Wolodymyr Mota - Bandura

The Bandura – is Ukraine’s National Instrument. The origin of the Bandura or the Kobza, as it used to be called long ago, goes back to the 16th century.

Since 1952, Wolodymyr Mota performed with his bandura in numerous Ukrainian celebrations and concerts in Montreal, in other parts of Canada and in the United States, as well as in Montreal’s  Expo – 67.  During the 1970-ies, he also trained a new generation of bandurists.

In 1992, during Montreal’s 350th anniversary celebrations, he performed at the official ceremony acknowledging the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Quebec. In 1998, performed at the vernissage of the Treasures of the Steppes, Ukraines’ exhibit at the Pointe Au Callière Archeological Museum in Montreal, and provided musical background for the exhibit itself.

In 1999, Mr. Mota was guest performer at the 50th anniversary concert of the Manchester (England) based choir Homin, under the direction of his former bandura teacher, maestro Yaroslav Babuniak, and earlier, in 1995, as singer, he toured Ukraine with this choir.

In 2002, he performed in Ottawa at the official tenth anniversary celebrations of establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Ukraine.

In the summer of 2006, he toured Ukraine again with the Montreal-based choir Vidlunnya. Also, with his bandura, he staged his own independent concerts there. For many years he has been a singer in the choir of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Rosemont, Montreal, and is presently its Director.

Mr. Mota has performed in public, on radio and television, sharing his talent with the Ukrainian community as well as introducing Ukrainian music to the Francophone and Anglophone communities. He has performed at the Montreal Ukrainian festival numerous times.

Source:  http://www.ukefestmontreal.org/performers2008.php