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                      Cummings & Neil Young 1987


WINNIPEG  MANDOLIN  ORCHESTRA


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Mandolin Orchestra of Winnipeg,
                              Ukrainian Girls 1926

The musical group dates back to 1921 when 13 Ukrainian women struck the mandolin together for the first time in Winnipeg’s north end.  The ensemble played traditional Ukrainian and eastern European arrangements.  Their first performance was in February 1921.

It is the oldest mandolin orchestra in Canada, and the second oldest in North America.


Winnipeg Mandolin
                              Orchestra

Winnipeg Mandolin Orchestra
2024
Middle row, centre: Fred Redekop (mandolin)
Front row, 2nd from right:  Annis Kozub (conductor)

In the beginning, the only instrument played was the mandolin.  As time passed other members of the mandolin family were added: mandola, mandocello, and mandobass.  In addition to that, we now have viola, violincello, and bass from the string family, and wind instruments: flute, oboe, and clarinet. Accordion and guitar are present as well.

Fred Redekop
Fred Redekop
Fred Redekop

Annis Kozub
Annis Kozub
Annis Kozub

Born into a musical family, Annis began music lessons as a young child, first on piano, and later violin.  The Kozub family performed as an instrumental and choral ensemble, and have a trophy offered in their name in the Family Class category at the Winnipeg Music Festival.  In his teenage years, Annis played violin in the orchestra, and sang in the Bandurist Male Chorus at the Ukrainian Labour Temple.  He later joined the Shevchenko Male Chorus in Toronto.

His first venture into professional music was with the folk trio Three Blind Mice.  He later studied with Gordon Delamont in Toronto, and attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  He has a BMus from the University of Manitoba.

Annis has worked extensively as a singer, bass player and violinist.  He has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Manitoba Theatre Centre.  He was a bass player with the Ron Paley Band for many years.

He has been the conductor of the Winnipeg Mandolin Orchestra since 1998.

As published on The Ukrainian Labour Temple website.



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