First Biennial Toronto Bandura Festival

Toronto Bandura Festival presents its inaugural 2025 Biennial Toronto Bandura Festival!

Join us for this historic concert featuring all the major bandura ensembles in the Greater Toronto Area!

All net proceeds from this event will be donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation's AID for ARTISTS Fund.

Saturday, October 25, 2025
7:00 PM (Doors 6:30 PM)
Knox Presbyterian Church
630 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON

 

Performers

Canadian Bandurist Capella

The Canadian Bandurist Capella (CBC) is one of the premier bandura ensembles in North America. Founded in 2001, the group showcases powerful male voices combined with the rich sound of the bandura, the national instrument of Ukraine. The Capella is committed to advancing and exploring new possibilities with choral bandura music while honouring the instrument’s deep history. Through dynamic musical arrangements and performances, the Canadian Bandurist Capella delivers a unique listening experience that raises the profile of the bandura and Ukrainian song in the Ukrainian Canadian community and beyond.

 

Vira Zelinska Bandura Capella "Zoloti Struny" 

Bandura Capella "Zoloti Struny" ("Golden Strings") is a Ukrainian youth ensemble composed of young musicians dedicated to playing the bandura, Ukraine's national musical instrument. The group has been in existence since the summer of 2001. The Capella consists of 26 members from the Greater Toronto Area. The organization is under the auspices of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Mississauga. Honoured Performing Artist of Ukraine, Vira Zelinska, an acknowledged teacher and performer from Ukraine, was the founder and first director of the group. Her daughter, Oksana Zelinska-Shevchuk, took over the role of musical director and teacher at Zoloti Struny in 2012.
Throughout 2001-2025, Zoloti Struny members have participated in the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto, as well as in the annual Ukrainian Music Festival, in solo/duet/trio bandura categories, winning places and receiving numerous scholarships. Zoloti Struny participate in major events within the Ukrainian community, such as the Toronto Ukrainian Bloor West Village Festival and the Charitable Marathon "Children of Canada – to Children of Ukraine!" Christmas concerts have become an annual tradition now and are a real treat for audiences. Since 2001, Zoloti Struny has recorded and released three CDs, produced a DVD movie about their summer camps, and presented a number of virtual video projects. In addition to practicing and performing throughout the year, students also have the opportunity to further hone their musical skills through studies at the annual "Litnia Zustrich" Bandura Summer Camp in Hawkestone, ON.
Active participants at all events within the Ukrainian community of Toronto and Mississauga, Vira Zelinska Bandura Capella "Zoloti Struny" will continue to expand in the pursuit of musical excellence, ensuring the continuation of Ukrainian musical culture.

 

St. Demetrius Bandura Ensemble

The St. Demetrius Bandura Ensemble is comprised of students and alumni of the St. Demetrius Bandura School. The Bandura School was founded in 1983, and has been providing weekly instruction on bandura technique, theory, style and performance for over 40 years to students of all ages. Based at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Demetrius in Etobicoke, Ontario, the St. Demetrius Bandura Ensemble performs regularly at local church concerts as well as functions in the Toronto area, including the Toronto Ukrainian Festival. The ensemble takes pride in demonstrating the versatility of the bandura, performing pieces from a variety of genres, including traditional Ukrainian, liturgical, classical, and popular music. The St. Demetrius Bandura School and Ensemble are directed by Ron Demeda, assisted by William Kowalenko.

 

Kobzari

Kobzari are a Toronto-based group of young boys who specialize in playing traditional repertoire on traditional 20-stringed banduras led by Merited Artist of Ukraine, Victor Mishalow.

 

Women's Bandura Ensemble of North America - Toronto Region

The Women’s Bandura Ensemble is a twenty-member bandura and vocal group, driven by their passion for the bandura and the Ukrainian musical tradition, maintaining important cultural motifs while expanding the instrument's horizons. The WBE is composed of women from seven cities in North America, including Toronto, New York, and Chicago. The mission of the Women’s Bandura Ensemble is to bring together talented, female bandurists in order to showcase the instrument, maintain musical traditions and foster new creative directions and artistry.

 

Paul Yuzyk Academy of Toronto - Bandura Ensemble

The Paul Yuzyk Academy of Toronto, which opened in September 2022, was created to serve the need for a high-quality Ukrainian Canadian academic program that sees student engagement as an integral part of its success. Our vision is to prioritize the student in the learning process and delight as we educate so that the transfer of heritage becomes natural, enduring, and self-replicating. Successful heritage transfer keeps our culture and our community strong.
The Bandura Ensemble at the Pavlo Yuzyk Academy of Toronto was founded in 2022. It brings together 5th and 6th-grade students, for whom playing the bandura is a compulsory subject, as well as teachers from the Academy. The Ensemble has become a highlight of school celebrations and concerts for the Ukrainian community. The Ensemble’s repertoire includes folk and contemporary Ukrainian songs that inspire listeners. Currently, the Ensemble is led by the talented bandurist and teacher Olena Gavrylyuk.

 

Tickets
General Admission - Early Bird (October 1): $20.00 (+fees)
General Admission - Regular (After October 1): $30.00 (+fees)
General Admission - Discount (Seniors/Under 30) (After October 1): $25.00 (+fees)
General Admission - Under 12: Free (Reservation Required)

 

Transportation Info

Car - Paid Parking 
Impark Lot 172 (720 Spadina Avenue)
UofT Parking (42 Harbord Street)
UofT Parking (17 Glen Morris Street)
UofT Parking (60 St. George Street)
UofT Parking (371 Bloor Street West
Green P Lot 259 (4 Spadina Road)
Green P Lot 292 (292 Brunswick Avenue)
Green P Lot 231 (19 Spadina Road)
Green P Lot 205 (465 Huron Street)
Impark Lot 177 (360 Bloor Street West)

TTC
Spadina Station - West Side Entrance (6 Spadina Road) is 500m walking distance from Knox Presbyterian Church.
510A Streetcar Stop at Harbord Street. 2 Stops from Spadina Station.