pat Strakowski
Biography
Artist Statement
As we age our memories become welcome companions while everything changes around us. At different points in our life’s journey we come to many crossroads and have to part company with people close to us and familiar places. We keep looking for new experiences and time is limited.
Biography
Pat Strakowski graduated from the Alberta College of Art in 1979 as a mature student. Although she travelled to many places near and far she still chooses to live and work in Calgary.
Her love of folk tales, storytelling and curiosity of the unusual contributed to the creation of her own myths and legends as seen in her works. Using paper mache and mixed media techniques each sculpture had its own story and personality.
Her works have been exhibited widely throughout Canada, U.S. and Japan. They are in numerous major and private collections. At one point in time her works were shown in galleries in Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria.
In 2009 a book “Moon Nibbler The Art Of Pat Strakowski” was published by Frontenac House.
Her interest in using paper as a medium and pushing its boundaries has taken her in an unexpected direction. She is an avid reader and about 15 years ago she became interested in books destined to the landfill, and altering them in ways that took the book from a familiar object to a new reality. Her art now includes one of a kind mixed media books.
Notes
Please contact for availability.
Synia Nich – Blue Nite
Biography
Playing continental music on the accordion with full back up (polkas, tangos, waltzes, latin, swing, etc.) for listening and dancing pleasure – weddings, parties, anniversaries, events, european type of restaurants, cafes etc.
Notes
Will perform. Willing to travel out of town.
Irene T
Biography
Irene loves to wheat weave. She creates crosses, windmills, hearts, wreaths and much more.
Notes
Irene will teach wheat weaving courses and is available to demo as well. She also sells her work.
Todoruk Designs
Biography
Kathleen Todoruk is a clothing designer of women’s couture fashion using European textiles. Her studio resides in the Historic Mercer Warehouse.
Notes
Kathleen hosts private, in-studio events and sells her clothing out of the studio.
Nettie Tostowaryk
Biography
Nettie loves to create in many forms of art – pysanky, water colors, oils, acrylics, pencils and chalk.
Notes
Nettie will demonstrate and teach her art. Please contact her for availability.
Nettie sells her pysanky.
Sally Trefanenko
Biography
Sally dresses porcelain dolls in authentic Ukrainian costuming representing the Poltava, Hutsul, Zakarpattia, Bukovyna, and Volyn regions. These are all handmade and exquisitely portray the rich and colorful festival costuming of the Ukrainian culture. This started as a hobby but has grown in the last 22 years to a small home based business. Sally’s dolls are all numbered and can be found throughout the world.
Notes
Sally sells her dolls at festivals.
TRUBKA
Biography
Trubka – Former zabava band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (now enjoying musical retirement from playing live gigs) was formed in 1987. Trubka Band has 2 albums available for download/stream. The first album “Beginnings” (Pochatky) was recorded in 1991, and the second “West” (Zakhid) in 1998.
Notes
Trubka Band music is available for download / streaming from:
Apple Music, Google Play Music, Spotify, Youtube music, Amazon music, Deezer and Tidal.
Tryzub School of Ukrainian Dance
Biography
The Tryzub School of Ukrainian Dance offers fun and exciting dance classes from September to April. The School was created in 1996, with the core values of excellence, teamwork, community, and pride.
Notes
Tryzub School offers Fundamentals of Ukrainian Dance classes for children 4-14, Junior Tryzub for students 12-18, Royal Academy of Dance ballet classes for children 4-14, and the Tryzub Adult Class for those 18 and older.
Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
Biography
The Tryzub Ukrainian Dance Society of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, preserves and promotes Ukrainian dance, sharing this cultural aspect at home and abroad.
Notes
No matter your entertainment needs, Tryzub can provide a dynamic, energetic performance to suit your audience and venue. Tryzub performs for private functions, conventions, and festivals, or can provide a full-scale theatre production.
Tryzub is available year-round, however requests as much notice as possible to ensure quality and availability. To discuss booking a performance, please contact Tryzub’s Business Director at [email protected].
Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton
Biography
The Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton was formed in 1984 with the objective of developing, promoting and fostering a greater appreciation for the traditions of Ukrainian choral singing.
