Boris Sichon was born in the Ukraine, where he finished Musical High School, in the study of percussion instruments. He left his home town for St.Petersburg to continue his musical education in the Academy of Music. During his studies he started working in the St.Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, where he worked with well known Russian conductors such as Yevgeny Mravinsky, Shostakovich, Badchan, Karapetian and many others.
After graduation form the Academy, Boris was invited to join the Jewish chamber musical theatre in Moscow as a stage musician and actor. After six years Boris left the theatre for a five year period of work as stage musician, dancer, and singer in the main Russian National Folkloric Band. During this period he had an opportunity to visit and perform in 25 different countries, on 5 different continents, where he started to collect traditional local instruments and learned to play from well known native musicians.
From 1990 onwards Boris had been working with the Footsbarn Travelling Theatre (France) as a musician and actor. He went travelling, collecting instruments, and rare and valuable musical information with the Theatre Company.
He then spent 5 years in Israel, working with Habima National Theatre, teaching at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, writing music for films and plays, as well as performing a great deal.
When Boris came to Canada in 2004 he began performing right away, leading workshops, participating in Festivals (Vancouver Folk Fest, Comox Music Fest, Vancouver Island Folk Fest, Edmonton Folk Fest and etc), playing solo as well as with Yungchen Lhamo, Jerry Douglas, Pavlo, Uzume Taiko, and others, writing music for theatre (was nominated by The JESSIES for Outstanding Sound Design/Original Composition in small Theatre Category with Helen’s Necklace, Pi Theatre).
Boris is the owner of a unique collection of ethnic musical instruments he has compiled travelling around the globe. His collection now comprises over 200 rare and unique musical instruments. A comprehensive list of the items in the collection can be found on this website.
Selected praise for Boris:
“…world-music dynamo Boris Sichon who plays everything…”
(Gail Johnson,“The Georgia Straight”)
“Sichon is simply brilliant…and he does it (a performance) with a fascinating array of ethnic musical instruments gathered from all over the globe.”
(Peter Birnie,”Vancouver Sun”)
“Sichon is the quintessential artist…He is magnetic. His enthusiasm for the moment is contagious.”
(Janos Mate, “The Western Jewish Bulletin”)
“Boris it is a delight to watch people watch you. You are the best!”
(Sherrard Bostwick, Comminity Arts Development Programmer, City of Burnaby)
“We were delighted to have been able to offer the comminity a glimpse of your talent and unique collection of instruments.”
(Joan Roberts, Program Coordinator, Place des Arts, City of Coquitlam)
“The success of the event was in a large part due to the contribution of artists like you”
(Councillor Dan Johnston, Chair, City of Burnaby)
Here is what students and teachers say:
“Boris put on a very astounding performance that kept his entire audience captivated!!! It was wonderful to see Boris including the children in this amazing performance. The parents, teachers and children were left in awe to see such a show that captured all ranges of ages. What an outstanding performance!!!!”
(Michelle Bliss, Burquitlam Child Care Centre, Coquitlam)
“I liked all your instruments and they were cool! … Boris you are very, very, very cool! Can you come to Sperling again!?
(Sperling Elementary School, Burnaby, BC)
“I liked doing the rhythms that I did with you. I liked doing the performance with you…Thank you for talking about those instruments. I had never seen all of these instruments before…I liked when you let us play the instruments. I had a lot of fun!”
(Cascade Heights School, Burnaby, BC)
“That was super!…Wow, your performance today was great…You are really talented. I really had fun learning”
(St. Paul School, Richmond)