'Ukrainian Paganini' Vasyl Popadiuk's journey to global stardom - Where is he now?
Vasyl Popadiuk (photo: instagram.com/vasyl_popadiuk)
He is called the "Ukrainian Paganini." His violin has sounded on the most prestigious stages worldwide - from Europe to North America. Vasyl Popadiuk has won the hearts of millions thanks to his virtuosity and charisma. But where is this musical legend now, and what is the artist doing today?
Biography of Vasyl Popadiuk
Vasyl Popadiuk was born in Lviv on January 16, 1966, into a family of artists: his mother was a choreographer, and his father played the sopilka (a Ukrainian flute) in a folk ensemble.
In fact, his family's love of music was passed down through generations—his brother Yaroslav, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather all played music.
Vasyl took his first artistic steps in Kyiv—he studied at the Mykola Lysenko Music School and later entered the Lysenko Conservatory.
Four years later, he returned to his native Lviv and continued his studies externally at the Lysenko Academy. He also served in a military unit in Kyiv.
His professional career began in 1988 in Moscow, where he worked at the "Theatre of the Music of the Peoples of the World" and performed at the Vakhtangov Theatre. But in 1993, he returned to Ukraine. In Kyiv, he performed with the Hopak Ensemble and at the State Romani Theatre "Romance."
In 1997, Vasyl Popadiuk moved to Canada, where he founded his own band, the Papa Duke Band.
Vasyl Popadiuk (photo: instagram.com/vasyl_popadiuk)
He toured half the world with this group, offering audiences a unique blend of classical music, jazz, folk, and Latin influences.
His talent was also recognized on Canadian television. In 2003, he became a contestant on the project "The Great Canadian Music Dream," where he was selected from 15,000 participants to reach the final and take an honorable second place.
The "Papa Duke Band" has released four albums, and Vasyl Popadiuk was awarded the title Merited Artist of Ukraine and was named "Person of the Year" in 2016.
How the violinist lives now and what he says about the war
Vasyl Popadiuk now lives in Ottawa and works in Toronto. Despite the geographic distance, his heart remains in Ukraine. This became especially evident after the full-scale Russian invasion.
"After the full-scale Russian invasion began, Canadian promoters contacted me right away. My first performance was at Meridian Hall in Toronto with the National Ballet of Canada and star guitarist Jesse Cook for an audience of over three thousand people," Vasyl recalls.
Vasyl Popadiuk (photo: instagram.com/vasyl_popadiuk)
Since then, a major charity tour has begun. The musician has toured across Canada, and later, Europe and the USA.
"The mayor of Hamilton, for example, came on stage and handed over a $50,000 check to the Ukrainian community. Later, I performed in the U.S., Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, and other countries. I perform somewhere every month. These are all charity events where we raise funds to support Ukraine," he explains.
Vasyl stays connected to his homeland and visits Ukraine despite his busy schedule.
"Because of the war, unfortunately, not as often as before. But I definitely come twice a year. I visit my hometown, Lviv, and Kyiv, where I have many friends. I love Ukraine very much; it's an inseparable part of my life," the artist confessed.
Vasyl Popadiuk (photo: instagram.com/vasyl_popadiuk)
His contribution to remembrance is as powerful as his music. On February 27, 2023, the anniversary of the destruction of the legendary Ukrainian aircraft An-225 "Mriya," he performed his own composition—a mournful and poignant "Elegy"—right beside the remains of the aircraft.
The performance was also dedicated to the anniversary of the liberation of the Kyiv region.
Despite an active concert life, the violinist is a caring father and husband. His wife, Solomiya, is a civil servant working in the Canadian government. She is the daughter of Hero of Ukraine and legendary dissident and politician Stepan Khmara, who passed away on February 21, 2024.
"I have three daughters: they are 3, 8, and 17 years old. All were born in Canada. The two older ones have already been to Ukraine, the youngest—not yet," the musician said.
Despite living across the ocean, Popadiuk's children are raised with strong Ukrainian roots.
"The girls attend a Saturday Ukrainian school. They learn three languages—English, French, and Ukrainian. They don’t understand Russian… I’ve tested it many times by showing Russian films for them. However, most Ukrainians born in Canada don’t understand Russian…" the violinist shared.
Popadiuk’s middle daughter (photo: instagram.com/vasyl_popadiuk)
Sources: Vasyl Popadiuk's Instagram, TyKyiv, ZN.UA.
