Rus'kyj Muzikanty was founded in 2002 and devotes its energies and collective talent to preserving the folk songs and spirit of the Carpatho-Rusyn people. Along with Rusyn music, Rus'kyj Muzikanty also performs many folk songs of the countries surrounding the Carpathian Mountians including Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania and Poland.

Rus'kyj Muzikanty has performed at numerous festivals, weddings, "sing-a-longs", vatras and general parties throughout Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Also, The Andy Warhol Museam, located in downtown Pittsburgh, hosts an annual Warhol Rusyn Event of which Rus'kyj Muzikanty are the featured performers.

If you, your church or your organization is looking for a professional ensemble to perform at you next event, please feel free to contact Rus'kyj Muzikanty by either using the contact us link on this page or calling (412) 779-0195. They look forward to entertaining you with the sounds of the Carpathians.

(Click on any of the band member's photo for their individual biography)

Jerry Jumba - Accordion/Vocals/Director

Jerry Jumba, as ethnomusicologist, composer and arranger, brings a deep repertoire to Rus'kyj Muzikanty. His arduous field work collecting special Rusyn melodies and lyrics literally spans decades. This collection, that has almost been lost to the ages, is now rescued and ready to live on for generations.

In addition to Rus'kyj Muzikanty, Jerry has arranged and conducted multiple Carpatho-Rusyn choir concerts and orchestras. In Pittsburgh, ABC and CBS affiliates have aired many of these performances on television creating a wider awareness of the Rusyn culture. To deepen the connection of the culture to people who do not speak the Rusyn language, Jerry published collections of Carpatho-Rusyn and Slovak folk songs in "singable" American English. Some of these songs are performed regularly in Rus'kyj Muzikanty's repertoire.

Besides his contribution to folk music, Jerry perpetuates the Carpatho-Rusyn culture by theater, dance and sacred chant. He has authored the theatrical productions of the Bethlehem Play (Viflejemska Ihra) and Old Country Wedding (Staro Krajovoje Veselja), has co-founded eleven folk ensembles throughout the United States and organised as well as directed the sacred chant curriculum for the Chant of Carpatho-Rus’ for the Metropolitan Byzantine Catholic Archieparchy of Pittsburgh from 1984 –1992.

Other notables in Jerry Jumba's career include hosting the Carpatho-Rus’ Radio Program for seven years, being adjunct faculty for the Project Theater at Point Park University and receiving the Master\Apprentice Pennsylvania Grant In Arts for teaching and performance excellence in Pennsylvania for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Click here to contact Jerry directly

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Melissa is a vocalist for Rus’kyj Muzikanty who has been active in performing folk music and dance of Eastern Europe for 30 years. She sings live concerts with the band and also with several other folk music performing ensembles and choirs. She performed and traveled the U.S. extensively with the Duquesne University Tamburitzans folk ensemble as a featured vocalist. Melissa is also a classically trained soprano with an interest in Opera and Classical music, often singing for weddings and religious ceremonies. Melissa has sung lead vocals on 6 folk music CD recordings, and appears on several other folk music and dance videos. She was once a professional puppeteer appearing on Fox TV. She has extensive experience as a voice-over artist and singer for computer animated television and video shows for children aired on WAM TV and FOX TV, with a recent nationally released special on DVD.

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A native of Ukraine, Andrei Pidkivka graduated from the Lviv Conservatory, with a degree in both folk and classical music. By the time he was 18 he was already principle flutist for the Ukrainian folk ensemble, Unist. He has since then performed with several professional ensembles including the Lviv Philharmonic State Symphony Orchestra, Virnist. In 1992 Dr. Pidkivka was featured as a soloist on ethnic flutes with Ukrainian National Military Orchestra at the Second International Music Festival of Military Bands in Krakow, Poland. His talents have brought him to France, Germany, the Czech Republic and the United States. Since coming to the United States, he has received a Masters Degree in Flute performance at Youngstown State University and received a doctorate in Ethno-Musicology. At the present time, Andrei makes ethnic flutes and gives presentations on Eastern European Folk Music at Universities and Colleges. He plays extensively in concerts and music festivals including performances at the Kennedy Center for the Arts, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Folk Alliance Conference.

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Rus’kyj Muzikanty member Dana Holomshek is a native of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.  Her Serbian and Ukranian heritage first brought her to the stage as a Duquesne Junior Tamburitzan at the age of 11, where she developed her passion for music and performing.  She went on to pursue her dream at Duquesne University, where she performed with the Duquesne University Tamburitzans from 2000-2004.  An equally passionate teacher, she graduated with a B.S. in Music Education, and she currently works as a string specialist in the North Allegheny School District.  In addition to Rus’kyj Muzikanty, she performs locally and teaches a private violin studio. 

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A native of southeastern Michigan, Andrew has been a regular performer in the Beskidy Folk Ensemble since 1980. Trained as a classical violinist, Andrew played in the Livonia Symphony Orchestra from 1992-2000. Now living in western Pennsylvania, Andrew has been performing with Rus’kyj Musikanty since 2003. After brief careers as a science teacher and as an epidemiologist, Andrew is a student at the Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius, where he has served as a Lector and Cantor in the chapel. Andrew hopes to be ordained as a Deacon for the (Byzantine) Greek Catholic Church when he is completed with his seminary studies.

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Bob is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with roots tracing back to Uzgorhod, Ukraine. Raised on pierogies and kolbasa, his Carpatho-Rusyn heritage still runs strong through his veins.

Since the age of seven, Bob has been involved with the ethnic scene in Pittsburgh participating in numerous ensembles and folk bands. Throughout his college career, Bob performed throughout the United States and Canada as a Duquesne University Tamburitzans performing Eastern Eupopean folk concerts.

Bob is the Vice Chairman of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society Pittsburgh Chapter. He also teaches music to children and young adults in the South Hills Junior Tamburitzans. In addition to Rus'kyj Muzijkanty, Bob performs regularly with Kumovi - a Croatian Folk Ensemble based out of Pittsburgh.

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Brian likes to play bass

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