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Our Artistic Team
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR
Irena Szmihelsky, a native of Edmonton, has been actively involved in vocal and choral music close to 50 years. Her musical training includes study at the University of Alberta at which she received her Master of Education degree with a major in music, extensive study under her mentor, the late Maestro Wolodymyr Kolesnyk, vocal and piano study with the Royal Conservatory of Music. For twenty consecutive years, she was a student, and in the latter years, an instructor of conducting technique at the intense two-week Choral Conductors` Seminars of Ukrainian Music sponsored by the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta. She has applied her training as a conductor to both adult and children`s choirs: Verkhovyna Choir of the Ukrainian Youth Association, Strumochok Children`s Choir of the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta and school choirs of Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional District where, for thirty-eight consecutive years, she was employed as a music teacher. She is an active member of the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta and Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada (CYM). Irena has been Dnipro's Artistic Director since 2011.
COLLABORATIVE PIANIST
Irena Tarnawsky, AMus, BEd, was born in Edmonton. She received her Piano Performer’s and Pedagogy degrees from the Western Board of Music. Irena’s mentors are Maria Dytyniak, David Astor, Lary Benson and Maestro Wolodymyr Kolesnyk. She was the pianist for the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta’s Summer Conducting Seminars for many years. Irena is the founding conductor of St. George the Victorious Ukrainian Catholic Church Choir (1996), and is the assistant conductor of the Edmonton Swiss Men's Choir (2015). Irena received the "Hetman Award" in October 2003 from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, for contributions and dedicated service to the Ukrainian Community in Alberta. In 2011, the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts selected her as one of 25 artists making a significant contribution to Ukrainian art and culture in Alberta. In 2014, her biography was published in Ukraine in Part 7 of the Shevchenko Scientific Society’s Collected Papers on Ukrainian Life in Canada. Retired from 33 years of teaching in the Ukrainian Bilingual Program in Elk Island Catholic Schools, Irena now enjoys working with young pianists in the Tarnawsky Music Studio. Irena first joined the Dnipro Ensemble’s Orchestra in 1975, and also acted as the choir’s assistant director for a number of years. Irena has been Dnipro’s principal accompanist since 1976.
EMERGING CONDUCTOR 2025-26
Michael Buckler was born and raised in Edmonton. He finished his general education graduating from Edmonton Catholic Schools' Ukrainian Bilingual Program and then studied music at the University of Alberta where he obtained a Bachelor of Music. After working for a few years, he returned to university and obtained a Bachelor of Education. Over the course of his two degrees, Michael has attended workshops and courses in performing, teaching and conducting in Edmonton, other parts of Canada and internationally. He now teaches elementary music in Edmonton. Michael has been an active member of Dnipro Choir since 2019.