Yanina Kosivanova is a Ukrainian-Canadian soprano. She received her diploma in music performance from the Victoria Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Kiiri Michelsen. During her time at the Conservatory, she was an in-demand performer in Opera Studio, Collegium, Thursday at Noon Concert Series and Serenata Recital Series. Starting in the fall, she will continue her music studies at the University of Victoria.

Yanina is an active member of Victoria’s Ukrainian-Canadian community. She has a special connection with Ukrainian repertoire and Ukraine’s culture which brings a richness to her approach to Ukrainian art song. She is very proud to be a musical ambassador for her native country by introducing audiences to the Ukrainian art song repertoire. Yanina is honoured to be a part of Ukrainian Art Song Summer Institute where she can develop her skills as a performer as well as further explore Ukrainian repertoire.

Hailing from Victoria B.C., Jennifer is excited to be in Toronto exploring Ukrainian song among wonderful teachers and colleagues. In 2018, she performed the role of Tatyana in Eugene Onegin and has been desiring to explore even more music from Eastern Europe. Jennifer has performed with organizations including Victoria Baroque, the Okanagan Festival Singers, Pacific Opera Victoria and the Victoria Philharmonic Choir. Recent solo highlights include Haydn’s Creation, Brahms’ German Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Bach’s solo cantata Non sa che sia dolore. Jennifer teaches at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and is Artistic Director of their Vocal Collegium Program for young classical singers.

Kimberley Denis is known for her energy and enthusiasm both on stage and off and is sought after as a soloist, vocal coach, choral clinician, and adjudicator for voice and choir. In addition to her solo singing opportunities, she has a flourishing voice studio, the Purple Door Music Academy, and is the voice instructor at The King’s University in Edmonton. She is also a mezzo-soprano with Pro Coro Canada. She presently directs the Shumayela Youth Choir with the Korora Choir Association and the River City Chorus, a non-auditioned adult community ensemble. In addition to her work as a singer, teacher, conductor and adjudicator, she arranges pieces for choirs.

Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, Nazarii Mykhailenko has been involved in music since the age of nine. He successfully joined the Kyiv Lysenko State Music Lyceum, where he studied a range of disciplines including music theory, piano, choral conducting, and classical voice. After immigrating to the United States in 2017, Nazarii became highly involved in his new community. He won a place in the ILMEA All-State Choir in 2018 and participated in the Chicago Master Singers Choir outside of many of his Fenton High School’s music activities. Currently, Nazarii lives in Wood Dale, Illinois, and studies at Roosevelt University, pursuing a double major degree in Music Education and Classical Voice Performance in the studio of Mark Crayton. On a regular basis, Nazarii performs recitals of Ukrainian and classical repertoire with his brother and pianist Myroslav Mykhailenko. Also Nazarii is enthusiastic about choral conducting and continues his work as a Student Conductor Intern at NaperVoice – a new philanthropic choir in Naperville. During this time, Nazarii is honoured to be a part of the Ukrainian Art Song Summer Institute and broadening his knowledge of the Ukrainian Art Song while promoting his native music.

Ian Bannerman is a conductor, soloist, teacher, and ensemble member with a distinct interest in vocal music. Ian has performed regularly as an ensemble member and soloist with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Pro Coro Canada, musica intima, Early Music Vancouver, Victoria Symphony, Okanogan Symphony Orchestra, Voicescapes, Luminous Voices, and Early Music Alberta. Ian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from The University of British Columbia and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from The University of Alberta.

Katherine Tilbury is an expressive pianist who is from Lacombe, Alberta. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree in piano at the University of Alberta and holds a Music Diploma in Piano Performance from Red Deer College. Katherine is a versatile pianist and has studied contemporary, jazz and classical repertoire. Her dedication as a collaborator is evident through her positions at The King’s University and Concordia University where she works with instrumentalists both in studio classes, and as a recital partner. Katherine has also enjoyed playing wonderful works of choral repertoire, art song and opera throughout Edmonton. When she is not at the piano, you can find Katherine in her painting studio!

Maria Pottle is a soubrette soprano originally hailing from Myrnam, a small Ukrainian community in rural Alberta. She holds a BA in Music and a Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from Concordia University of Edmonton. Maria has been classically trained for the last 12 years and has participated in many master classes, Opera NUOVA’s 10 Day and five-week intensive programs, recitals, and was a featured soloist in an international recording project for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Maria will attend the University of Alberta this fall for her Master’s in Vocal Performance. She is very excited to learn more about the lost music of her Ukrainian heritage.

Andrew Wolf is a Tenor emerging from the University of Victoria, BC, undergraduate music performance program. His music began at a young age, having taken lessons for piano and cello throughout elementary school, but singing has always been his passion. Beyond the long nights in a practice room was someone who loved to sing at any chance given, be it solo or choral repertoire. Andrew is excited for the next stage of his journey studying at the University of Western Ontario, and he cannot wait to perform more Ukrainian art song.

Sergey Lavrentyev is a young Baritone from Munich, Germany. He has always been passionate about singing and therefore joined the choir ‘Junge Chöre München’ as a child. Since 2019 Sergey Lavrentyev has been taking singing classes with Brigitte Jäger. In 2020 he joined the Heureka composition project as first Baritone. In 2021 he participated in masterclasses of Thomas Heyer. Since 2022 Sergey Lavrentyev has been a soloist and co-organiser of benefit concerts in support of Ukraine. In 2023 he was working with Valérie Blanvillain, the vocal director of the Opéra National of Montpellier, France, and Ukrainian opera singer Natalya Dytyuk.

Alastair is honoured to sing and continue supporting Ukraine (Vancouver/Toronto). Before returning from Seggiano, Italy, studying Etruscan archaeology, biodiversity, and heritage, including performance, Alastair was an RBC Emerging Choral Artist - Leonids/Chor Leoni, Vancouver. Quadrilingual, Alastair is entering 2nd year at UBC (Presidential Scholar), attended RCM’s Taylor Academy, was soloist for HuluTV’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, NBA’s Toronto Raptors, Mahler’s 4th Symphony, sang trilingual anthems (Cree/French/English) House of Commons, played/recorded leading roles for two CD’s, aired by CBC radio 1 and 2, performed with the COC, received violin, choral and soloist scholarships/awards, and toured Canada, Europe, and USA.