KERHONKSON, N.Y. – Тhe 13th annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival at the Ukrainian National Foundation’s Soyuzivka Heritage Center on July 12-14 featured many beloved Ukrainian artists from around the world, and also hosted a variety of stimulating artistic and cultural programs.
These annual festivals provide popular entertainment, yet they are so much more. They are a focus for sharing mutual concerns over the future of the Ukrainian heritage.
Marta Farion
Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Valeriy Chaly addresses gala attendees.
This year’s festival celebrated a landmark anniversary: 125 years of continuous service to Ukrainian communities in the United States and Canada by the Ukrainian National Association (UNA). The aim of the gala was to honor the important work by the UNA’s two newspapers, Svoboda (published since 1893) and The Ukrainian Weekly (since 1933), and to support the UNA Publications Endowment Fund that exists under the aegis of the Ukrainian National Foundation (UNF). Also in celebration of the UNA’s jubilee, a special display was presented in Soyuzivka’s Main House.
UNF Treasurer Roma Lisovich, who is also the chief financial officer/treasurer of the UNA, spoke with this author about the foundation’s previous fund-raising goals: raising money to renovate an entire wing of a Ukrainian rehabilitation center, to aid families of the fallen and injured victims of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and to help the Ukrainian Catholic University establish graduate programs to train doctors treating post-traumatic stress disorder.
2019 UNF gala fund-raiser
On Friday evening, gala fund-raiser attendees were greeted by Dr. Wasyl Szeremeta, UNF president. He stated that because maintaining tradition and heritage is difficult, Ukrainian immigrants created the UNA and founded its two newspapers. He concluded with a plea for everyone to support the UNA and the UNF.
In a later interview, Dr. Szeremeta detailed future challenges: infrastructure upgrades, new kitchen, spa, and a concert shell. But he stressed: “Soyuzivka is more than a business. It is a focus for maintaining culture and history, and our rich heritage should be shared with everyone. Our community cannot take it for granted. We must all help finance these projects and become direct participants. Everything is in our hands.”
“In the beginning was the word…” With that phrase, the editor-in chief of Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, Roma Hadzewycz, began her overview of the contributions and significance of these important publications that have served the Ukrainian community and nation for a combined total of over 210 years.
Adrian Bryttan
Ukrainian National Foundation President Dr. Wasyl Szeremeta (left) with Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-Chief Roma Hadzewycz and UNF board member Taras Sochan.
Established in 1893, Svoboda is the world’s oldest continuously published Ukrainian-language newspaper. Ms. Hadzewycz quoted longtime Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dragan, who wrote in his history of the UNA that Svoboda was “a true beacon of light in the prevailing darkness of hopelessness and despair among Ukrainian immigrants in America.”
In 1933, Stephen Shumeyko, age 25, became the first editor of The Ukrainian Weekly. This English-language newspaper kept new generations involved in community life, but was also dedicated to informing the English-speaking world about the truth regarding Ukraine. Under Mr. Shumeyko, The Ukrainian Weekly gave a voice to the people who built churches, schools, sport centers, who exposed the plight of World War II refugees, and who led the charge to document the Holodomor and the fight for national and human rights. Ms. Hadzewycz closed her talk by quoting Dr. Myron Kuropas: “Where would we be without the UNA and their publications?”
Tributes
UNA Advisor Irene Jarosewich read accolades from Honorary Member of the UNA General Assembly Taras Szmagala Sr., who spoke about the need to look to the future.
Speaking on behalf of the Selfreliance Foundation and the New Jersey Advisory Board of Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, Dr. Andrew Hrechak added his congratulations and well-wishes.
Valentyna Tabaka offered her tribute from Branch 137 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA). Marta Farion, president of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, travelled from Chicago to extend her congratulations.
The dinner’s musical entertainment featured singers Taras Petrynenko, Tetiana Horobets and Tonya Matvienko, and violinist Vasyl Popadiuk.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Valeriy Chaly personally congratulated the UNA and both publications, thanking everyone for their support of today’s warriors at the front. He stated: “the great support from the diaspora is the reason why Ukraine has attained respect. We are an honorable nation – where over 13,100 soldiers have laid down their lives so Ukraine could proceed on its own direction. We will never allow Russian to be the second official language. Ukraine depends on you. Glory to the Heroes!”
Mr. Chaly presented gifts to UNA President/CEO Stefan Kaczaraj, Dr. Szeremeta and Ms. Lisovich.
