About the Blog
Here, you will find bandura-related content only: events, bandura education news (camps, competitions, schools), interesting info and facts, historical facts about bandura, artist highlights, brief interviews, and much more! The blog will be more focused on the Greater Toronto Area but will also cover important bandura-related news worldwide! I will try to post every week, so stay tuned!
If you have any bandura-related news or events happening in the Greater Toronto Area that you would like to be featured on this blog and the Bandura Calendar, email us at torontobandurafestival@gmail.com
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Check out our interview with Borys Ostapienko and Oleksander Petlura from Banduralicious, who will be performing at the third Bandura on Bloor 2025 Concert Series show on December 19, 2025, at the Heliconian Hall, on our official YouTube page! These interviews are a great way to find out a little bit about our featured artists
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The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America will be performing in Mississauga, ON on Sunday, December 21 at 2:00 PM at the Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church as part of their “A Ukrainian Christmas” tour! Concert Information: The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America, a 2025 recipient of the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT
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Bandura on Bloor returns for a final time this year with a Christmas Special show at the Heliconian Hall! Featuring Ukrainian-Canadian bandura duet Banduralicious with performances from the Bandura Trio and a young rising star bandurist – Solomia Shevchuk! Friday, December 19, 20257:30 PM (Doors 7:00 PM)Heliconian Hall35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto, ON This performance will be followed by a post-concert Christmas-themed reception
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We are pleased to inform that our First Biennial Toronto Bandura Festival concert was featured both on Kontakt TV‘s Next Gen weekly program and Forum TV‘s weekly program!
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The Canadian Bandurist Capella will be performing a “Ukrainian Bandura Christmas” concert in Toronto on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 4:00pm at the Humber Valley United Church (76 Anglesey Blvd.) The concert will also feature the Vira Zelinska Bandura Capella “Zoloti Struny”. The two groups will also be performing the same concert a week earlier
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The Ukrainian Music Festival will be hosting their final concert featuring prize winners from all categories, including bandura! Ukrainian National Federation of Canada145 Evans Avenue, Etobicoke, ON 3:00 PM For more information visit: https://ukrainianmusicfestival.com/
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The Toronto Bandura Festival would like to thank all of our participating ensembles who took part in this year’s First Biennial Toronto Bandura Festival. Big thank you to the Canadian Bandurist Capella, Vira Zelinska Bandura Capella “Zoloti Struny”, Kobzari Ensemble, Toronto Regional Group of the Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America, Paul Yuzyk Academy of
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TBF is proud to announce that our First Biennial Toronto Bandura Festival will be taking place on Saturday, October 25, 2025! Our first festival will feature all major bandura ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area and showcase the bandura talent that we have in his city! Don’t miss this one-time-only historic concert! Saturday, October 25th,
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Announcing a late addition to our programme this Sunday! Unfortunately, one of our performers, Taisa Kulyk, has had to drop out at the last minute due to illness and cannot attend the festival this year. However, we are pleased to announce that People’s Artist of Ukraine – Ostap Stakhiv will be featuring at our Bandura
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This weekend starting on Friday, September 12 and ending on Sunday, September 14 the BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival is taking place on Bloor Street West between the intersection of Jane Street and Runnymede Street. This year there will be a number of bandura performers that will be taking part in the festival! Here is the
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Join DIVKA for a unique evening of bygone folk songs from Ukrainian and global women’s music-making traditions, weaving a sonic constellation of delicate arpeggios on bandura (esoteric Ukrainian harp), ethereal vocals, and guttural ancient invocations on the viola. September 2, 2025 – 7:00 PMTranzac Club292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, ON Event Link
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Bandura on Bloor will return with a special Festival Edition at this years 2025 BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival. On Sunday, September 14th at 1:00 PM you will get a chance to learn a little bit about the history of Ukraine’s national instrument, Toronto’s rich bandura legacy and ensembles, and listen to four bandura performances featuring
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Litnia Zustrich Bandura Camp will be having their final concert on Sunday, August 24th, 2025 at the UNF Camp Sokil (16 Taras Blvd., Hawkestone, ON) at the Lake Pavillion at 2:00pm. All guests are welcome to a BBQ after the show!
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Bandura on Bloor (30/05/25) – Concert Recording Premiere on YouTube on Friday, June 27 at 7:30pm ET!
For those of you who couldn’t make our second Bandura on Bloor concert on May 30 featuring DIVKA and Mariia Smolinska, the full concert recording will be premiering on our YouTube channel this Friday, June 27 at 7:30pm ET!
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Interview with DIVKA, who will be performing at the second Bandura on Bloor 2025 Concert Series show on May 30, 2025, at the Royal York Road United Church is available to watch on TBF’s official YouTube page. You can watch the interview at this link:
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Vira Zelinska Bandura Capella “Golden Strings” (Zoloti Struny) will be hosting their annual year-end concert on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at the Dormition of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church (3625 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, ON) at 1:30 PM. For more information please visit their Facebook Page.
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Interview with Mariia Smolinska, who will be performing at the second Bandura on Bloor 2025 Concert Series show on May 30, 2025, at the Royal York Road United Church will be premiering at 3:00pm ET on May 17 on TBF’s official YouTube page. You can watch the interview at this link:
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Mariia Smolinska will be playing at DROM Taberna at 6:00pm on Saturday, May 31! The concert will feature a number of different and unique bandura arrangements suited for a club vibe. No entrance fee but “Pass the hat” tips are highly encouraged! For more information visit the events link for May 31 on DROM’s website.
