Young vocalist, Stefania Chaban wins Miss Soyuzivka '98 contest (08/31/97)

Young vocalist, Stefania Chaban wins Miss Soyuzivka '98 contest

by Serhiy Myroniuk
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - An 18-year-old vocalist from Ukraine was crowned Miss Soyuzivka 1998 in the traditional 42nd annual contest at the Ukrainian National Association estate on August 16.

Stefania Chaban, a voice major at the Baltimore School of Arts, smiled as a wreath of wild flowers was laid on her head 10 minutes before midnight. People at the south wing of the Veselka Terrace cheered the new queen chosen from among the five young women who took part in the competition.

That night two other contestants wore wreaths, though less colorful - first runner-up Oksanna Kozyra, 20, of Cedar Knolls, N.J. and second runner-up Laryssa Chomiak, 18, of Naples, Fla.

The next day Ms. Chaban, an opera singer, said it was one of the happiest moments in her life. She added, however, that she wished that more women had participated in the contest. The event had been announced in The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda, as well as at Soyuzivka.

A three member jury interviewed the contestants. After an evening performance by singer Ostap Stakhiv, Soyuzivka's office manager Sonya Semanyszyn, UNA Advisor Aleks Chudolij, and director of the Dumka Chorus Vasyl Hrechynsky evaluated the participant's fluency in the Ukrainian language, their involvement in the Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian community.

UNA members answered questions about the UNA and revealed their knowledge of current events in Ukraine. UNA Advisor Stephanie Hawryluk introduced each of the contestants to the jury.

Meanwhile, the band "Fata Morgana" entertained guests who gathered outside at the Veselka Terrace. Before midnight the music stopped and people formed a semi-circle anxiously waiting for the appearance of the new Miss Soyuzivka.

As Lida Hawryluk, the estate's mistress of ceremonies for 1997, announced the selections, Tania Kosc, the outgoing Miss Soyuzivka 1997, laid wreaths of wild flowers on the winners' heads. The crowd cheered and applauded. Camera flashes lit up the happy faces of the three.

"Fata Morgana" played again, and Ms. Chaban shared her first dance with the estate's manager, John Flis. They were then joined by the runners-up and judges with their partners.

"I think my whole life is an interesting event," Ms. Chaban exclaimed next day.

"I am quite young, but I have seen so many interesting people, visited so many interesting places. I've been everywhere and I am very grateful to my family for making this possible," said Ms. Chaban, adding that both her parents are artists.

Born in Ukraine, she traveled to many European countries such as Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, France and Austria. For the last three years she has been living in the U.S. where she works on her career as an opera singer. "I would like to visit Ukraine again. I miss it so much," she said.

In part because of frequent travel Ms. Chaban has mastered six different languages. In addition to Ukrainian, English and Russian she speaks German, French and Italian.

Her life revolves around classical music and especially operatic singing. "When I was a child we had many albums in our family," she said. "I saw a portrait of Bach on one of them. For me it was something absolutely phenomenal. I always asked my parents to play this record." The portrait of the famous composer, she said, prompted her to pursue a musical career.

Ms. Chaban had sung in the chorus of Kyiv State Conservatory and played piano for 11 years. A member of the National Honor Society, she received an award of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She is also a recipient of a Maryland Distinguished Scholarship. In addition to music, Ms. Chaban loves poetry, acting, and fine arts.

Miss Soyuzivka 1998 will receive $500 in prize money and a free week at the UNA's estate. "I would send some money to Ukraine," said Ms. Chaban, adding she had a sick friend there. First runner-up Oksanna Kozyra, who attends Seton Hall University, will also enjoy one free week at Soyuzivka while second runner-up Laryssa Chomiak, a Fordham University student, will spend a free weekend there.

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