Our Staff

Ivan Dusanowskyj began playing Bandura at the age of 9, but took a break from the instrument for almost fourteen years before finding his passion for it again in 2012 when he attended the Kobzarska Sich Bandura Camp. As a skilled guitarist and musician, Ivan was able to progress quickly on the bandura over the next two years, and in 2014 he was invited back to the Kobzarska Sich Camp as an instructor. He has also  instructed at the ODUM London Bandura Camp and the Bobriwka Bandura Workshop.

Borys Ostapienko is an accomplished bandurist and pianist. From the age of 6, he has taken music lessons from well-known piano instructors and world-renowned bandura players. Borys has achieved multiple First Place and Gold Awards at the Etobicoke Music Festival, Ukrainian Music Festival, and the Kiwanis Music Festival. In November 2010, he was the first Ukrainian Canadian to take part in the International Competition in memory of Hnat Hotkevych in Kharkiv, Ukraine where he played bandura against the finest players in the world. As the youngest bandurist at the competition, he placed fourth overall and was given award for playing the best Hnat Hotkevych piece.

In April of 2013, Borys was the first ever Ukrainian Canadian to claim first place and become a laureate of the Mykola Lysenko International Bandura Competition in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Along with the performances and competitions, Borys has taught numerous students privately, and for more than 5 years at the London and Kobzarska Sich Bandura Camps. Since 2013, Borys has held the title of Concertmaster of the Canadian Bandurist Capella.

Oleksander Petlura has over 20 years of bandura experience, having started playing at the age of 8. As a student he has attended the ODUM London Bandura Camp from 1995 to 1997, the Scarborough winter workshops in 1997 and 1998, Hawkestone Bandura camp in 1999 and 2000, and Kobzarska Sich bandura camp in Pennsylvania from 2004 to 2007. He was a member of the Hryhorij Kytasty youth ensemble from 1997 to 2001, and in 2001, at only 13 years of age, was one of the founding members of the Canadian Bandurist Capella. Over the years Oleksander has had the privilege to take lessons from numerous well-known banduristy including Hania Metulynska, Victor Mishalow, Volodymyr Voyt Sr., Julian Kytasty, Taras Lazurkevych, Oleh Sozansky, Ola Herasymenko, Professor Vasyl Herasymenko, Vira Zelinska, Oksana Zelinska-Shevchuk, Andriy Shevchuk, Michael Andrec, Oleh Mahlay, and Volodymyr Voyt Jr., and has been inspired by many others. From 2009 to 2015, he has been an instructor at Kobzarska Sich bandura camp. Oleksander’s greatest influence and inspiration is his late brother Yurij Petlura, a wonderful person, excellent teacher, and legendary bandurist.

Orest Chornomaz has been playing bandura from the age of 11. His first and most influential teacher was Victor Mishalow, and other teachers include renowned bandurists such as Yurij Petlura, Oleh Sozansky and Volodymyr Voyt. In 2004 Orest was invited to play with the Canadian Bandurist Capella and performed with the group for the first time at the young age of thirteen. He has been playing with the ensemble to this day for over eleven years. Orest has also attended the Kobzarska Sich bandura camps from 2011 to 2013 as a student, and has been an instructor at Kobzarska Sich and ODUM bandura camps since 2014.