Musical director - Gennady Sergienko e-mail: kievchgoman@yahoo.com phone: 847-971-3941 The Russian and Ukrainian 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.  Historically Cossacks were members of multinational communities living in Ukraine and southern Russia. Often these communities were named after a river they lived near by (such as Dnieper, Kuban, Don etc). We chose the name "Chicago Cossacks" because we live along Chicago river and play multinational music. Current members of the group: Natasha Bodansky - vocals. Is a native of Kharkov, Ukraine. Singing has been her passion since early years. Natasha holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from Kharkov State Institute of Arts (1995). She received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance Degree form 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 currently teaches voice and piano at Elkin School of Music in Highland Park, and performing extensively in Chicago area. Her repertory includes a variety of music form 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 Kharkov (Ukraine) Institute of Arts in 1979 with major in double-bass. Played in different music assembles and orchestras including Kiev Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Playing in different styles: classical, jazz and folk music. Arkady Pevchin - bayan (Russian button accordion). BA in Music at Kiev (Ukraine) Music College . Worked in Kiev Concert Association as an accompanist/ Russian accordion player. Performed solo and also in many different orchestras and bands in the Ukraine and Chicago area, including Kiev Military Ensemble. The winner of the USSR Competition of accompanists.  Gennady Sergienko - domra, balalaika, mandolin. BA in Music at Kiev (Ukraine) 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. 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. Since 2008 she is a member of dance group at Atrium Theater. Currently takes lessons at McNulty Irish Dance School.  Natalya Vernovsky - dancer. Has danced in Children Folk Dance Ensemble "Rovesnik" in Minsk, Belarus for 6 years. In 2006-2009 - at Mazurdance Folk Dance School. Since 2007 takes ballroom dance lessons at Masterica School, choreographer Gintaras Grinkevichus. Chicago Cossacks contact information: Gennady ("Henry") Sergienko e-mail: kievchgoman@yahoo.com phone: 847-971-3941 |
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