Ukrainian musician has great impact on BC island community

Ruta Yawney is a very talented musician who has been practicing her music and her professional skills here on the west coast of Canada for many years. I had the pleasure of seeing her perform live a few times in the early 1990s, before she moved to Bowen Island.

She has released 2 CDs of Ukrainian and cross-cultural folksongs, of which selections have been featured on Nash Holos.

Recently, a local paper published an article about Ruta.

... Ruta Yawney holds a bachelor’s degree in music therapy and has been working in the field for over 15 years. She says that it has been music that has facilitated her way of finding peace.
“Music allows us to be filled with light,” as Ruta puts it.

Many islanders have witnessed some of the magical moments of Ruta Yawney’s musical performances over the past 16 years here on Bowen. She is known for her captivating vocals and exotic Ukrainian bandura playing. Ruta has taught many children in Bowen’s different schools.

... For the past five years, many have seen Ruta behind the piano, playing guitar or flute, as the director of music at Bowen Island’s Little Red United Church.

Full article here.

To hear a selection from Ruta's most recent CD of Ukrainian songs, tune in to the October 12 Nash Holos podcast here. The selected track is an instrumental bandura piece composed by Hryhory Kytasty. For more information about Ruta, visit her website.