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