Vancouver’s musical community mourns the loss of Eugene Osadchy, co-founding artistic director of Vetta Chamber Music

The cellist had profound effect on the music scene

Eugene Osadchy quickly became the preferred cellist for chamber music after emigrating to Vancouver from the Ukraine in 1980..

Vancouver’s musical community is mourning the loss of Eugene Osadchy, co-founding artistic director of Vetta Chamber Music.

The gifted cellist passed away after a six-month illness of brain cancer at age 68.

Osadchy had a profound effect on the music scene. He arrived in Vancouver from the Ukraine in 1980, and within a few years, was a member of the VSO and formed the Vetta String Quartet. He quickly became the preferred cellist for chamber music, and, in addition to curating and performing for Vetta, appeared with Masterpiece Music, Music in the Morning, and the Vancouver Recital Society.

In 1999, he accepted the position of professor of cello at University of North Texas, though he continued to return to Vancouver for Vetta concerts. In 2007, he handed over the artistic directorship to Joan Blackman and still made at least two appearances a year on the series.

The next program in Vetta’s 2020-21 concert series, Dream Piano Trios, is the very same program he was supposed to play with Vetta this past spring before the pandemic resulted in its cancellation. The performance is being dedicated to Osadchy with love and remembrance.

“His Russian name is Yevgeny and his friends often called him Genya,” says Vetta’s Larry Blackman. “We miss Eugene very much both for his wonderful cello playing but even more so as a friend.”

In response to this devastating loss for his friends and family, Vetta, the local musical scene, and music in general, Vetta has made a tribute page in his honour on its website.

Dream Piano Trios - A Tribute to Eugene Osadchy, taking place November 26 to 29 online, features classic pieces by Haydn, Brahms, and Schubert.