New York Bandura Ensemble appoints new executive director (03/05/00)

New York Bandura Ensemble appoints new executive director

by Lydia Matiaszek

NEW YORK - The New York Bandura Ensemble (aka New York School of Bandura) on February 7 appointed John Lechicky as its new executive director. Mr. Lechicky replaces Bohdan Kopystiansky, who served as interim acting executive director after the death of Nick Czorny-Dosinchuk in July 1999, who had dedicated decades of his life to the promotion of the bandura.

Mr. Lechicky joined the New York School of Bandura Ensemble (NYBE) as a student in 1975. He enjoyed learning to play the bandura and rapidly advanced to the performing ensemble. He is a founding member of the Echo of the Steppes performing ensemble of the NYBE and took over the reigns as musical director in 1987-1992 and again in 1993-1995.

Mr. Lechicky has an undergraduate degree in finance and economics and spent 10 years with Citicorp as a financial analyst. In 1992 he accepted a position in Kyiv as director of international programs for the International Management Institute - Kyiv. Upon returning to the United States, he served as assistant director of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.

From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Lechicky returned to Kyiv, where he headed up a technical assistance program sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development. Upon completion of the project, he served as director of field operations for IREX, a Washington-based non-profit organization specializing in international educational exchanges and technical assistance. Mr. Lechicky recently relocated to the New York City area and is a consultant on international assistance.

Other new members also elected to the board are: Olia Fryz, well-known bandura performer and instructor, who has been with the NYBE for over 20 years, as alumni coordinator; and Stefania Czorny-Dosinchuk, who has been active in the New York School of Bandura since its inception. They join the current board, which includes Irene Andreadis, Olia Herasymenko-Oliynyk, Bohdan Kopystiansky, Maria Kozicky, Julian Kytasty, Sviatoslav Makarenko, Lev Maistrenko, Lydia Matiaszek, Myroslav Shmigel and Nadia Tatchin-Ramirez (administrator).

After a reading of the minutes from the last meeting, the board discussed current program and administrative issues. Ms. Matiaszek, who serves as Ukraine liaison, reported that a final report for 1998-1999 was filed with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) in November, and the new grant application for 2000-2001 is being prepared. It was stressed that continued NYSCA funding will depend in part on the ability of the NYBE to effectively fund-raise within the Ukrainian American community.

Musical Director Julian Kytasty briefed the board about the progress of the instructional manual project, which is being financed in part by a grant from the Ukrainian Heritage Foundation.

Mr. Kytasty also spoke about the launching of the successful Bandura Downtown series, which is held regularly at the Mayana Gallery in New York City. The series is a forum for professional performances of bandurists of North America and those visiting from Ukraine; it has attracted a large non-Ukrainian audience, as well as the traditional Ukrainian American public. The series has featured performances by Roman Hrynkiv and the Experimental Bandura Trio.

Mr. Kytasty also announced the upcoming release of a CD recorded by the NYBE-affiliated Experimental Bandura Trio (EBT), which includes Mr. Kytasty, Michael Andrec and Yuri Fedynsky. The EBT plans to do a tour of upstate New York and New England late March to promote their new recording.

Instructor Alla Kutsevych briefed the board on the recent highlights of the children's performance ensemble Vyshyvanka under her direction. The ensemble performs regularly at community events, festivals and was invited to Florida in February to perform for Ukrainian communities there. Performance plans include participation in the International Bandura Conference and Festival in Toronto on March 17-19, an all-NYBE end-of-year concert, and an alumni fundraising concert in the fall.

One of the core services of the NYBE to the community is its instructional program. Mr. Kytasty and Ms. Kutsevych briefly updated the board on the four groups which are currently run in Manhattan, Yonkers and Astoria. The board approved four scholarships for weekly lessons for students in Astoria and Manhattan who want to play but are unable to afford tuition.

Another issue raised is the lack of instruments for new students interested in playing. It was decided to issue an appeal to alumni and other individuals, who have instruments but no longer play, to donate their used instruments to the NYBE as in-kind donations. The NYBE also co-sponsored a successful folk-singing workshop with the Yara Arts Group in November, and will be looking to continue co-sponsorship of similar bandura and vocal workshops, which effectively piggyback resources and networking possibilities.

This writer presented the board with a copy of the recently published Bandura Magazine. The new editorial board is headed by Ms. Herasymenko-Oliynyk of California, renowned bandura artist, composer and scholar, who was recently awarded the title of "Merited Artist of Ukraine". The board also includes some former board members as well as new country/regional representatives from Ukraine, South America, Europe, Canada and the U.S. The administration of Bandura Magazine remains with the NYBE.

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