Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus boasts busy and exciting 2004 (04/10/05)

Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus boasts busy and exciting 2004

by Anatoli W. Murha

DETROIT - In this culturally diverse world, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus continues to bring together talented musicians from North American cities for the continuation of a historic cultural mission. Traveling from Alberta, British Columbia, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Pennsylvania, the current concert ensemble of 50 plus members experienced an exciting journey in 2004, and is involved with three new projects for 2005.

The Spring Concert Series of 2004 opened the year for the UBC. Concerts were held in Syracuse, N.Y., Hartford, Conn., New York City, Passaic, N.J., and Philadelphia. In addition to these performances, the chorus also had the opportunity to honor the late Hryhory Kytasty with memorial services in South Bound Brook, N.J., Detroit, the Kobzarska Sich Bandura Camp in Emlenton, Pa., Cleveland and Toronto.

Stratford, Ontario, is well known for its theater and music festivals. The UBC was invited to showcase its program during the world-renowned Stratford Summer Music Festival in July of 2004. Performing to an audience of approximately 800 people, the UBC showcased the bandura and its program to an international audience. The theme for the festival was based on stringed instruments. According to John Miller, artistic producer of the Stratford Summer Music Festival, the UBC's performance was one of the best received of the festival.

In August the UBC took part in the Kobzarska Sich Bandura Camps 25th anniversary program. The late Hryhory Kytasty founded Kobzarska Sich in 1979. Over the years, Kobzarska Sich has brought together many musicians from North America, South America, Europe and Ukraine for two weeks out of the summer to continue the traditions of kobzarstvo. Most of the UBC's bandura players graduated from the Kobzarska Sich program.

Collaborative efforts with other artistic ensembles and organizations are important to the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. The Kytasty memorial services were organized in conjunction with the Kytasty Foundation. In September, the chorus returned to Pittsburgh with its program, and shared the stage with the Kashtan Dance Ensemble from Cleveland. In partnership with the Ukrainian Museum-Archives (UMA), the UBC hosted a fund-raiser on Saturday, November 20, in Cleveland based on one of the greatest football rivalries between the University of Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes.

To round out the year, the chorus presented Bandura Christmas International with Paul Plishka of the Metropolitan Opera and pianist Thomas Hrynkiw at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, December 19. This was the first collaboration between the chorus and Mr. Plishka.

The UBC performed its Christmas classics, and included a special commemoration for the Orange Revolution. During its performance of the well-known American hymn "Amazing Grace," an orange ribbon was displayed on a screen above the chorus.

Mr. Plishka's repertoire included selections from Mozart, Lysenko and various Holiday Carols. Mr. Hrynkiw also showcased his talents with two solo selections. The concert culminated with two selections featuring Mr. Plishka as the soloist with the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus - "Nova Radist Stala" and "Adeste Fideles."

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus takes pride in representing the bandura on the international stage since its founding in 1918. Aside from concerts and tours, the chorus also focuses on documenting the voice of the bandura, kobzartsvo, Ukrainian music and culture, and ultimately the unique history of the UBC. Among the ways the UBC is able to fulfill this role is by recording its repertoire and by bringing the bandura to the television.

The UBC has embarked on a new recording endeavor titled "Bayda - A Tribute to Four Centuries of Kozak Heroism by the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus." Its projected release date is October 1. The goal of the recording is to document the chorus' historic repertoire with an emphasis on selections that showcase the bandura. Striving to make music accessible to all, the recordings will be distributed in Ukraine, and to North American libraries and music institutions.

Following up on the release of the CD "European Tour: Historic Live Recordings," the UBC will be issuing a video and DVD from its 2003 whirlwind tour of Europe. For viewing audiences, it will be a rare look into the workings of the UBC that sheds light on not just the tour, but gives a glimpse of the UBC's rich history. The UBC had the unique opportunity to work with renowned picture editor James Ho Lim for this project. Currently in its final production stage, the UBC plans to release the DVD and video by July.

After more than a 10-year hiatus, the UBC will be returning to Western Canada this November. The itinerary includes concerts in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia; Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta; Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. With this tour and the many before it, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus will continue appearing on the world stage acquainting the public with the rich Ukrainian musical heritage.

For information and updates on the UBC, and for discography information, readers may log on to www.bandura.org or write to: Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, P.O. Box 12129, Detroit, MI 48212.

Anatoli W. Murha is president of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus.

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