Festival Features Performers for Children, Youth and Young at Heart

Maryka Gulka-Chabluk will headline the youth concert programme at the 13^th Annual Toronto Ukrainian Festival in Bloor West Village on Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 12:00 pm.  Maryka is a singer, performer, teacher and songwriter from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Through her music and fun-filled activities, Maryka enhances children’s understanding of the Ukrainian language and culture.  Her interactive show is full of imaginative, musical fun and learning; she invites young people to dress up in costumes, play instruments, learn to make borscht, and dance to her music.  Maryka is an accomplished performer, having released three vocal recordings with “Duet Maryna”.  Her love of Ukrainian song and dance has opened doors to performing for Pope John Paul II, and before audiences in Italy, Japan, Australia, the United States and throughout Canada. She has shared the stage with Jim Carey, Rich Little, & The Nylons. Her CD Maryka’s Treasures was released in Winnipeg at St. Anne's Ukrainian Catholic Church 50th Anniversary Concert where Maryka coordinated and sang all 15 of her songs alongside 200 children from 3 schools, 3 dance groups & 3 choirs.

Edmonton duo Pocherk Tsytry (Zither's Handwriting) also will appear at the Festival. Their musical performance combines original Ukrainian songwriting presented through the interplay of acoustic instruments and accompanying vocals. The pieces were created by the collaborative efforts of Mykola Bilash and Michael Szubelak, and consist of a modern interpretation of timeless ideas and feelings found in traditional Ukrainian folk songs. Pocherk Tsytry have been playing together for roughly 6 months and have just released their debut album “10+1,” which will be available during their performance at the Festival. Pocherk Tsytry’s participation in the Festival is through the sponsorship of the Ukrainian Credit Union Ltd. For more information see: http://www.myspace.com/pocherktsytry.

Other featured youth programme performers at this year’s festival are members of the Korinya Family Band from (Ulster County) New York State. They are a family group consisting of fifth generation Ukrainian-Americans ranging in ages up to 14 who play a variety of traditional Ukrainian musical instruments such as the bandura, sopilka, trembita, duda and telynka, and sing traditional Ukrainian folk songs.

The youth segment of the festival's concert programme begins at Noon and ends at 2 pm. on the Main Stage at Jane Street.  This concert also includes many junior dancers and a variety of solo and group singers, all under the age of 18. We invite all parents with young children to attend!

Visit www.ukrainianfestival.com. For more information contact Ola Cholkan at ola.cholkan@sympatico.ca.