A.S. – Congratulations to Orest Sushko, who received an Emmy award for outstanding sound mixing at the Emmys presented in Los Angeles this past fall. Its his second nomination for an Emmy in the past 3 years. He won for a miniseries he mixed entitled “Nuremberg” starring Alec Baldwin.

Orest is a lead re-recording mixer for Toronto-based AllianceAtlantis Communications. His craft involves mixing the movie soundtrack comprised of dialogue, music and sound effects, working closely with the director and producers. He is currently mixing the upcoming David Cronenberg film entitled “Spider”.

Orest has been with AllianceAtlantis since 1994. Prior to that he worked as a recording engineer at Master’s Workshop after graduating from McMaster University in Hamilton and finishing his studies in Toronto in the late 80’s. He has recorded and mixed numerous music projects for such artists as Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Kim Mitchell, Cowboy Junkies, Beautiful South and James. His work has also included film scores, live productions, television shows, commercials, variety specials and feature films. In that time he has been nominated for 9 Gemini and 2 Genie awards that honour both Canadian television and film.

Orest still works as a freelance music engineer in both the mainstream and Ukrainian community. It helps keep him connected to the folklore and culture he grew up with. He has worked with Toronto’s Vesnivka Choir for the past ten years in which time they released two CD projects, as well as the release of the Bortniansky Music Project “Sacred Dnipro”. In 1990 he spent several weeks in Kyiv, Ukraine working with a local recording studio.

Orest is the son of Orysia and Makar Sushko of Hamilton, and brother to Roman, Halia and Oksana. Growing up, he was an active participant of the Ukrainian community, specifically St Vladimir Orthodox Cathedral. Orest graduated from Ukrainian school in Hamilton, danced with the St Vladimir dance ensemble, played in the Vodohray orchestra, local bandura ensembles, and is past president of Hamilton SUMK and Eastern Canada SUMK. He also danced with both the Ilarion dance ensemble and Desna ensemble in Toronto and played the trumpet with the Bukovina Brass band. While attending school in Toronto he lived at St Vladimir Institute and was actively involved in their cultural programs. Orest is well known throughout North America for his superb tsymbaly playing. He performed at Caravan in Toronto for many years, including countless festivals and he continues to entertain audiences in many locales.

Sushko is currently working with the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus based in Detroit, Michigan and will be recording their upcoming CD of the Holy Liturgy this spring. This is a family tradition, since his father Makar is a past member of the Chorus and his grandfather Paul Stepowy crafted banduras, many of which have been played by members of the UBC over their 80-year history.