In December 2022, only weeks after arriving in Canada, Borys and Julia joined the team at Long & McQuade Musical Instruments in Victoria, bringing professional experience and musical knowledge to everyday work with musicians of all ages, students, teachers and families.
In Kyiv, Borys performed with the Kyiv Opera Theatre Orchestra and Ensemble Nostri Temporis, while Julia worked with the National Presidential Orchestra of Ukraine and the State Academic Variety Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. Both also performed with New Era Orchestra, conducted by Tetiana Kalinichenko. Their orchestral and ensemble work took them on tours across Europe and Asia.
For more than a decade, they also performed aboard international cruise ships with Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Their work ranged from classical and chamber music to jazz, popular music, full bands and main-stage theatre shows, shaping the versatility that remains at the heart of LADO Strings.
When they left Ukraine for a cruise contract in 2021, they expected to return home. Russia’s full-scale invasion changed everything: their home in Irpin came under attack, while Starobilsk, where Borys grew up, was occupied. In autumn 2022, they began an unexpected new chapter in Victoria.
The Story Behind LADO Strings
Borys and Julia’s story began in Kyiv, Ukraine, where a shared love of music brought them together and led to the founding of LADO Strings in 2010. Both are classically trained violinists, each holding a Master’s degree in Music from the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music.
Their work has also taken them to Ontario for company training and a visit to Yorkville Sound, the legendary Canadian music-equipment company, deepening their connection to Canada’s music industry.
They remain deeply grateful to Long & McQuade’s management and their dear colleagues for the support, friendship and encouragement they received while rebuilding their lives. Being welcomed into the team helped Borys and Julia find their footing in a new country.
Over the following years, Borys and Julia became active members of British Columbia’s music community, collaborating with Cascadia Strings, famous Canadian tenor Ken Lavigne and the Breakwater String Quartet, and performing in musical theatre productions at McPherson Playhouse. Borys has also performed with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra and Bach on the Rock on Salt Spring Island, and contributed violin recordings to projects by Emmy Award-winning composer and guitarist Eric Harper. Julia’s performances have included Candlelight Concerts and the Victoria Philharmonic Choir.
Community remains central to their story, and their connection to Ukraine remains deeply present. Borys and Julia contribute their music to fundraisers supporting displaced Ukrainians, humanitarian projects in Ukraine and wounded Ukrainian soldiers, including initiatives helping provide prosthetics and rehabilitation.
Through their involvement with the Ukrainian Cultural Centre and the Ukrainian-Canadian Cultural Society of Vancouver Island, Borys and Julia take part in cultural and remembrance events. They have performed alongside Kalyna Ukrainian Choir, including at the Sunflowers for Ukraine concert, and contributed to Christmas celebrations and the Holodomor commemoration at Christ Church Cathedral, honouring the victims of Ukraine’s 1932–33 famine. They also appeared in Hearts & Hustkas at Langham Court Theatre, an event supporting Ukrainian newcomers on Vancouver Island.
An especially important connection has been Karmen McNamara, founder of Help Ukraine Vancouver Island and a 2025 City of Victoria Honorary Citizen. Borys and Julia have deep respect and gratitude for her work and have been proud to collaborate with her on projects including A Dictionary of Emotions in War Time at Langham Court Theatre, for which they created original music and performed it live.
Their contributions extend well beyond the Ukrainian community, encompassing CHEK News and CFAX Radio fundraising initiatives, the Salvation Army’sHope in the City, and multicultural festivals including Greek Fest and Folktoria. These performances offer a meaningful way to give back to the Canadian community that welcomed them.
Another important part of their Canadian story is their friendship with Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Scott Attridge and his wife, Camille, who offered extraordinary support as Borys and Julia settled in Victoria.
As they came to know one another as musicians, their friendship grew into mutual professional respect and musical collaboration, with Borys and Julia deeply valuing Scott’s experience and contribution to Canadian military music.
In 2026, Borys and Julia performed at the inaugural British Columbia Tattoo at Vancouver’s PNE Coliseum(the Vancouver Sun article), where Scott Attridgeserved as Musical Director. Their contribution was later recognized with an official letter of appreciation from the Tattoo’s Executive Producer and special recognition from the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band of the United States Marine Corps, presented by the band’s Officer in Charge and Director, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mardia A. Tompo.
With its theme of “Bonds of Friendship”, the production brought musicians from Canada, the United States and Ukraine together, showing how music can connect countries and build friendships across borders. For Borys and Julia, taking part as Ukrainian musicians building a life in Canada made that message especially meaningful.
Today, LADO Strings performs in concerts and theatre productions, while creating a charming atmosphere and unforgettable musical moments at weddings and private events, combining more than 15 years of international experience with a personal approach to every performance.
From Kyiv to stages around the world, their journey brought them to Victoria—a place they hope to call home for good.
