As 2024 begins, I wanted to share a little excerpt from the Ukrainian composer Viktor Kosenko’s “Dreams,” performed with the incredible Illia Ovcharenko. It was a touching moment for me, and I hope you enjoy it. Слава Україні!
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Ukrainian music
[VIDEO] The unimaginable has happened… The war in Ukraine continues; the devastation grows. I joined violinist Lara St John and pianist Matt Herskowitz to record this rendition of Пливе кача по Тисині (Plyve Kacha) and Аркан (Arkan). Please share. Please donate. #СлаваУкраїні #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦
Carissa Klopoushak and Julia MacLaine perform at the first Ottawa Chamberfest City Series concert, playing Bartok, Honegger, Schulhoff, and folk music in the lobby of Ottawa City Hall.
I uploaded a small excerpt of the folk-inspired concert at Toronto Summer Music Festival, July 24, 2014, Heliconian Hall, Toronto. More to come later... Гуцульська Фантазія - Hutsul Fantasy (trad. Hutsul/Carpathian Ukrainian)
Carissa Klopoushak - violin Alexandru Sura - cimbalom JC Lizotte - cello
I'm very pleased to be performing as part of the Toronto Summer Music Festival's Shuffle Concert series next week. The Shuffle series, inspired by the mix of music you'd typically find on an iPod, are informal, eclectic one-hour performances by Festival Artists, special guests, and next-generation emerging artists. I'll be joined by my friends Alexandru Sura (cimbalom) and JC Lizotte (cello), playing Eastern European Folk Music (mostly Ukrainian). We'll finish the program with a new arrangement of Ravel's Tzigane. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Thursday, July 24, 5pm The charismatic Canadian violinist performs a folk-inspired program with cimbalom player Alexandru Sura and cellist JC Lizotte.
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave
Pay What You Can
This past June, I had the incredible opportunity to work with the much talked about Australian Chamber Orchestra. (If you aren't familiar with their work, check out their site and their many videos - you'll thank me!)
By some stroke of cosmic intervention, my Ukrainian band was approached to perform at the 65th Anniversary celebrations of Ukrainian Immigration to Australia celebrations the weekend preceding my work with the ACO. We were well hosted by the Aussie Ukes, and were fortunate enough to perform in the Sydney Town Hall, a truly marvellous venue:
After an incredible weekend, the rest of the band returned to Canada as I began rehearsing with the ACO2, a group comprised of members of the ACO as well as former and current participants of the ACO's Emerging Artists program.
We prepared a unique and well-compiled program of Rautavaara, Vivaldi, Stravinsky, Handel, and Bartok for a six-city National tour. I was fortunate enough to see nearly all major Australian cities, drank (too much) coffee, and worked with some truly creative and inspired musicians.
I look forward to working with the ACO again for three months in 2014.
The ACO rehearses inside the tall buildings on the right. What a view...
Musicians (Mark Klopoushak, Matt Gruza, Larry Klopoushak, Brian Cherwick, and I) play outdoors at a wedding of good friends of mine in Hyas, SK.