COMMUNITY CHRONICLE: Minneapolis proud of one of its new community members (03/07/04)

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE: Minneapolis proud of one of its new community members

by Dr. Michael J. Kozak

MINNEAPOLIS - Difficult living conditions in Ukraine have forced many young people to leave and look for a better life abroad. American, with its freedoms and opportunities, is most appealing. Upon arrival, many of these young Ukrainians join established Ukrainian communities and are striving to improve their talents. Among such individuals in Minnesota's Ukrainian community is Yuri Ivan.

Soon upon his arrival he actively became involved in the cultural activities of the Minneapolis community. He joined St. Constantine's Ukrainian Catholic Church. Being educated in the art of music, he soon became the choir conductor and a teacher in the Ukrainian School that meets on Saturdays.

Mr. Ivan is pursuing a doctor of musical arts degree in conducting at the University of Minnesota School of Music; he holds a teaching assistant position in orchestral conducting. He is also conductor of the Campus Orchestra and assistant conductor of the Symphony Orchestra.

According to information obtained from the university's School of Music, Mr. Ivan, after graduating from the D. Zador State Musical College in Uzhorod, earned a master of music degree cum laude in choral and opera symphonic conducting at the Mykola Lysenko State Music Academy in Lviv.

Before coming to Minneapolis, Mr. Ivan served as a conductor of the State Theater of Opera and Ballet in Dnipropetrovsk and was artistic director of the State Philharmonic Society in Uzhorod. There he was featured in 30 symphonic and 200 opera and ballet performances. In 2001, he was awarded the George Sample conducting fellowship and now studies with internationally known conductor Akira Mori.

On February 21, Mr. Ivan achieved a great distinction in his career. At the Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota, with over 500 people in the audience, he conducted Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64. Akira Mori conducted Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major. Both received tremendous applause.

It appears that Mr. Ivan is on his way to the top in the field of music. The Ukrainian community of Minneapolis, of which he has become a member, is very proud of his accomplishment.

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