ABOUT THE LEVADA & ORION UKRAINIAN CHOIRS
The Levada Women’s Choir and Orion Men’s Choir (YMA) TORONTO perform as individual choirs and as a mixed chorus, taking pride in being a model for choral excellence. All members of this community-based choir are united by their love of choral music. Cultivating a professional image is of the utmost importance as they perform in great number of venues.
This critically acclaimed group, in colourful embroidered costumes not only entertained audiences in Canada but also throughout Europe and the United States. The ideals--God, Liberty, Truth and Patriotism are showcased in song through a multi-faceted repertoire. The Ensembles perform in various venues: festivals, commemorative events, community celebrations, religious celebrations, concerts and Divine Liturgies. Whatever the venue, their top priority is striving for the highest artistic achievement in a challenging and rewarding musical experience. Their season includes self-produced concerts as well as performances upon invitation from other groups and organizations, delivering classical, contemporary, martial, folk, patriotic and liturgical repertoire to the delight of diverse audiences.
The highlights of this musical group include their triumphant concert tour of Ukraine in 1990 with the late Maestro Vasyl Kardash, and the late Bishop Isidore Borecky (Eparch of Toronto and Eastern Canada), a great patron and honourary member of the (YMA) Corporation. Other notable achievements include: 2011 Gala Concert celebrating 120 years of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada with Guest tenor of the Kyiv and Krakow Opera houses, Vasyl Grokholskyi; 2012 Christmas Benefit Concert for the new St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church (UCC), Oakville; 2012 Dance to My Song Concert featuring the 2010 winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Denys Drozdyuk which drew a very large audience.
They have performed with the Celebrity Symphony Orchestra and Dr. A. Rozbicki in the Golden Voices Gala Concert singing in English, French, Italian, Polish and Ukrainian with world class soloists and at the Anna German Viva Carnivale Concert at the Christian Performing Arts Centre uniting with Coro San Marco and the Mississauga Choral Society.
The Levada and Orion Choirs (YMA) TORONTO took part in:
• SINGING TOGETHER (April 2014) showcasing their heritage in a multicultural musical presentation.
• TRIBUTE TO UKRAINE (May 2014) concert at the Living Arts Centre in honour of the visit of His Beatitude Patriarch Svyatoslav Shevchuk to the Eparchy of Toronto.
November 2014, the choirs presented PASSAGES – a musical story/theatre to a sold out audience showcasing original music by resident composers Bohdanka Pahuta, Anna Drozd and Ihor Maheha, arrangements by the late Zenoby Lawryshyn, and their very talented soloists.
January 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, their Benefit Christmas concert proceeds were donated back into supporting varied community efforts eg., Ivan Franko Homes.
April 2016, the Levada Women’s Choir fashion show Fashion Runway Ukrayina & Auction (Fashion Designer: Lesia Blisch), donated all their auction proceeds to the Guardian Angels Fund.
The Levada and Orion Choirs (YMA) TORONTO look forward to showcasing new repertoire and to forming new partnerships in the community. They pride themselves in uniting all the generations in a large and diverse musical family. They are forever grateful to people like you who support their musical endeavours.
