"But probably the most significant moment of the evening belonged to Nadia Tarnawsky. As the narrator, she was a presence on stage throughout the work, but at one point she stepped out to sing and the rest of the show fell quiet—she has what the Spanish call duende, or soul, and despite the fact that very few people in the house understood the words she sang, we shivered as her deep voice filled the room." Sandra Kurtz, Seattle Dances
Nadia Tarnawsky is a recipient of a Fulbright Award.  She spent much of 2017 and 2018 in Ukraine collecting traditional Ukrainian folk music.  Other awards include a Traditional Arts Fellowship from Artist Trust, a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship from the University of Kansas which allowed her to collect traditional folk songs and folklore in Ukraine as well as an Artist Support Residency from Jack Straw Productions which provided studio time to record an album with her ensemble Alchymeia.  Click here for a detailed biography of Nadia written by Eileen Condon of the Center for Traditional Music and Dance in New York City.

Nadia has performed in concerts and led singing workshops for the following organizations:
  • The Black Forest Fancies (New Orleans, LA)

She has led singing workshops for the following organizations:
Nadia has performed in concerts and on recordings for the following ensembles:
  • Alchymeia (Folk Sounds Records)
  • Ensemble Hilka (Smithsonian Folkways)
  • Apollo's Fire (AVIE Records and Koch Records)
  • Quire Cleveland (CDBaby)
  • MN2 Productions (Folk Sounds Records)

Read below for testimonials regarding Nadia's work.
Nadia is a gifted and generous-spirited artist and vocal coach. She has a truly astonishing and versatile instrument and a unique approach to vocal technique rooted in the release of held tensions and exploration of full-body resonance. Kitka hired Nadia to lead a community-based Ukrainian Folk Singing workshop in March 2015 and the 30 participants were all completely engaged and enchanted by her innovative warm-up techniques, healthy singing tips,  and gorgeous repertoire choices. Nadia's teaching style is warm, witty, informed, educational, and inspiring. She balances supportive encouragement with student-appropriate challenges. Following her workshop, many people, including Kitka's veteran singers, were lining up for private lessons. We cannot wait to have another opportunity to share her talents with the Bay Area vocal music community!                                                                          
                                                                                              Shira Cion, Executive/Artistic director, Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble

Nadia Tarnawsky is that extremely rare even combination of educator and artist.  Nadia’s singing comes from a place of exemplification—in all her successful programs and endeavors, and there are so many, she is consciously modeling the freedom, and the traditional rubrics, of singing, for other people.  Nadia sings and works with others in mind at all times—she annotates her songs by thoroughly crediting the original singers who shared them with her, in fieldwork.  She not only teaches others to sing—she nurtures this ability right out of her students—no matter how long or how well hidden these talents may be.  As an artist her regard for the source singers/places in Ukraine and Ukrainian North America, informing her performances, is expressed in the thrillingly traditional singing technique, melody, feeling, and overall delivery she transmits so faithfully.  Nadia’s performances and singing workshops are true, necessary, and kind—not to be missed if she is visiting your area.
                                                                        Eileen Condon, Ph.D., Project Director, Center for Traditional Music and Dance

Being in the presence of Nadia’s voice and experiencing her gentle wisdom in vocal pedagogy was a huge awakening to me and my choristers.  Nadia is an amazing resource: with her background in education coupled with her deep knowledge and authentic practice of folk choral singing of Ukraine, she is masterful in both the rehearsal and workshop settings.  Finally, Nadia's authentic choral transcriptions are a treasure trove for choirs of all ages!  Thank you for sharing your art with us Nadia!
                                                                                                              Darcy Morrissey, Artistic Director of Bellevue Girlchoir

Nadia is one of the most encouraging singing teachers I have ever met. She can tease a full tone out of shy singer and likewise draw out elegant melodies and harmonies from more experienced singers. In her own right, she is a powerful singer with equal intelligence in both voice and heart, making her uniquely able to guide audiences and singers alike into the emotive center of the beautiful and multi-faceted music she sings.
                                                                                                              Brian Dolphin, Founder of Ukrainian Village Voices

Nadia is a fabulous teacher, of the deep joy of singing, of the kinesthetics of your voice as an instrument, of living life richly.  She has a resonant, powerful voice like no one else, and her infectious laughter is woven through her lessons.  She both meets you where you are as as singer and challenges you to explore and push the envelope of comfort.  Highly recommended!
                                                                                                        Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser, Voice Student


Media Links

A Ukrainian Wedding Pre-Concert Discussion with Nadia Tarnawsky and Dr. Alexander Lingas

Video trailer from the theatre performance Rozbyta

Vidia article in Ukrainian and English

Video from Colabee Studios

Ukrainian Village Voices Workshop Video

Interview on the Cleveland Ukraine Podcast