Elena Steele
The young Elena had always been shy and very musical. At the age of 14, she was prompted to sing at her school. This was her first public performance and started her on a road to music and fame. At that time, the noted university ensemble “Youth” was auditioning for soloist. Elena was invited to join the group and in the six years she had performed with them, she had lead them to the honor of winning 2 gold medals. After which, Elena launched onto the professional stage.

“Vodogray” – Organized in 1972, this extraordinary professional band/orchestra  is comprised of elite musicians and soloists in Dniepropetrovsk. Elena Steele was chosen to be a soloist from the start. The Vodogray had the honor of representing the best musicians of the Ukraine and performed both abroad and throughout the Soviet Union. Their extensive repertoire ranged from a collection of popular Russian and Ukrainian songs, to folk, jazz and legendary film scores. Special costumes were designed to accent the unique flare and tradition of the Ukrainian national heritage.

In 1975, they had the pleasure of recording the soundtrack to the noted film entitled “Dear Boy”, composed by David Tukhmanov and produced by Alexander Stefanovich. This film had worldwide significance because of its universal theme of the friendship between an American boy and a Russian boy.

In 1988 she has performed for Raisa Gorbacheva during the state visit of the Soviet Union President in the city of Dniepropetrovsk.

In 1989 a Canadian family found Elena's family in the USSR, and help them to immigrate. In 1992 they arrived in Canada. Elena founded her voice studio in 1993. and began to showcase her students at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond in a show I called "The Festival of Voice."

Elena has recorded two CDs which are available through RPW records.