Jubilee Folk Ensemble

Sudbury
Ontario
Canada

Meet our Ensemble...New Members Always Welcome! What's New! • On the afternoon of Sunday Jan. 31st at the Jubilee Centre, we presented our own music along with a celebration of the works of four great poets: Burns, Neruda, Shevchenko & Whitman. Click here for more details... • Our next gigs will be at the Walford sometime in April, and then at the Celtic Festival, which runs from May 22-23...

Who are We?

The Jubilee Folk Ensemble (JFE) is a non-profit community-based musical group that contributes to Greater Sudbury's progressive, bilingual, multicultural life. Our ensemble consists of a diverse group of amateur musicians who play a variety of orchestral instruments under the direction of our conductor, Oryst Sawchuk. 

The group receives support from the City of Greater Sudbury through an annual cultural grant. The ensemble is also loosely affiliated with the local branch of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians (AUUC). Our practices are held on Monday evenings at the Jubilee hall on Applegrove St. in Sudbury.

Our Mission

The Jubilee Folk Ensemble, while preserving Ukrainian culture, is committed in its pursuit of how music relates to us all in a multicultural Canada. It is dedicated, in the spirit of Woody Guthrie (the great American folklorist), to learning and playing music rooted in the folk music traditions from around the world and reflecting the rich cultural diversity of both Sudbury and Canada as a whole.

Join the Ensemble

The Jubilee Folk Ensemble always welcomes new members who enjoy performing a diverse repertoire of orchestral multicultural folk music. 

Our membership in the past has ranged in age from approx. 20 to 80. Currently there are no membership dues required in order to join. 

Concert attire normally consists of dark dress pants with a white dress shirt and optional traditional vest (see picture at right).

String players (i.e., both violin & mandolin families) are invited to join us, as are wind players of all varieties. We would be happy to hear from you--regardless of what instrument you play. Moreover, it doesn't really matter how long it's been since you last played your instrument...we encourage you to come out and have some fun!

Our History

The Jubilee Folk Ensemble has roots which can be traced back four generations to various Ukrainian mandolin ensembles which existed in Sudbury in the 1920's and '30's. The name, "Jubilee Folk Ensemble," however, was not formally adopted until 1977 (the ensemble getting its name from its landlord, the Jubilee Centre). 

From its humble Ukrainian immigrant beginnings, the ensemble now boasts a membership of Sudburians from numerous cultural backgrounds. 

The JFE gratefully acknowledges the past financial support of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians and the benefits it has enjoyed as a result of this association; including the generous use of the Jubilee Centre for rehearsals, the musical repertoire of the AUUC's national network of orchestras, as well as use of the AUUC's own unique local library of music from Eastern and Central Europe.

The JFE's collection of sheet music, archived at the Jubilee Centre, actually represents the largest collection of Eastern European folk music found in Ontario north of Toronto. This collection includes many rare out-of-print manuscripts which are difficult to find elsewhere.

Currently, there are approximately 15-17 members in the group. The ensemble is occasionally featured in local news items found in Northern Life as well as the SAC's Artscape column which appears periodically in the Sudbury Star. 

In past years, the JFE has had the honour of participating in a number of music festivals and conferences held out-of-town, such as in Toronto in 1991, Regina in 2005, and Welland in 2000, etc.

On Nov. 13th, 2005, we participated in the "Tsunami Rx Benefit Concert" held at the Sudbury Community Arena. This concert helped to raise funds to build a school in Sri Lanka.

During the July 1st 2007 Canada Day celebrations, we played to over 3,000 folks in the Sudbury Arena [see pics at bottom of page]. In June of 2008, we played an outdoor concert at the Via Rail station to help commemorate the City's 125th anniversary (in 1983, we had played at the Garson Arena to help commemorate Sudbury's 100th anniversary).

In May of 2006, the JFE formally adopted a constitution and set up a 5-member Advisory Board to oversee matters. The ensemble hopes within the next few years to acquire official status as a federally-registered charitable organization. The ensemble also now has its own web page on the social-networking site Facebook.com.

