About

Musical director - Gennady Sergienko

e-mail: kievchgoman@yahoo.com   phone: 847-971-3941

The Ukrainian and international folk music and dance ensemble "Chicago Cossacks" was created in 1993 and since then has been entertaining people of the Greater Chicago area and beyond. The original members of the group were Nataliya Sergienko, Nadiya Dnes and Gennady Sergienko.

Current members of the group:

Natasha Bodansky - vocals

Is a native of Kharkiv, Ukraine. Singing has been her passion since early years.  Natasha holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from KharkivState Institute of Arts (1995). She received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance Degree from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where she studied voice with Frances Crawford. While in Urbana-Champaign, Natasha performed with the UIUC Russian Folk Orchestra. Natasha is a school teacher, and performing extensively in Chicago area. Her repertory includes a variety of music from opera and operetta to international music. Natasha is a member of  Music Academy International Community Chorus of Northwestern University. She has also been a Cantorial Soloist with UIC Hillel Foundation for five years.

Alexander Kaminsky - double bass

Graduated from Kharkiv (Ukraine) Institute of Arts in 1979 with major in double-bass. Played in different music assembles and orchestras including Kyiv Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Playing in different styles: classical, jazz, and folk music.

Vadim Dubovsky - vocals

Studied at Kyiv Specialized Music school named after Lysenko. Holds BA in Music Teaching at Kiev Pedagogical Institute (musical-pedagogical faculty) and BA in Music at Kiev Conservatory (opera singing, dramatic baritone). Has performed at Revutsky Academic Male Capella. As a part of National Academic Choir of Ukraine "Dumka" has toured most of the European countries. Worked at Ukrainian radio in Chicago.

Nadiya Dnes - vocals

Native of Volodymyr-Volynsky, Ukraine. Has taught music for many years, specializing in Ukrainian folk instruments, particularly bayan. Performed through the years as a bayan player as solo and also ensembles and orchestras. Has a good singing voice and has also performed as a solo vocalist and as a part of larger vocal groups.

Mike Basin - accordion, piano

Graduated from Joseph Medin Musical College, major in accordion, minor in piano and the Institute of Music and Art in St Petersburg, Russia. He has won a third place for the Classical Musical Program in the Accordion Festival in Latvia. Has many years of performing and teaching accordion and piano.

Arkady Bodner - accordion, piano, keyboard

Graduated with distinction from Music College and Conservatory at Tashkent. Has been working as a piano teacher, accordion and piano performer, and a wedding band director for many years.

Maria Lys - flute, sopilka, back vocals

Graduated from Lviv State Music Academy in the flute class. Has 28 years experience of music of teaching, in particular, at Lviv State Musical School #1, and the last 8 years at Lviv State Music College. For 20 years she has toured many European countries, such as Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, Denmark, England, Poland, Slovakia, etc. as part of the folk ensemble Lubystok. She also toured with the Uzhhorod Academic Chamber Choir Cantus to Switzerland, Austria and Poland.

Gennady Sergienko - domra, mandolin

BA in Music at Kyiv Institute of Performing Arts, member of Balalaika & Domra Association of America. Performed in the following orchestras and bands: Russian Folk Orchestra at October Palace of Culture in Kiev, Souvenir, Tum-balalaika, The Internationals, The Russian Folk Orchestra of University of Illinois etc.

Marta Mykhaylyshyn - dancer

Started dancing when she was five. At the age of 14 Marta graduated Ukrainian National Dance School. Since 2008 she is a student of "Mazurdance" School. Also attends "Bravo Ballroom Studio".

Galina Shogan - dancer

Has danced in Modern Dance Ensemble "Festival'ny" at Sumy State University in Sumy, Ukraine for 5 years. In 2005-2009 at Ballroom and Folk Dance School at Mazurdance. In 2007-2008 - ballroom dances at Masterica School, choreographer Gintaras Grinkevichus. Also she used to take lessons at McNulty Irish Dance School. In 2008-2011 a member of dance group at Atrium Theater. Currently is a choreographer, backstage manager and sound/light engineer at By The Way Theater.

Tetyana Torzhevska - vocals

Tetyana was born in Kyiv, Ukraine. She graduated from the P. I. Tchaikovsky National Conservatory in 1991, making her debut in 1989 at the State Opera Studio in Kyiv. In 1993 she became a permanent soloist of the Kiev State Opera, where she performed leading soprano roles. Tetyana has been heard throughout Europe on major concert stages. She performed with the “Johan Willem Friso Kapel” orchestra in the Netherlands; the “Bravo” trio in Germany;  the folk orchestra “Sviatovid” in Ukraine; the Ukrainian National Army Dance and Song Company; the Kyiv Symphony.  As an opera singer Tetyana has performed at the Kyiv State Operetta, Lviv State Opera, and the National Opera of Ukraine. In 2004 she moved to the USA, where she has performed with Madison Opera, Madison Symphony,  Da Corneto Opera, Fox Valley Lyrical Productions  and has appeared in solo recitals in the Chicago area.  At this time, she is teaching at her private music studio in Huntley and continues her performance activity.

Valeriy Yavor - flute, sopilka

Valeriy graduated from Belarusian Conservatory of Music and has performed in all over the world.  He has been a guest artist, performing traditional Slavic folk music with Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Symphony, Detroit and Toronto Symphony Orchestras.

Chicago Cossacks contact information: Gennady ("Henry") Sergienko

e-mail: kievchgoman@yahoo.com   phone: 847-971-3941