Vasyl Popadiuk

The journey for Vasyl Popadiuk from Ukraine to Toronto has been one of musical adventure, starting at Kiev's Lysenko school for gifted children at the tender age of 7, and continuing at Ukraine's national Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music from age 18. Vasyl Popadiuk's father, himself a renowned composer and pan flute player, dreamt of his son following in his footsteps as a flutist but at the age of four Vasyl Jr chose to play the piano. By age six he had discovered and fallen in love with the violin - an outcome predicted by a stranger before his birth - that love has remained steadfast through the years.

Popadiuk has toured with many prestigious troupes, including Ukraine's Hopak National Ensemble, Kiev's Gypsy Music Theatre Company, and the Nazarov Music Theatre Company of Moscow with whom he performed for many international dignitaries including the late King Hussein of Jordan. He was asked to accompany Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife as part of the cultural entourage during a state visit to Spain where he performed for Queen Sofia. His many fans include Don Was, Tom Cochrane, Ian Gillan (whose solo album Vasyl was asked to play on) and Jesse Cook. In the past he often appeared as special guest to Mediterranean guitarist Pavlo in Canada, the U.S., and the UK. More recently he has made several appearances as special guest for world-music guitarist Jese Cook, and will be special guesting for celebrated Canadian tenor John McDermott in Toronto this summer.

During the past year Vasyl has assembled his new 6 piece band Papa Duke and recorded his first album with them. The band name is a play on Vasyl's last name and the fact that he is considered by many to be the 'duke' of gypsy violin. They have already headlined at Harbourfront, the Burlington Jazz & Blues fest, and with the Mississauga Symphony at the Living Arts Centre. Papa Duke's music is best described as 'Gypsy World Fusion' with classical, jazz, latin and pop undertones. The current line up of stellar players in Papa Duke includes: musical director Stan Fomin on piano and keyboards; dynamic Ecuadorian guitarist David West (playing a custom 12 & 18 string guitar); Sasha Boychouk on sprano sax, clarinet and keyboards; acoustic & electric bassist Victor Khomenko; and newest member Rosendo "Chendy" Leon (from Cuba) on drums and percussion.