Gala concert celebrates 50th anniversary of Chicago-based Selfreliance credit union (11/18/01)

Gala concert celebrates 50th anniversary of Chicago-based Selfreliance credit union

by Theodora Turula

CHICAGO - Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union sponsored a concert on October 13, as part of the ongoing celebrations of its 50th anniversary. The concert was the credit union's gift to the community, and especially to its members, as a thank you for 50 years of support and cooperation. The festive, yet solemn, program featured the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, as well as Chicago's most popular dance, choral and musical ensembles.

Nearly 1,400 members attended the evening concert, despite inclement weather, record rainfall and widespread flooding, surpassing the organizers' expectations and indicating once again the respect the Ukrainian community of Chicago has for its credit union.

The concert opened with a greeting from Michael R. Kos, chairman of the board, and Bohdan Watral, president/CEO of the credit union. They welcomed the clergy, Consul General of Ukraine Borys Bazylevskyi, Honorary Chairman and co-founder of the credit union Omelan Pleshkewych, Illinois State Sen. Walter Dudycz and other dignitaries, as well as all the guests in the audience.

Master of ceremonies Victor Wojtychiw, vice-chairman of the board of directors, greeted the English-speaking members of the audience and proceeded to introduce the performers.

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, under the direction of Oleh Mahlay, took the stage. The performers dedicated their rendition of the Antiphon "Blahoslovy, Dushe Moya" to the victims of the September 11 terrorist bombings. The instrumentalists and vocalists superbly demonstrated a wide range of technical expertise and wide-ranging emotions, from solemn chants, to stirring historic odes and humorous folk tunes.

The Ukraina Dance Ensemble directed by Evhen Litvinov, delighted the audience with two lively and entertaining numbers: a joyful Hutsul medley and the ever-popular Hopak. The youthful enthusiasm of the dancers was contagious, and soon the entire hall was filled with rhythmic clapping, alternating with thunderous applause.

The Zhaivir male quartet - Volodymyr Duda and Vasil Matviiv tenors, Anatolij Rudenko; baritone, and Andrij Vasylenko, bass (who replaced Serhiy Vasylenka for this performance) - presented excellent harmonics and superb vocal renditions of several sacred hymns and folk tunes. Zhaivir has been gaining in popularity since its first performance in Chicago a scant year ago.

The Hromovytsia dance ensemble, directed by Roxana Dykyj-Pylypczak, filled the stage at the conclusion of the first part of the program, performing its tightly and beautifully choreographed Hopak. In the second half of the concert, the dancers surprised the audience by appearing out of a ground-hugging mist to perform the intriguing and intricate "Hutsul Jazz."

The Surma Choir, the foremost choral group of Chicago, directed by Roman Andrushko and accompanied by concertmaster Dr. Katerina Kishka opened the second half of the program. The choir, which began its existence over 50 years ago as a male chorus and in 1988 included women in its ranks, treated the audience to another stellar performance.

The Chamber Orchestra of the Ukrainian Artistic Center, a relatively new instrumental ensemble of professional musicians educated in conservatories in Ukraine and the United States and formed in 1997 under the direction of Zeonid Modrytskyi, provided the concert with a classical touch and was well accepted by the audience.

The concert concluded with a finale by the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, which earned the ensemble a well-deserved standing ovation.

Messrs. Kos and Watral then invited all concert participants back on stage for one final bow and a round of applause. Mr. Mahlay then raised his baton and led the performers and audience in the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem and "God Bless America."

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During its 50-year history, Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union has provided over $6 million in support to Ukrainian community organizations. Today this is the largest credit union serving people of Ukrainian ancestry, with nine offices in three states and over 20,000 members.

Demonstrating its financial support of the community, Selfreliance took advantage of this concert to once again reward its members and Ukrainian organizations for their cooperation and support, by presenting them with substantial contributions. Recipients included the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago, the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School, the Encyclopedia of the Ukrainian Diaspora, the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM), Chicago and Palatine branches, the youth organization ODUM and the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization as well as the dance troupes Hromovytsia and Ukraina.

The credit union considers itself a vital part of the community which it serves, and its financial support of community institutions has allowed the credit union to grow and prosper. Community members, who are also members of the credit union, in turn, place their trust in the credit union and benefit from the financial services of the member-owned financial institution.

The following day, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus sang the divine liturgy at Ss. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church. The church was filled to capacity with parishioners and guests, as the incredibly rich harmonies of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus resonated through the vast space. Pastor Ivan Krotec thanked Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union for the wonderful celebrations and for making it possible for the chorus to participate in the divine liturgy.

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