Orest Soltykevych

Orest was born and raised in Edmonton, Canada, where he completed Grade 9 of the Royal Conservatory Piano. He went on to attend the University of Alberta, where he completed a Bachelor of Education degree with a major in secondary music.[1]

After the conclusion of his studies, Orest starting working for Edmonton Public Schools in various capacities, including as a computer studies teacher, instrumental music teacher, assistant principal, principal and substitute teacher.[2]

Orest is married to Lesia Soltykevych, and has two sons, Roman and Cassian, and one daughter, Tamara. Orest's father, Roman, was a choir conductor with the Ukrainian Dnipro Ensemble of Edmonton.[3]

In 1984 Orest became the founding conductor of the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton, a position which he holds today.[4] Under his leadership the choir has embarked on a number of tours and performances in Canada, as well as internationally in Ukraine, Poland, Austria, Latvia, Spain, Portugal and the United States.[5][6]

Starting in 1986, Orest began conducting the Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada (CYMK) choir, which he led for 7 years. He also spent three years as the conductor of the St Andrews's Ukrainian Orthodox Parish Choir.[7] Orest is currently the director of the Verkhovyna Ukrainian Choir in Edmonton.[8]

Over the course of his career, Orest has also performed with the Dnipro choir, the Richards Eaton singers, the Da Camera singers and the Kappella Kyrie Slavic Chamber Choir.[9][10]

Orest spent ten years serving as a member of the Ukrainian Music Society, including acting as the society's president for a period of time.[11]

In 1999 Orest founded the “Sounds Ukrainian” radio program at the CJSR radio station based out of the University of Alberta which he hosted for a total of seven years.[12]

Orest currently hosts the Saturday Breakfast and Sunday Breakfast classical music programs on the CKUA Radio Network in Alberta.[13]

In 2005 Orest was awarded the Hetman Award by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council for his many years of work in the Ukrainian community.[14]