Our Conductor

Oryst Sawchuk [see pics at right & below] has been the JFE's conductor since 1994 --having taken over the position from Eve Kremyr, who had conducted the group for about 5 years. Prior to Eve, the JFE's original conductor had been Stella Billings. 

Oryst Sawchuk was born in Winnipeg but grew up in the Donovan and West End areas of Sudbury. He has been active for many years in the AUUC, as well as in various other community organizations. 

Oryst studied architecture at the University of Manitoba and is a partner with the local firm of Sawchuk Peach Associates. He is also a visual artist of some note, having taken part in both solo and group exhibits. [Click here to view examples of Oryst's work]

Membership 

 

Dr. Brian Lynch	Richard Laine	Kathy Reilly
Donna Moshenko	Brenda Rantala-Sykes	Sally Katary
George Schaut	Helen Smilanich	Mel Sekerak
Ilsa Jakelski	John Durjancik	Sandra Faubert
Eugene Kishynski	Jim Mucklow	Matt Beatty
Adelle Larmour	Paul Laverdure

JFE Advisory Board

Orchestra Convener: Mel Sekerak; Social Convener: Helen Smilanich; Director: Oryst Sawchuk;

Chairman: Dr. Brian Lynch; Chair of the Library Committee: George Schaut

Our Recent Repertoire

 

Fiddler on the Roof (medley).....................	Jerry Bock (arr. S. Rosenhaus)
The Thunderer (march)............................	John Philip Sousa (arr. C.P. Herfurth)
Poem About Ukraine................................	A. Alexandra
Solidarity Forever...................................	traditional workers' song
Autumn Dream Waltz...............................	arr. Podoliak-Lanoff
In Old Vienna (waltz medley)....................	arr. C. P. Herfurth
Un Canadian Errant.................................	Antoine Gérin-Lajoie
Gems of Italy (medley).............................	arr. P. Podoliak
Highland Laddies (Scotch medley)..............	J. S. Seredy
French Canadian Favourites: Potpourri.........	arr. P. Podoliak
Something to Sing About..........................	Oscar Brand
Let No Man Call Me a Foreigner.................	arr. B. N.
Jubilee Medley.......................................	arr. C. Dafeff
Brother Can You Spare a Dime?.................	Jay Gorney
Kulkurin Kaiho ("wanderer's longing")...........	traditional Finnish
Zigany (aka "The Gypsy Overture")............	arr. Rudy Wasylenky
Prairie Dances - I,II,III.............................	arr. B. Nuttall
Guantanamera........................................	Joseíto Fernández
Danube Waves (Waltz).............................	J. Ivanovici
My Evening Star ("Zore Moya Vechirnaya")..	traditional Ukrainian
Fantasy On Greensleeves.........................	Old English
Hava Nagila ("Let us Rejoice")....................	traditional Hebrew Folk Song
Vorotarchik ("The Gatekeeper")..................	traditional Ukrainian
Metsakukkia ("Forest Flowers")..................	traditional Finnish
Estrellita................................................	Manuel Ponce
Summertime (from "Porgy 'n Bess").............	George Gershwin
Hungarian Dance IV.................................	Brahms
Loch Lomond..........................................	Scotch Air
El Relicario.............................................	Jose Padilla
A Man's A Man For A' That.......................	words by Robert Burns
Americana (medley)................................	arr. C. P. Herfurth
Come Back to Sorrento............................	Ernesto De Curtis
La Paloma ("the Dove")...........................	Sebastián Yradier
Negro Spirituals (medley).........................	arr. P. Podoliak
Rhumba................................................	Dieter Kreydler
Kiev Waltz............................................	traditional Ukrainian
La Cumparsita........................................	G. Rodriguez
Scottish Dances (traditional)....................	arr. M. Shatulsky
Schedryk ("Carol of the Bells")..................	traditional Ukrainian Christmas
Auld Lang Syne......................................	trad. Scots/ words: Robert Burns
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...............	Johnny Marks
Oy-ra!..................................................	traditional Ukrainian

Contact Us

The JFE holds its rehearsals on Monday evenings, between approx. 7:00 pm to 9:45 pm, at the Jubilee Centre on 195 Applegrove St. (in downtown Sudbury, behind the courthouse--view map). We invite all interested members from the public to come out and hear us rehearse, or even better, to play with us!

