Brian Cherwick

Biography

Brian Cherwick has been an ambassador for Ukrainian culture for over 50 years. He holds B. Mus(Ed) (Brandon), MA (Alberta), and PhD (Alberta) degrees and was also a student at the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music in Kyiv. He is a recognized expert in the area of traditional Ukrainian instrumental music and plays over 40 instruments.

Brian is best known as the founder of the award winning speed-folk band Kubasonics. Under his leadership they have achieved popularity beyond the Ukrainian community through their extensive touring, award winning recordings, and imaginative online presence. They’ve performed in 11 provinces/territories of Canada, throughout Eastern Europe (including 2 tours of Ukraine), South America, and the Caribbean. Their 7 albums of Ukrainian music have been nominated for 12 Juno, East Coast Music Association, and MusicNL Awards, winning 4. They’ve appeared at major Canadian and Ukrainian festivals, on national TV and radio, were shortlisted for the 2017 Borealis Music Prize, voted “Best Band to See Live in Newfoundland,” and received the Alberta Council for Ukrainian Arts “Innovation in Artistry Award”.

Brian has given presentations at schools, workshops, conferences, and festivals across Canada, describing Ukrainian musical traditions. He has been a clinician and adjudicator, and has taught many young musicians to play Ukrainian instruments.

Brian has served as cantor and choir director at several Ukrainian Catholic Churches across Canada. He has also been active in the Ukrainian choral community as a member and conductor of various Ukrainian choirs

Through his work as an academic, a solo performer, and with Kubasonics, Brian has made a concerted effort to share information about Ukrainian culture with audiences beyond the Ukrainian community. He appears frequently on national radio, TV, and print media and often comments on Ukrainian culture and politics for TV, radio, and print in Newfoundland.