Julian Kytasty’s modesty belies the fact he is probably one of the world’s greatest living bandura players. A third generation bandura player, New York-based Kytasty performed in Toronto April 6 at the St Vladimir Institute to promote his latest disc, Black Sea Winds.

Mixing traditional songs with his own compositions, Kytasty proved his versatility both as a sensitive singer and virtuoso player. The performance ranged from sorrowful, lamenting songs known as dumy to intstumental dance numbers and humorous folk ditties that elicited peals of laughter from the audience.

Kytasty, who holds a degree in Music (Theory and Composition) from Concordia University in Montreal, has performed with many world class musicians, including Alexis Kochan’s Paris to Kyiv. A forthcoming album, Opposite Ends of the Steppe, will pair him up with a master Mongolian musician.