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St. John’s musician Brian Cherwick, perhaps most well known as the frontman for speed-folk band Kubasonics, has one more accolade to add to his collection.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) has awarded Cherwick the Taras Shevchenko Medal, which the group says recognizes people or institutions and organizations for their outstanding national contribution to the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community.
The UCC says it’s the highest recognition the congress can grant.
“People often recognize [Kubasonics] for our performances when they see our band playing. But this award takes in a whole bunch of other stuff that I’ve done over the years,” Cherwick said in an interview with CBC Radio’s The St. John’s Morning Show.
Cherwick said he doesn’t typically apply for awards, but it’s nice to have some of his “invisible” work noticed in this way.
The multi-instrumentalist and scholar said he’s been to hundreds of schools across Canada, organized events and festivals, and has helped raise money for the Ukrainian diaspora over the span of his career.
“It’s easy to see me jumping around on the stage and, you know, being really animated,” he said. “But there’s a lot of other things that I do that aren’t quite like that.”
Brian Cherwick has been performing and teaching music across Canada and in Ukraine for 50 years. (Mariya Lesiv/Facebook)
At first Cherwick was hesitant to travel to Toronto to accept his award, he said, but his family reminded him of how important it is to show up for his community as war continues between Russia and Ukraine.
He said a building across the street from a family member’s home in the western Ukraine city of Ternopil was destroyed by a Russian missile strike just last week. Reuters reports that 34 people have died as a result of the attack, but Cherwick said his family is safe.
He said seeing the Ukrainian population grow and settle in Canada has been inspiring.
“Having this kind of award, having places where I can play music … I’m grateful that there is kind of a forum for that,” Cherwick said.
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