Kappella Kyrie Slavic Chamber Choir was founded in the spring of 2010 by Dr. Melanie Turgeon and others in a conscientious effort to explore, highlight and uphold the rich, centuries-old musical tradition of the Christian East, giving particular focus to Slavic sacred music as performed in the concert hall as well as in the liturgical context.
To date, Kappella Kyrie has delighted audiences with several wide-ranging and collaborative initiatives, and has performed with Chorale Saint-Jean, King’s University Chamber Singers, Richard Eaton Singers, Shumayela Youth Choir and the Calgary Youth Orchestra, among others. In June 2015, Kappella Kyrie marked their fifth anniversary with Rachmaninoff’s famous All-Night Vigil, celebrated as an actual church service. They have collaborated with many outstanding soloists, composers and conductors, including renowned Canadian tenor, Benjamin Butterfield in November 2017 and Ukrainian baritone, Yurii Hryhorash (featured on this recording) in November 2022. In 2019 and again in 2022, they worked with American Baroque Orchestra conductor and composer, Mark Bailey, as well as twice Grammy-nominated composer and conductor, Benedict Sheehan in 2023. In June 2019, they proudly staged the North American premiere of Ukrainian Baroque composer Artem Vedel’s sacred concerto with orchestra, Помолихся лицу Твоему всем сердцем моим, along with Vivaldi’s spectacular Gloria, both performed on period instruments at Baroque pitch (415 Hz). The live recording of this Vedel’ concerto is included on this recording. In February 2020, Kappella Kyrie celebrated its tenth anniversary with, “A Journey Through Lent,” collaborating with King’s University Chamber Singers and faculty to prayerfully showcase pieces sung in the Eastern Church during the Great Fast.
Beyond the concert hall, Kappella Kyrie toured Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in May of 2014. They gained national recognition at the Choral Canada National Competition, placing second in the Pan-Cultural Traditions category in 2015 and first in 2019. Their community service includes performances at the Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton’s Maximum Security Institution, the Marian Centre, Edmonton City Hall and Newman Theological College. In June 2022, Kappella Kyrie partnered with Richard Eaton Singers for a special fundraising concert at Edmonton’s Winspear Centre, which raised $22,000 in support of those newly arrived Ukrainian Nationals forced to flee their homeland due to war.
The Director
Melanie Turgeon began studying conducting at the age of 16 under the tutelage of Wolodymyr Kolesnyk, former conductor of Kyiv State Opera and Ballet Theatre. She completed her post-secondary education at the University of Alberta (BA Hons Mus and M Mus) and the University of Illinois (DMA). Dr. Turgeon is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at The King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta, and Adjunct Professor at Cape Breton University in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She has conducted many choirs and ensembles and has presented research at several academic institutions and conferences both in Canada and internationally. Melanie has also toured extensively with her choirs, including three successful European tours.
From 2002-2018, Melanie served as Music Director and Cantor at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Edmonton. She has published various musical resources for the Ukrainian Catholic Church, most notably a hymnal and its accompanying five-CD set entitled, Sing to Our God in 2008, which has been distributed throughout the world. Her current project is an extensive anthology of liturgical music for use by cantors, which she hopes to publish by the fall of 2024. Among other highlights, Dr. Turgeon’s research endeavors include the publication of a book entitled, Composing the Sacred in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia (2008), three recordings with Heruvymy Ukrainian Female Quartet and one with King’s Choirs. In 2010, she founded Kappella Kyrie, an award-winning chamber choir devoted primarily to Slavic sacred music. Melanie has also been involved with the Ukrainian Art Song Project for nearly fifteen years, and presently serves as co-director and faculty member of its annual Summer Institute.
The Accompanist
Katherine Tilbury is an expressive pianist who is passionate about collaborative piano and youth education. Born and raised in Lacombe, Alberta, Katherine began studying piano at age five. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in piano from the University of Alberta where she studied under Dr. Patricia Tao, and holds a Music Diploma in Piano Performance from Red Deer College. Katherine is a versatile pianist and has studied contemporary, jazz and classical repertoire. She maintains an active private piano studio with over twenty-five students and is extremely passionate about music education. This dedication is shown not only through teaching studio lessons and masterclasses, but through her positions at The King’s University and Concordia University where she works with instrumentalists both in studio classes, and as a recital partner. Through her work as a freelance soloist and collaborator, Katherine has enjoyed playing wonderful works of choral repertoire with choirs in Edmonton including Kappella Kyrie Slavic Chamber Choir, Joyful Noise Choirs, Choir Alberta and the Archbishop Jordan Choirs under Jolaine Kerley. Her most recent projects include acting as Music Director for Archbishop Jordan High School’s senior production of “Little Women”, Opera Nuova’s “Dear Edwina” and Repetiteur for Pop Goes the Opera’s production of “Suor Angelica” in 2022. When she isn’t at the piano, you can find Katherine in her painting studio.
The Apprentice Conductor
Andrew Van Hecke is from Barrhead, Alberta, and is thrilled to be the apprentice conductor with Kappella Kyrie this year, assisting with rehearsals and performances. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alberta Augustana Campus in Piano Performance-Based Pedagogy, where he worked with multiple choirs as a chorister, accompanist, flautist, and guest conductor. Andrew is an aspiring conductor, accompanist, soloist, chorister, and music educator, having worked with ensembles such as The Augustana Choir, Alberta Youth Choir, and Shumayela of the Korora Choirs Association. Currently studying at the University, Andrew is pursuing an education degree in music and is also a musician in the Edmonton Youth Orchestra. Recent conducting performances have included arrangements of The Piano by Don Macdonald and All the Diamonds by Larry Nickel with Camrose Camerata.
Our Board of Directors
Ivan Fedyna (President)
Rev. Chelsy Bouwman (Vice President)
Dr. Melanie Turgeon (Artistic Director)
Orest Soltykevych (Secretary)
Taras Nohas (Treasurer)
Wally Tarnawsky (Concert Production Chair)
Anna Lodewyk (Director – Grant Writer)
Marah Pantzer (Director – Communications Chair)
Joe Weleschuk (Director – Donations, Fundraising, & Sponsorship Chair)
Our Volunteers
Greg Fedor & Alvin Hewko (Auditors)
Namisha Greening (Casino Chairperson)
Ksenia Fedyna (Attendance/Archives/Grants)
Micha Oostenbrink (Web Admin/Social Media/Grants)
Andrea Leader (Librarian)
Wally Tarnawsky (Merchandise Coordinator)
Raina Cornelsen (Attendance)
Donna Noton (Costume Coordinator)
Matthew Fullerton (Web Developer)
Natalia Onyschuk & Luba Lubinsky (Snack Coordinators)
Doug Laver (Rehearsal Facilities Coordinator)