Notes
The Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton will perform as invited guests for concerts and events, in addition to organizing several of our own performances and events annually. The chorus is also available to sing for wedding services, and endeavors to sing several Divine Liturgies each year.
CD’s on the UMCE are available for purchase.
Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Alberta Branch (UMCAB)
Biography
The UMCAB displays artifacts and homemade implements that depict different aspects of the life of the hard-working and resilient Ukrainian culture. Come and see embroidered and woven textiles, various styles of folk ceramics, wood work, beaded and metal jewelry, pysanky, traditional toys, as well as fine art by Ukrainian artists from around the globe. We also have a wonderful gift shop filled with an assortment of affordable keepsakes collected from different parts of Ukraine.
Notes
The museum is open Monday to Friday, 10 AM – 4 PM in May-August, and by appointment.
Ukrainian Shumka Dancers
Biography
Established in Edmonton in 1959, the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers is Canada’s only professional Ukrainian dance company. Shumka presents dance-theatre touring productions, as well as intimate concert repertoire across the country and around the world. Along with Alberta Ballet and Edmonton Opera, Shumka is honoured to be a resident company of the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
Sixty years of performance history has shaped Shumka’s signature music and dance style. While maintaining deep respect for its heritage, Shumka continually challenges conventional boundaries to define the experience of Ukrainian dance in the context of today’s society.
Shumka’s most recent works: Kobzar, Ancestors & Elders and Mosquito’s Wedding (All You Need is Love) debuted between 2016 and 2018, and a documentary of the Making of Ancestors & Elders is currently on Telus On Demand.
Shumka is based in the Shumka Dance Centre nestled between the Ice District and Brewery District of downtown Edmonton. For more information, visit shumka.com
Notes
Shumka performs full length and customized productions. The company offers lessons/demonstrations for various groups, “Whirlwind Discovery” field trips for school classes, regular seniors programming (“Seniors Can Shumka” and “Silver Swans”), and training through the Shumka School of Dance and Studia Shumka.
The group sells DVDs, merchandise and performance tickets.
Notes
Shumka performs full length and customized productions. The company can offer lessons to various groups, and also operates the Shumka School of Dance.
Demos for “community engagement” events are possible.
The group sells CDs, DVDs, pottery…and of course show tickets!
Charlene Vanderhorst
Biography
Char Vanderhorst is a professional painter, sculptor, ceramicist, leaf stone tiler and muralist. She was born in Winnipeg and graduated from the University of Manitoba?s Fine Arts Program. She is currently teaching private art lessons and group classes. Char has had past experience teaching art classes with The Winnipeg Arts and Recreation Department, The Airdrie Adult Education Department, The Calgary School of Hope and The Calgary Montessori School. She is a member of The Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts, Calgary Sketch Club, Airdrie Regional Arts Society, and sings with the Korinnya Ukrainian Folk Ensemble and Airdrie Community Choir .
She enjoys painting nature and feels it helps her connect to the natural sacred places she has visited. Her vision and passion for her art is to be able to paint images that portray her Ukrainian heritage .
Notes
Char’s work, both original paintings and prints as well as her sculptures and stone tile art are available for sale.
Veeteretz School of Ukrainian Dance Association
Biography
Veeteretz is dedicated to and offers:
• Affordable family fun
• Low student to instructor ratios promoting individualized instruction, technique development and accommodations for varied learning styles
• Ukrainian dance instruction by caring, specialized, and experienced dance instructors.
• Regional costuming supplied to all dancers. No personal costuming required.
• Competitive and non-competitive performance opportunities
• Dance programs from age 3 to adult that encourage and promote active, healthy lifestyles
Veeteretz Instructors are committed to providing dancers with opportunities to learn and celebrate Ukrainian Dance as an art form in a positive, encouraging environment. In addition to building confidence and self-esteem, our instructors are nurturing, inspirational and motivational in their teaching approach as they engage dancers to strive towards higher levels of Ukrainian dance achievement. The character of the Veeteretz School of Ukrainian Dance is determined by the dance standards of excellence the instructors and dancers set for themselves
Notes
Dance programs from age 3 to adult run from September until beginning of May.
