How to book the Shevchenko Musical Ensemble
Full Ensemble Performance
All three components of the Shevchenko Musical Ensemble (Shevchenko Choir, Toronto Mandolin Orchestra and Dancers) present a powerful concert experience featuring over 80 performers. Programs traditionally contain Ukrainian, Russian and other folk songs (including Canadian), classical operatic choruses, orchestral selections, vocal solos and duets and Ukrainian folk dances. Programs can be multicultural or with specific thematic/stylistic focus. For example, a concert for a series in an Italian community can contain Italian songs and music.
Shevchenko Choir
The Shevchenko Choir can present a choral concert on its own, with vocal soloists from the ranks of the choir, and with folk dancers.
Mandolin Orchestra with Instrumental Soloists
The Toronto Mandolin Orchestra offers a variety of programs, featuring outstanding. These include virtuosi on instruments such as the domra (a Russian/Ukrainian mandolin-like instrument), flute, pan flute, balalaika, cimbalom, oboe, and clarinet. Solo repertoire includes international folk music, world music, and popular classical selections.
Ira Erokhina, former soloist with the world renowned Osipov Folk Orchestra of Moscow and resident soloist with the TMO, astounds audiences with her amazing dexterity and musicianship on the 3-string domra.
Tamara Volskaya, said to be “the only string player who can challenge the supremacy of Heifetz and Kreisler in their own repertoire”, displays unbelievable virtuosity and soul performing some of the world’s greatest violin masterpieces transcribed for her 4-string domra.
Mandolin Orchestra with Vocal Soloists
The TMO also features vocal soloists on its programs, or a combination of instrumental and vocal soloists. These featured artists perform operatic arias, show tunes and traditional songs accompanied by the Toronto Mandolin Orchestra. See biographies for detail on vocal soloists.
Performance Fee
The performance fee for a two hour concert by the Shevchenko Musical Ensemble and/or the Toronto Mandolin Orchestra is determined by the number of featured soloists. Each soloist’s fee is added to the base fee of $3,000.00. Travel costs are also added to the base fee. The final fee will be negotiated with the presenter once the performing group (choir, orchestra or both with dancers) and the number of soloists is agreed upon.
Samples of the Concert Repertoire of the Shevchenko Musical Ensemble
Shevchenko Choir:
HUTSULKA KSENIA, Ukrainian Folk Song
BRAVO, MONSIUER LE MONDE, French Song
ADIJO, KERIDO, Sephardic Folk Song
THE PACHELBEL CANON, J. Pachelbel
AVE MARIA, Cacinni
Toronto Mandolin Orchestra:
OVERTURE from the operetta Countess Maritza, E. Kalman
FOUR SEASONS Winter, A. Vivaldi
WALTZ Pushkin’s story The Blizzard, G. Sviridov
UKRAINIAN FANTASY, E. Trostyansky
FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLE BEE, N. Rimsky-Korsakov
CONCERTO FOR DOMRA, N. Budashkin
KLEZMER SUITE, J. Moscovitz
ROMANIAN FANTASY, Traditional Folk
SCHERZO from Five Pictorial Sketches for Orchestra, B. McPeek
LA PALOMA, Cuban Folk Song
OVERTURE from the operetta Angels’ Quarter, M. Theodorakis
GYPSY AIRS (Ziguenerweisen), P. de Sarasate
HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY No 2, F. Liszt
Vocal solos with orchestra:
LA CALLUNIA, G. Rossini
OL’MAN RIVER from Showboat, J. Kern
DICITENCELLO VUIE, Leoncavallo
CARUSO, L. Dallo
NON TI SCORDAR DI ME, E. Curtis
PAPA, CAN YOU HEAR ME from “Yentl”, M. Legrand
DARK EYES, Traditional Russian Gypsy
SOLOVEYKO (The Nightingale), Ukrainian Classical
I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT From My Fair Lady, F. Lowe
