Fata Morgana travels to Ukraine to support the Orange Revolution

by Lidia Hawryluk

NEW YORK - On December 22, 2004, Oleksij Kerekesha and the Fata Morgana band arrived at Boryspil Airport in Kyiv full of pride and enthusiasm for the Orange Revolution. Feeling the need to support the energy manifesting itself in Kyiv, the group felt that by performing their original musical compositions they could show their support and help ignite the cause.

The decision to travel to Ukraine to support Viktor Yushchenko was a spontaneous and emotional one for the group. Upon receiving an invitation from the Yushchenko campaign to perform on the maidan, their decision was made. Travel arrangements were set and the group began its adventure.

Fata Morgana was created by Oleksij Kerekesha in 1988 in Kyiv. Since 1991 the group has made its home in the United States, playing at festivals, concerts, dances and weddings. The members include Ihor Shablovsky, Andrij Solodenko and Serge Kolomiets (the only member not able to make the trip due to family obligations).

During their visit to Kyiv, Fata Morgana gave numerous radio interviews and Mr. Kerekesha, the group's founder and leader, was featured on a Channel 5 Television interview.

As the only musical ensemble representing the U.S. diaspora, members of Fata Morgana had the privilege of performing at the tent city before their historic appearance on the central stage on Independence Square in front of tens of thousands of Yushchenko supporters. The original compositions of Mr. Kerekesha echoed through the crowds as "Okean," "Hamalia" and "Kyiv" created an atmosphere of pride and patriotism on the evening of December 26.

The pride and awe felt by the members of Fata Morgana simply cannot be put into words. "To be a part of history can't be defined," Mr. Kerekesha underscored.

Fata Morgana expressed thanks to supporters who made this historic trip possible: the Ukrainian Fraternal Association, Self Reliance Credit Union of Jersey City, Self Reliance Credit Union of New York, Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church of Jersey City, N.J., Stepan Maksymczuk, Stefka Maciach, Halyna Hawryluk, Ihor Danylko, the Voskobijnyk family, Volodymyr Kozicky and Dunwoodie Travel, Orysia Salak and Andrij Cihovlyas.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 6, 2005, No. 6, Vol. LXXIII

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