Album Notes

Olya's new Ukrainian children's recording is finally here!

Multi-talented Olya Fryz (a.k.a. Olya Chodoba-Fryz) is an accomplished vocalist & bandura instrumentalist who has been entertaining audiences for over 20 years and has been an instructor for the past 15 years. As a first generation Ukrainian-American, Olya's contemporary musical interpretations preserve her love for traditional Ukrainian song.

For this children's recording, Olya combined forces with Slavko Halatyn (producer, arranger, recording engineer, and an extroardinary musician). The result is fantastic! Great music, fun arrangements, and a beautiful and pleasant voice. "Shcho za hamir" is sure to be a family favorite.

Olya began performing again the summer of 2004 with the repertoire from her first 3 successful Ukrainian CD's. Her audiences welcomed her back and wanted new material. As a rookie mom (with 2 children who were her main inspiration behind this recording!) and a seasoned music teacher, this children's album project was the next natural step. From a mom's perspective Olya wanted to preserve the songs that she had grown up with and fallen in love with. From a music teacher's perspective, Olya wanted to introduce her new listeners to various styles of music while giving them the chance to sing their own versions with the musical tracks included.

Growing up in NYC Olya is known by many for her various performances and recordings with the Homin Stepiv Bandura Ensemble, the New York Bandura Ensemble's original NY School of Bandura, the Promin Vocal ensemble and several wedding bands. Olya emerged as a solo vocalist who set out to develop her music creatively and instinctively to reflect traditional Ukrainian concepts with individualized arrangements and flair. Olya also incorporates her Ukrainian dancing background into her performances. Recently Olya has been performing special children's shows featuring an audience interactive show that is quite entertaining and fun for her young audiences! (Not to mention their parents as well!) Be sure to visit www.olyafryz.com for a listing of upcoming performances and events.

Olya's performance credits include concerts and festivals throughout the United States and Canada including Lincoln Center, Verkhovyna Festival in Glen Spey NY, cabarets in Chicago, Detroit, Soyuzivka, NY; seminars at elementary schools, various fundraising events (especially CCRF), the "Razom Festival" in Edmonton, Canada, Liberty State Park Celebrations in NYC, and the United Nations International Citizens World Music Concert.

Olya has to her credit 3 other very popular Ukrainian albums: "Zhadaj" - Remember, "Zaprosy u sny" - Into Your Dreams and Mother's Lullabies. "Zaprosy u sny" has just been reprinted and is now also available on cdbaby.com/olya You can hear all of the songs which are a collection of folk and contemporary pieces performed in a very soothing and beautiful style.

Olya's anxiously awaited new recording featuring sing along Ukrainian children's song's is finally available! Olya's talent, enthusiasm and spirit add another dimension to the world of Ukrainian music, which has been her love forever!