Nestor Olynyk

Nestor Olynyk [Нестор Оліӣник], (born on November 26, 1930, in Hamilton, Ontario). Composer, music educator, and director of choirs at Orthodox churches in Ontario for over fifty years. In addition to composing two liturgies and a number of sacred hymns, and he also taught at seminars for voice, orchestra, cantoring, and conducting. He began conducting church choirs in 1952, serving at parishes in Welland, Hamilton, and Oshawa. From 1962 to 2003, he directed at three prominent churches in the Toronto area: St. Demetrius, St. Andrew, and St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. In 1988, the Orthodox clergy in Canada chose him to be the music director for the historic liturgy marking the 1000-year anniversary of Christianity in Ukraine. He organized and led a massive choir of 650 singers for the event which took place at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.

1952-1955: St. Andrew UOC (Toronto).

1955-1957: Holy Trinity (Welland).

1959-1961: St. Vladimir (Hamilton).

1961-1963: St. John the Baptist (Oshawa).

1963-1973: St. Demetrius (Toronto).

1974-1979: St. Volodymyr (Toronto).

1981-1988: St. Andrew  (Toronto).

1988-2003: St. Volodymyr (Toronto).