Performers and programs
Three stage shows over the first two days culminated in the Saturday evening main stage show. The Friday evening show was devoted to the Ukrainian Dance Workshop. Many performers and ensembles appeared in both the Saturday afternoon and evening shows. At the Saturday afternoon show, Swiatoslawa Kaczaraj delivered a stirring rendition of the American and Ukrainian national anthems.
New York State Sen. Jen Metzger appeared on the main stage on Saturday evening to greet the audience; she fondly recalled her son attending Soyuzivka soccer camp. Earlier in the day, she took in the festival’s offerings, including an opportunity to learn how to make a pysanka.
Adrian Bryttan
Gloria Horbaty at the food tent with grandchildren Justyna and Tristan.
Returning again this year was Vasyl Popadiuk, jazz/gypsy violin virtuoso, to electrify the crowds with his mix of soulful ballads and flashy pyrotechnics. The Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York under Vasyl Hrechynsky featured songs with Lemko rhythms, exuberant dance-like tunes and some with more modernistic harmonies. Two arrangements included instrumentalists playing sopilka and mouth harp.
Singer-songwriter Taras Petrynenko is a true living legend for Ukrainians, noted for his many hit songs and his active participation in the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity. (He performed his stirring song “Ukraino!” at Soyuzivka over Labor Day 1991, mere days after Ukraine’s Declaration of Independence on August 24.) Mr. Petrynenko especially delighted listeners with his early retro songs. He was often joined in duets by his wife, singer Tetiana Horobets.
Tonya Matvienko’s heartfelt songs easily connected with listeners throughout the festival. Her vocal timbre carries strong echoes of her mother, Nina Matvienko, a noted folkloric stylist. Maksym Lozynskyj energized audiences with his impassioned singing and guitar playing.
At the film festival, Roman Brygider, director of “Our Ukrainian American Legacy,” and Maksym Lozynskyj, star of “Hutsulka Ksenia.”
Mr. Lozynskyj is also the lead actor in the new film “Hutsulka Ksenia.” In the Main House library, he divulged many details about the movie’s production. Also in the film portion of the festival program, director Roman Brygider screened his many-layered documentary film “Our Ukrainian American Legacy.”
Saturday afternoon included the good-natured fun of the annual varenyky-eating contest hosted by the ebullient Alex Gutmakher under a tent on the Veselka patio.
The instrumental folk quartet Udych performed at the Saturday evening stage show and at Friday’s “zabava.” The ensemble Anna-Maria played for the second dance on Saturday evening, following the grand concert.
Dancers on stage
The Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Workshop performed varied and complex programs during both evening shows. All eye-catching costumes were meticulously researched and tailored, including multi-colored feathers on the women’s exotic headdresses. In his new choreography for “Volynska Zabava,” аrtistic director Orlando Pagan let his imagination fly and included high kicks for the ladies, something you almost never find in ethnic dances.
Adrian Bryttan
At the Ukrainian “Selo” (Village), Halyna Shepko demonstrates traditional weaving techniques.
Mr. Pagan also leads the 90-member Zolotyj Promin Ukrainian Dance Ensemble from Hartford, Conn., which performed in both shows on Saturday. According to original founder Bohdanna Szafran, over half of the oldest group work at full-time jobs, and there are now many second-generation dancers. The ensemble has appeared at universities like Connecticut State and Yale, and at the Bloor Street Festival in Toronto. On Saturday, Zolotyj Promin presented a humorous choreography by Mr. Pagan titled “The Seamstress.”
The genial pair of masters of ceremonies for the 2019 festival were Larysa Bajus of Ontario and Bogdan Tabaka of New Jersey.
Some who make a difference
One soul can move mountains. Here are thumbnails of seven diverse people at the festival who really made a difference.
Maksym (Max) Lozynskyj revved up the crowds all weekend, belting out his songs while accompanying himself on guitar. Mr. Lozynskyj was a Ukrainian baby who was adopted by Ukrainian American parents. Displaying a love for singing and theater, he performed in plays and musicals in high school and college, graduating as a music composition major from Drew University in Madison, N.J. An ardent advocate for Ukraine, he frequently leads crowds in song at rallies and marches.
On Saturday and Sunday, Mr. Lozynskyj also spoke to film enthusiasts about his leading role in a new Ukrainian movie. “Hutsulka Ksenia” was originally a 1938 operetta by Yaroslaw Barnych, who emigrated to Cleveland. It was based on his enormously popular tango song of the same title. The 2019 movie closely follows the operetta’s original plot and just like the true-life story of Mr. Lozynskyj, exalts the protagonist’s struggle to preserve his heritage, while buffeted between Ukraine and America. Expect the U.S. theater release for this film in the fall.