If you are interested in joining our ensemble, or if you wish to "book" our band for an upcoming gig, or if you simply want to learn more about us, please contact our conductor and musical director, Oryst Sawchuk, at (705) 674-3590 (home), or at 674-9633 (work). You may also reach Oryst by e-mail at: sawchuk@vianet.ca. 

You may reach the Chair of the JFE's Advisory Board, Dr. Brian Lynch, at (705) 525-0607, or by e-mail at: bjlynch21@tyenet.com. If you wish to submit any digital pictures of the band to us, our Webmaster may be contacted at: gbschaut@sympatico.ca.

Social Breaks

During rehearsals, ample refreshments are available during our breaks, which normally take place around 8:30-ish in the kitchen area of the Jubilee Hall. Helen Smilanich, our Social Convener (and collector of lottery monies!), typically goes to great effort to prepare a host of goodies that universally are to the satisfaction of all present [see photo at right --depicting Donna, Mel, & Brenda during break time].

Partners/Affiliates

The Jubilee Folk Ensemble actively supports other local organizations which contribute to the cultural life of the community through their support of local amateur musicians. These organizations would include: the Finnish Seniors Choir, the Wild Geese, the Sudbury Symphony, the Sudbury Arts Council, Nickel City Sound, and the No Strings Attached Community Band...among others...

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	Folk songs and ballads is a big subject,
	Just as old and just as young,
	Just as big to talk about
	As this whole humanly race
	Around our planet here.
	-- Woody Guthrie --

-- Return to the No Strings Website --

 

Past Concert Venues
Date:	-  Venue  -
Jan. 31/10	"Four Poets Who Changed the World" - concert with poetry readings, Jubilee Hall
Dec. 11/09	Christmas Party concert for the German-Canadian School Assoc., St Peter's Church
May 23/09	Concert at St. Andrew's Place with the CMHA/ Interlink Choir
May 16/09	Concert at the Meadowbrook Residence - Lively
Nov. 16/08	Concert at Walford retirement complex - Walford Rd.
Oct. 26/08	Red Oaks Inn retirement apts. - afternoon concert.
June 7/08	Via Rail station concert, commemorating City's 125th anniversary (see pics at bottom)
Feb. 9/08	Concert at Meadowbrook Residence, Lively...view Video of performance
Dec. 9/07	Christmas concert at Extendicare York seniors' residence

Photo Gallery

I. Photos taken at our Oct. 26th, 2008 concert at the Red Oaks Inn.

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II. Pictures taken from our June 7th, 2008 outdoor Via Rail concert to commemorate Sudbury's 125th anniversary (photos courtesy of Donna Pasichnyk & Rob).

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III. Photos taken at the July 1st, 2007 Canada Day Celebrations at the Sudbury Arena!

The Jubilee Folk Ensemble is generously supported by a civic arts grant from the City of Greater Sudbury (Tourism, Culture & Marketing Section) & with logistical support from the AUUC.

If you have any questions about this site, or suggestions for improvement, please contact the Webmaster, George Schaut at gbschaut@sympatico.ca.

This web page was created by G. Schaut using MS FrontPage (the site is best viewed with a 1024 x 768 screen resolution or lower). This page was created & launched on Sept. 14, 2007. The contents of this page are the property of the Jubilee Folk Ensemble and are intended solely for non-commercial use. We encourage webmasters to include a link to our page in their sites. Web hosting is provided by 1sthostweb.com.

[Site last updated: March 5/10]

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