mission

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Pickle Underground is an artist-run non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and developing Ukrainian art within the context of Canadian and international artistic output. With a focus on music and sound, we aim to present immersive, multi-disciplinary projects that incorporate diverse artistic disciplines. We strive to create a community for Ukrainian artists in Canada, building connections between different waves of immigration, supporting new arrivals displaced by russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and forging connections with the wider Canadian society.

history

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Pickle Underground was founded in March 2022 by Ukrainian-Canadian composer Anna Pidgorna and Korean-Canadian composer Benjamin Keast as an informal initiative to support Ukrainian artists affected by russian aggression and promote Ukrainian art in Canada. Pickle Underground registered as a not-for-profit society in May 2024. Over the last three years, we have produced a number of public events featuring Ukrainian artists from different waves of immigration and Canadian colleagues. Some of our most active artists have been recent arrivals displaced by the war.

MAY 2025 | MOTHER’S DAY INVENTIONS | A concert in honour of Mother’s Day presented in partnership with the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, featuring pianist Anna Sagalova and guitarist Denys Panchenko performing works by J.S. Bach along with contemporary compositions by Volodymyr Ptushkin, Anna Pidgorna, Denys Panchenko and Mark Karmynsky. Supported by the Shevchenko Foundation and SOCAN Foundation.

NOVEMBER 2024 | INVENTIONS OF HOPE FUNDRAISER | A sold-out concert of solo piano music featuring pianist Anna Sagalova, presented at the Murray Adaskin Salon at the Canadian Music Centre BC, Vancouver, BC.

APRIL 2024 | LAMENTING FOR UKRAINE | A devised musical and theatrical performance and chamber music concert co-created and performed by composer Anna Pidgorna, Anna Shylova-Kolomiets, Masha Birkby, Roksolana Uhryniuk, featuring pianist Anna Sagalova and violinist Jack Campbell, co-presented with Connect Fest Burnaby at the Studio Theatre at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby, BC.

MARCH 2024 | CROSS-CULTURAL CONNECTIONS | A concert of contemporary classical works from Ukraine, Estonia, Finland and Canada featuring pianist Anna Sagalova and violinist Jack Campbell presented at the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, New Westminster, BC. Supported in part by the Canadian Music Centre.

FEBRUARY 2024 | UKRAINIAN LIGHTS | A four-concert festival featuring Ukrainian musicians from different waves of immigration (Anna Sagalova, Denys Panchenko, Natalya Gennadi, Taryn Plater, Petro Krysa, Yevhen Skovorodnikov, Anna Pidgorna) performing classical and contemporary works by Ukrainian and international composers, presented in partnership with Music Encore Concert Society at the Tom Lee Music Experience Centre, Richmond, BC. Supported in part by the Shevchenko Foundation.

JANUARY 2023 | KHARKIV | A sold-out concert of Ukrainian classical music with pianist Anna Sagalova, in partnership with Canzona Chamber Players in Toronto, to raise funds for repairs to the Kotlyarevsky National University of Arts (Kharkiv), presented at the Arts Club of Toronto.

NOVEMBER 2022 | KHARKIV | A sold-out concert of Ukrainian classical music with pianist Anna Sagalova to raise funds for repairs to the Kotlyarevsky National University of Arts (Kharkiv), presented at the Murray Adaskin Salon at the Canadian Music Centre BC, Vancouver.

JUNE 2022 | ETHNOFOLK | A screening of short ethnographic films produced by EHE Films, a Ukrainian duo dedicated to documenting and preserving Ukrainian folk practices, presented at the Eighth & Eight Creative Spaces, New Westminster, BC.