Marta Farion of the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of America with Taras Petrynenko at the fund-raiser for the UNA’s two newspapers.
A film introduced by its author and screened this weekend was the documentary “Our Ukrainian American Legacy.” A multiple Emmy Award-winning PBS producer/director, Mr. Brygider was born in New York City, but when his family moved out to Long Island he began to lose contact with his Ukrainian roots.
Working at PBS during the Orange Revolution, the Maidan and subsequent Russian invasions and wars, he began to feel the need to produce a film that would document the lives and activities of the Ukrainian diaspora, and explain to all viewers the context of current developments.
With archival footage and fresh interviews, he fashioned a beautifully edited and educational film, in which many viewers will recognize their local communities, friends or even themselves.
Much of the success of the festival’s stage shows was due to the professional work of both emcees. An actress from Kyiv, Ms. Bajus co-founded Studio TM Olijnyk in Toronto in 2010. There, she works with children of different ages and levels, fashioning a musical stage production. Over three months, she rewrites the eventual musical to all their varied strengths. She enthused over how diction, dramatic sense and stage movement can make any child comfortable on stage, and also instill a general self-confidence.
Born in Ukraine but growing up in New Jersey, Bogdan Tabaka has enjoyed an elite dance and vocal career. He holds several regional dance titles, was a Fred Astaire National Winner and All-American National Ballroom Champion. He was lead choreographer for the 2016 Tony Awards and master of ceremonies at many prestigious events. With his infectious smile and dazzling outfits (self-designed), Mr. Tabaka charmed the festival audiences. He has also assisted UNWLA Branch 137 by generating its flyers, newsletters, mass mailings and contributing to its presence on social media.
Anyone browsing the Ukrainian Arts and Crafts Vendors Plaza would be lured by the aromas of pastries and hot dogs to the central food tent. A second-generation Ukrainian and a proud member of UNA Branch 414 of New Haven, Conn., Gloria Horbaty has run this busy oasis for over 10 years at Soyuzivka. But all her hot summer labor is merely the tip of the iceberg.
UNA Chief Operating Officer/National Secretary Yuriy Symczyk and his wife, Nataliya, on the way to the gala.
She serves as an advisor of the UNA General Assembly, and was regional chair for the UNWLA in New England and cultural chair for UNWLA Branch 108. She has taught classes at “Ridna Shkola” (School of Ukrainian Studies) and conducted pysanky demos on TV. This year will be her 52nd year at the Connecticut Ukrainian Festival in Stamford, Conn., where she is known as the “egg lady.”
A fourth-generation Ukrainian, Halyna Shepko counts Myron Surmach (whose Surma store in New York City was a center of the Ukrainian community) as her godfather. Ms. Shepko’s love for traditional textiles and embroidery led her to start her own farm in New Paltz , N.Y., and raise sheep and goats to make yarns (colored naturally), cheeses and soap. She explored the Hutsul region in Ukraine to study techniques and instruments of weaving and decorating.
She has conducted courses and tours for weavers at The Ukrainian Museum in New York and was a finalist at the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Finals for Folk Artists. For years, she has been bringing the Ukrainian “Selo” (Village) to the Ukrainian Cultural Festival to demonstrate weaving, pottery making and pysanka decorating.
Hearkening back to wise Ukrainian oral traditions, she related advice given to young maidens when handed a knotty and twisted bunch of wool: “Once you can untangle this ball of yarn, only then you’ll be ready for marriage!”
Tireless choreographer/director Orlando Pagan began his dance training at the age of 13, later studying with the Alvin Ailey School of Dance and the School of American Ballet. He was also invited to join the international tour of the Dance Theater of Harlem. Along the way, he was attracted to Ukrainian dance, and in 1987 was engaged as a soloist with the Syzokryli Dance Ensemble. Founder Roma Pryma Bohachevsky (RPB) expressed her wish that Mr. Pagan would be the ensemble’s new artistic director. He assumed this position in 2006, and became head instructor for all schools of the RPB Foundation.
Since 1995 he has also held the position of artistic director of the Zolotyj Promin Dance Ensemble and School in Hartford and currently also teaches Ukrainian dance in Yonkers , N.Y., and Passaic, N.J. Mr. Pagan has created works for the Ukrainian ensembles Kashtan in Cleveland and Cheremosh in Minneapolis, as well as choreography for Ukrainian pop star Ruslana.
All these passionate people are radiant examples for all of us. Echoing Dr. Szeremeta, Gloria Horbaty said it all: “You want a festival? Come help!”