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Litnia Zustrich Bandura Camp which takes place annually at the UNF Camp Sokil (16 Taras Blvd, Hawkestone, ON L3V 0K2) will be taking place from August 17-24. Early registration for the members of Vira Zelinska Zoloti Struny Bandura Capella as well as past camp participants ends on May 18th. Everyone else is welcome to register
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TBF’s newly created project – Bandura on Bloor returns with a show featuring Victoria-based and Odesa native Ukrainian bandurist Mariia Smolinska and Toronto-based folk fatale duet band DIVKA! Friday, May 30, 20257:30 PM (Doors 7:00 PM)Royal York Road United Church851 Royal York Road, Toronto, ON Early Bird tickets for only $25 available until May 2nd!For tickets to
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DIVKA will be performing at the Tapestry (224 Augusta Ave, Toronto) on April 20, 2025 at 8pm. For tickets visit: https://www.showpass.com/divka-tapestry/
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For those of you who couldn’t make our first Bandura on Bloor concert on March 21, the full concert recording will be premiering on our YouTube channel this Friday, April 11 at 7:30pm EDT!
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Our first Bandura on Bloor Concert on March 21 raised over $1,400 for CUF’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, Even the Brave Struggle Mental Health Campaign to Support Veterans and War-Affected Communities in Ukraine!TBF would like to thank our featured artists, Teryn Kytasty-Kuzma and Yarko Antonevych, for their beautiful performances, which made this inaugural concert truly memorable!A
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Interview with Teryn Kytasty-Kuzma, who will be performing at the inaugural Bandura on Bloor 2025 Concert Series show on March 21, 2025, at the Heliconian Hall will be premiering at 7:00pm ET on March 17 on TBFs YouTube page. You can watch the interview at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB9juQyYxIQ
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The 2025 Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival Bandura competition recently took place on March 1st, 2025 at the Chinese Cultural Centre and was adjudicated by classical guitarist Brent Crawford. Here are the winners in each category:Ages 11/12: Katherine Kubovych (Grade: 89 Gold)Ages 13/14: Gregory Dvorskyy (Grade: 87 Gold)Ages 15/16: Solomia Shevchuk (Grade: 92 Platinum)Ages 17/18: Vitalina
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Bandurist Alina Kuzma will perform as part of “Unbreakable: 3 years of Ukrainian resistance” show at DROM Taberna (458 Queen St W, Toronto) on Monday, February 24, 2025. This is a fundraiser for Ukraine through Second Front Ukraine Foundation. For more information visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/unbreakable-3-years-of-ukrainian-resistance-tickets-1248787148979
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Victor Mishalow will be performing at the Shevchenko Museum (1604 Bloor Street West, Toronto) with a Concert of Ancient Ukrainian Songs and Ballads. On Friday, March 7, 2025 at 6pm. For more information visit: https://www.shevchenko.ca/events/details.cfm?eventid=2146
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Canadian Bandurist Capella will be performing in Toronto on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 7:00pm at the Humber Valley United Church (76 Anglesey Blvd.) their “From Shevchenko to the Present: The Power of Music & Poetry” concert. For more info visit: https://www.banduristy.com/
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DIVKA will be playing at 6:00pm on Friday, February 7, 2025 at DROM Taberna (458 Queen St W, Toronto). Check out the event at this LINK.DIVKA is a fusion of bandura (Alina), viola (Zoe) and vocals. Check out their music on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@DIVKAmusic and follow them on their Instagram channel: https://www.instagram.com/divkamusic/
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Ukrainian Youth Association Ensembles is hosting a concert in honour of Taras Shevchenko on March 9 at the Old Mill (Brule Ballroom). The concert will feature a number of artists, including Kobzari (Кобзарі) – a Toronto-based group of young boys who specialize in playing traditional repertoire on traditional 20-stringed kobzas led by Merited Artist of Ukraine, Victor
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For another year the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival will have bandura as part of its competition. The bandura competition is going to be taking place on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the Chinese Cultural Centre (ABCD room) in Toronto, ON. The age groups featured at this years festival are: 11-12 (Solo), 13-14 (Solo), 15-16 (Solo),
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DIVKA will be playing at 12pm on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at the Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto). Check out the event at this link:https://tranzac.org/events/divkaDIVKA is a fusion of bandura (Alina), viola (Zoe) and vocals. Check out their music on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@DIVKAmusic
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TBF’s new project, Bandura on Bloor, will have its inaugural concert on March 21, featuring bandurists Teryn Kytasty-Kuzma and Yarko Antonevych at the Heliconian Hall in Toronto. Teryn is a Ukrainian-American bandurist and an emerging artist from New York City who recently graduated from Bard College Conservatory of Music with a Master of Music in
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Here, you will find bandura-related content only: events, bandura education news (camps, competitions, schools), interesting info and facts, historical facts about bandura, artist highlights, brief interviews, and much more! The blog will be more focused on the Greater Toronto Area but will also cover important bandura-related news worldwide! I will try to post every week,
TORONTO BANDURA FESTIVAL 