Enjoy Ukrainian and Indigenous Music in the lobby after the production of First Métis Man of Odesa.
Featuring Jay Kuchinsky AND Dwayne Kushniruk
Jay Kuchinsky
Jay is a life long Edmontonian and life long musician and multi-instrumentalist. Jay was a student at Grant MacEwan jazz college in the late '70's. His travels and interest in ethnic music have taken him to many world destinations, fiddle always in hand. His Ukrainian heritage and playing in Ukrainian orchestras in his youth have given him an inside perspective on this beautiful age-old music. And though Jay has no Indigenous or Métis blood he has always had a relationship with the community. As early as 1978 Jay fiddled for Métis dancers. Along the way he has performed with Lyle Donald and the Edmonton Métis Dancers. Jay taught the Métis Fiddle class at Ben Calf Robe School from 2007 to 2020. As well Jay has written a Tune Book “100 Ukrainian Dance Tunes from East Central Alberta”.
Dwayne Kushniruk
Dwayne grew up in the Hairy Hill area and started playing in his family’s band when he was 7 years old. He has played for weddings, dances, anniversaries and other social events over the past 65 years, many of which were for Ukrainian and Romanian audiences in East Central Alberta and also in Edmonton and Winnipeg.
He was one of the original members of the Shumka Dancers orchestra that formed in 1967 and toured with Shumka and the Alberta Folk Arts Council in Canada, the USA, Northern Africa, Rome, Paris and London.
Dwayne today plays a MIDI electronic accordion, which is essentially a sophisticated music computer connected to the left- and right-hand accordion keyboards, which provides a full multi-instrument band sound.
In addition to his love for Ukrainian music, most of which he learned from his father and grandfather, he enjoys playing various European and other music genres, including traditional big band, country, Latin, Classical, and 50’s and 60’s classic favorites.
Dwayne lives in Edmonton and often fills in with stage bands for various open-mic events and other music and dance venues.