Yonkers church choir performs concert of religious music

YONKERS, N.Y. - On Sunday, January 26, St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church Choir presented a concert of Christmas carols and religious music here in its hometown. It has been quite a few years since the choir has appeared in concert and a large part of the success is due to the enthusiastic support of the Rev. Philip Weiner, pastor at St. Michael's.

Conductor Adrian Bryttan prepared a varied program that spotlighted several soloists. The appreciative public was treated to many of the traditional melodies, as well as some more rarely heard carols. Dr. Maria Kiciuk recited a traditional holiday greeting to the audience at the start. The 14 selections heard in church that afternoon included compositions by Stetsenko, Liudkevych and Barvinsky, along with the beloved carols "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger" sung in Ukrainian translations.

Soprano Maria Oliarchyk sang the solo in the charming Lemko carol "Oy Zashly, Zashly" (Angels Came Down from Heaven) and also performed "Shcho to za Predyvo" (What a Miracle). A heartfelt solo of Schubert's "Ave Maria" was contributed by alto Halyna Tytla. Bass baritone Bohdan Balaban sang an expressive and powerful solo in the traditional "Ne Plach, Rachyle" (Don't Cry, Rachel). Conductor Bryttan took up the violin to play his arrangement of "O Holy Night."

Every choir member worked hard and devoted many rehearsal hours towards this concert. They were warmly applauded by the audience, which included Prof. Victor DeLisa, director of the Lakeland Conservatory. The Rev. Wolodymyr Kucaj, the new assistant pastor at St. Michael's, greeted the choir members at the conclusion of the concert and encouraged more parishioners to join this ensemble.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 9, 2003, No. 10, Vol. LXXI

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