The Kosa Choir is a Toronto based chamber folk choir of 10-14 singers, studying & performing the traditional polyphonic songs of Ukraine.

WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR SINGERS TO JOIN US for our Spring Term which starts February 27. SINGERS DO NOT NEED TO KNOW, OR BE UKRAINIAN (see more details below). If you are interested in joining - even if you’ve learned about this opportunity after our February start date - please send an email to KOSASINGING@GMAIL.COM to arrange an audition.

We rehearse every Tuesday, 7:30-9:30 PM at the Shevchenko Museum, 1604 Bloor St West, providing a safe and regular space to develop the gorgeous and powerful repertoire and extended vocal technique of traditional Ukrainian singing known as ridnyj holos. (Check out the videos for examples.)

The Kosa community singing grew out of the Kosa Kolektiv founders’ passion for traditional Ukrainian polyphonic singing based in villages and in land-based rituals & practices. For years they ran singing workshops and facilitated singing groups for Christmas caroling (Koliada) and spring rites (Haivky).

In October 2023, Kosa finally formalisedthe community singing into a choir!

Our first term!

From auditions and rehearsals, to Halloween flash mobs and performances with fabulous folk musicians, to bringing the ancient carols and blessings into people’s homes at Christmas and New Year, click on the pic to see what we did in our first term.

Interested in having our Kosa Choir perform at your event, click-here.

The Kosa Choir runs for two terms:
October – January
and February – June

Rehearsals are on TUESDAYS 7:30-9:30 PM at the Shevchenko Museum, 1604 Bloor Street W.

Every season we host two big fundraising performances for Ukraine, scheduled for mid-November and early June. Also be prepared for pop-up community singing activities around Kosa Kolektiv’s usual Winter and Spring carolling activities!

CLICK the pic to hear Ой ти купайло хорошеє (Kupalo song) from Kosa’s 2023 summer song cycle workshop.

SINGERS DO NOT NEED TO KNOW, OR BE UKRAINIAN

The only experience needed to join the choir is the ability to sing in harmony and the willingness to learn! Expect songs to be taught by ear, as sheet music will not always be provided. Lyrics, however, will be provided in Cyrillic for Ukrainian speakers, and transliterated for English speakers. Besides learning the repertoire, singers will undergo regular technical development of vocal and choral technique such as:

developing a bright timbre with the chest and blended voice
use of extended vocal techniques that combine ornaments, yips, hollers and slides.
applying distinct inflections, phrasings, and regional dialects of Ukrainian songs
blending and ear-training exercises to improve tone and intonation

HOW DO I JOIN?

We hold auditions twice a year, in September/October and February/March.

At your audition, you’ll meet with our directors. Don’t worry, they’re super friendly and just want to be sure you can hold your pitch and sing in harmony. Be prepared to:

run through some fun vocal exercises to get you warmed up and feel comfortable
perform one song of your choice, ideally a folk song

Within 3 days after the audition we’ll contact applicants to let them know about joining the choir.

***Harvest song “Гей наш милий Боже” (Hey Our Dear God) performed by Rozhanytsia.***

Click here to listen to the song

FEES

As a community choir, fees are necessary to secure a rehearsal space and pay our directors for their research and skills. Fees are charged by the term (see below). A sliding scale is available for a few singers who cannot afford the fee and in turn, they will be welcomed to contribute to the choir’s fundraising in other ways.

PERFORMANCES to SUPPORT UKRAINE

We are planning our 2 major performances as fundraisers for Ukraine in November and June. We are also excited to be collaborating with Sing With Ukraine and have our singers join their incredible and relentless efforts to raise awareness and funds for Ukraine’s ongoing struggle for freedom.

TERM 1: October - January.
Fee: $225 per chorister

6 REHEARSALS focus on lyrical and harvest songs
6 REHEARSALS with Kosa Carollers focused on winter carols
2 WINTER CAROL WORKSHOPS
1 CONCERT/FUNDRAISER (for Ukraine!) in November
POP UP CONCERTS & CAROLLING end of December to end of January

TERM 2: end of February to June.
Fee is $225 per chorister

6 REHEARSALS focus on Spring songs
6 REHEARSALS focus on summer repertoire & review of songs for end of year concert
1 SPRING/VESNIANKY WORKSHOP
END OF YEAR CONCERT/FUNDRAISER (for Ukraine) in June
POP UP CONCERTS & SPRING CAROLLING

KOSA CHOIR AT YOUR EVENT

For over a decade, Kosa singers have been called upon to perform in all sorts of events - from movie premiers and weddings to church events and festivals. And of course, one of our most beloved singing traditions, Koliada: caroling house to house for Ukrainian Christmas and New Year. Now with the choir being formalized, we are even more excited to animate a variety of spaces with the spirited and authentic sounds of Ukraine. If you are interested in having our Kosa Choir at your event, please reach out to us at kosasinging@gmail.com

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Andrea Kuzmich (Phd ABD, MFA) is an award-winning singer and performer, a teacher, ethnomusicologist and music facilitator. She has researched and performed vocal music in its many forms, from singing with a community immigrant Congolese gospel choir to recording professionally with a contemporary vocal improvisation ensemble. She has won awards for vocal jazz and South Indian performance and is known for her authentic performance styles in Ukrainian and Georgian singing with the ensembles Darbazi, ZARI, Ori Shalva, Kosa Kolektiv, Kalendar and Sing With Ukraine. She has led professional and community ensembles, choirs and workshops, specializing in the authentic performance styles of Ukrainian and Georgian vocal polyphony. Her research interests lie in the intersection of collective memory, ancestry and traditional music, and she has lectured, presented papers, and published on the subject.

Assistant: Iryna Lozynska

Kosa Choir