Iryna Kalinovich is from Lviv, Ukraine and has an extensive performance background in choirs and the bandura. She taught bandura and ensemble to music students in a specialised music school for more than 10 year and led performances for audiences in many European cities while travelling with her choir from Ukraine. Iryna has been living near Calgary since 2013 where she conducts two choirs, teaches music and performs on bandura.
Kristina Kolodii is from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine where she taught bandura and vocals to children and students. She performed many solo concerts in her hometown and regularly traveled abroad for concert performances. When Russia started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she and her family moved to Calgary.  She continues to draw attention to the situation in Ukraine with her musical activities in a duet with Iryna. 
Iryna and Kristina met in Canada and started playing together last year. They have been performing at various charity events and community performances.

During our performance on Wednesday, May 15, we will be performing traditional Ukrainian folk songs as well as music from contemporary Ukrainian composers on the themes of Mother, Love and Ukraine.  The audience will have the unique opportunity to hear the bandura played by a duet of professional bandurists and vocalists.  The modern bandura has been developing since the 1600’s and has become Ukraine’s national instrument that is not often heard played professionally outside of Ukraine.