Zhanna Zinchenko - Conductor - Levada and Orion Choirs

Roman Yasinsky – Conductor/Artistic Director – Vanguard Concert/Marching Band

Roman Yasinsky - Mus. Bac., B. Ed.

A founding director of the Ukrainian Youth Ensembles Corporation, Roman has been deeply involved with the UYE in many different capacities since its inception in 1985.

In addition to performing with the Orion Men’s Choir the Vanguard Concert/ Marching Band, and accompanying the Levada Women’s Choir, Roman held the position of Assistant Conductor until 2002. Later that year he became Conductor and Musical Director of the Vanguard Concert/Marching Band. From January 2005 to September 2008, Roman also assumed the duties of directing the Orion Men’s Choir and the Levada Women’s Choir.

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Roman has taught vocal and instrumental music for almost 25 years at both the elementary and secondary school levels with a number of school boards in the Greater Toronto Area.

A graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music and Althouse College at the University of Western Ontario, Roman began his teaching career in 1984 with the Toronto Board of Education. In 1987 he moved to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, where he is the founding Director of the Music Program at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School. Almost twenty-five percent of the school’s population is involved in music classes and various performing ensembles. Roman’s award-winning school ensembles have performed at ceremonies, receptions, and music festivals, both at home and in cities across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.

Besides teaching, arranging and conducting, Roman continues to perform with a number of wind ensembles, concert, brass and military bands throughout the greater Toronto area. Most notably, he has been the euphonium soloist with the Band of the Royal Regiment of Canada for the last ten years, where he is also Associate Bandmaster. In addition, Roman was a member of the Toronto Wind Orchestra – Toronto’s premier wind band – for seven years, first under the direction of Dr. Mark Hopkins and then Tony Gomes, the current director of the TWO.

As conductor, accompanist, euphonium player and soloist, arranger, clinician, and educator, Roman Yasinsky has influenced the artistic development of countless performers. Under his musical direction, the Vanguard Concert/Marching Band has continued its musical growth and development, always striving for a higher level of instrumental excellence, while maintaining the time-tested traditions from its past history. New instrumentation, expanded repertoire in new areas, and new membership continues to show exciting promise for the future of the Vanguard Concert/ Marching Band under Roman Yasinsky’s strong direction.

Natalia Zahorbinsky – Accompanist

A native of Ukraine, Natalia Zahorbynsky,is an accomplished accompanist, teacher, and singer. She holds a Masters of Music degree in both piano and vocal performance from the Lysenko Academy of Music in Lviv, Ukraine. She has played and sung across Ukraine, Russia, United States, Canada, Poland and Bulgaria. Natalia is known as an accompanist with various choirs and soloists within the GTA. She currently teaches voice and piano at Vaughan Academy of Music and she is an accompanist at York University. Natalia has also accompanied the Levada Women’s Choir and Orion Men’s Choirs for the last 8 years.

PAST CONDUCTORS/ARTISTIC DIRECTORS/ASSISTANTS

Levada Women’s and Orion Men’s Choir

• Ihor Maheha - 2008 - 2011
• Yaroslaw Hnatowskyj - 2007 (October) - 2008 (January) – Levada Choir
• Roman Yasinsky - 2005 - 2008 (June), 2001 (October) - 2002 (January) – Mixed Choir
• Dmytro Bilan - 2001 (October) - 2005 (January)
• Andrey Bourak - 2001 (October) - 2003 (January) – Orion Choir
• Wasyl Kardash - 1985 - 2001

Assistants: Daria Chandon, Mary Swerbywus

Vanguard Concert/ Marching Band

• Yaroslaw Hnatowsky - 2007 (November) - 2008 (January)
• Roman Yasinsky - 2002 - 2007 (June)
• Wasyl Kardash - 1985 - 2001
• Ihor Sywanyk - assisted whenever necessary

Junior Drum Corp Instructors

• Wasyl Bien
• William Hawryshchuk
• Aleksandr Levkovitch
• Walter Martyniw