THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (07/02/00)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA hosts 16th annual celebration of Father's Day at Soyuzivka

by Andre Worobec

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - The Ukrainian National Association successfully hosted its its 16th annual celebration of Father's Day on June 18 at Soyuzivka. Soyuzivka was blessed with many visitors that weekend and consequently a good number of guests attended the afternoon concert at the Veselka auditorium.

The celebrations began with a divine liturgy at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, followed by an ecumenical moleben celebrated for the intention of all fathers in North America and Ukraine by the Rev. Iura Godenciuc, pastor. The Rev. Canon Emile Sharanevych gave a homily on the subject of fathers.

The concert featured the Iskra Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from Whippany, N.J., the SUM girls' choir Prolisok, and a bandurist-vocalist duo, Lisova Pisnia.

Prolisok is sponsored by the New York branch of the Ukrainian American Youth Association and is led by Andrij Stasiw, artistic director, and Ivanka Zajac, choir manager. It was founded in 1994 and has been performing at Ukrainian and international festivals in northern New Jersey and the New York metropolitan Area.

The Lisova Pisnia duo consists of Alla Kutsevych, bandurist and vocalists and Liudmyla Hrabovska, vocalist. Ms. Kutsevych graduated from the Mykola Lysenko Musical Institute in Lviv and has performed in Europe, Canada and the United States for the past three and half years. Ms. Hrabovsky graduated from the musical pedagogical faculty at Rivne Pedagogical University and has been performing in concerts in the United States for the past four years. The duo's repertoire consists of Ukrainian traditional and ritual songs, as well romances and contemporary numbers.

Iskra is directed by Roma Pryma Bohachevsky. Her artistic assistant, Markian Kopystiansky, ably filled in for her on Father's Day. Iskra was founded recently in the Morristown, N.J., area and thanks to its artistic directors and staff it did not take long for the public to notice how proficient the group has become in such a short time. The group's manager is Olia Kuziw.

The concert began with Oksana Tryajak, mistress of ceremonies, greeting the audience with "Happy Father's Day," and introducing the dance group Iskra.

Iskra performed three dances, beginning with the lighthearted "Zalytsiannia" (courtship dance).

Prolilsok followed with seven songs "Molytva" (Prayer); "Doroha v Maybutnie" (Road to the Future) with a solo by Michelle Soroka; "Mamo" (O, Mama), solo by Andreyka Popovych; "Ukraino" (Ukraine), solo by Natalka Rojowsky; "Chaika Stepova" (Steppe Seagull); "Husy, Lebedi" (Geese and Swans); and an Italian aria sung to Ukrainian Iyrics, "O Seniore."

Lisova Pisnia performed two songs, "Ukraino" (Ukraine) and "Batko i Maty" (Father and Mother).

The dance ensemble then followed with "Na Bazari" (At the Bazaar), a dance beautifully performed by girls bearing fruit baskets.

Prolisok followed with a beautiful rendition of "Oi Na Hori Dosch Ide" (It's Raining on the Mountain), then "Vesnianyi Vals" (Spring Waltz), "Ty z Liuboviu ne Zhartui" (Don't Take Falling In Love Lightly) and "Batkivska Pisnia" (Father's Song).

The duo ended its portion of the concert with "Batkivska Pisnia" (Father's Song) and "Mriina Nich" ( Fantasy Night).

The dance group then concluded its repertoire with an adroitly executed, high-spirited and graceful grand Hopak.

Prolisok concluded its concert with three songs, "Choven Khytaietsia" (A Boat Sways Lightly On Waves), "Mavko" (Song to a Wood Sprite), and the finale,"Chervona Ruta" (The Red Rue) dedicated to composer/song-writer Volodymyr Ivasiuk.

During various breaks between numbers Ms. Trytjak introduced UNA dignitaries present at the concert: Ulana Diachuk, president of the UNA, with her husband, Wolodymyr; UNA Advisor Stephanie Hawryluk, who also is secretary of Branch 88, with her husband, Roman; and Advisor and UNA Fraternal Activities Coordinator Andre Worobec.

Also introduced were Nicholas Fil, chairman of the UNA Albany-Troy District; Paul Shevchuk honorary chairman of the Albany-Troy District, and Michael Sawkiw secretary of Branch 13 and secretary of Branch 57. These three gentlemen were responsible for many guests arriving from Albany-Watervliet at Soyuzivka.

Present also were Longin Staruch, secretary of Branch 371, who resides in the vicinity of Soyuzivka, as well as Wasyl Maruschak, president of Branch 42 from Passaic, N.J.

To wrap up the concert, the mistress of ceremonies asked the choir to sing a "Mnohaya Lita" in honor of all fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. The choir obliged and was joined by the audience.

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