The Ukrainian National Association, founded on February 22, 1894, continued celebrations of its 125th anniversary year with a wonderful gift to its members and the Ukrainian community at large: a gala concert featuring Ukrainian dance, music and song. It was an unforgettable event appropriate for the UNA’s milestone.
The concert spotlighted performers from the United States, Canada and Ukraine – as befits a fraternal benefit society founded in the U.S. that later expanded into Canada and always had Ukraine in its heart. The performers who graced the stage also reflected various backgrounds, different generations and, above all, the beauty of Ukrainian culture and the talent of the Ukrainian people.
The fabulous Ukrainian Shumka Dancers from Edmonton, Alberta, lived up to their name. Shumka means whirlwind, and what the audience saw was a whirlwind of color and movement in exquisitely choreographed dance presentations. As Shumka noted, it was a tribute to its roots in both Ukraine and Canada. The Women’s Bandura Ensemble, whose members hail from throughout the U.S. and Canada, demonstrated that Ukraine’s national instrument lives on and continues to inspire new generations. The ensemble showcased its versatility with performances of a bandura classic, folks songs and the modern “Hallelujah” with a contemporary Ukrainian theme. Violinist Vasyl Popadiuk, a native of Ukraine who now lives in Canada, bridged the two countries in his exceptional performance of well-chosen music selections. And Khrystyna Soloviy, a young singer/songwriter from Ukraine making her North American debut, provided the connection between our ancestral homeland and the emigration in her rendition of the traditional Lemko folk song “Hamerytskyi Krai” (Land of America), which expresses the mixed emotions of immigrants longing for their native land. Moreover, this young star who treasures her own Lemko heritage was also a reminder of the Lemko roots of many UNA pioneers.
The concert endeavored to offer something for everyone; judging from the audience reaction, it seems that goal was achieved. The chair of the UNA’s 125th Anniversary Committee, Bohdana Puzyk, remarked: “This concert was attended by three generations of Ukrainians, and each generation found an element that overjoyed and delighted them. The result was a concert that captivated all who attended.”
But the concert was even more than a celebration. As became evident in conversations with concert-goers, it was also an opportunity to reconnect. Indeed, there were those who told The Ukrainian Weekly they were happy “to come home,” having lost touch with the Ukrainian community. And this is where the UNA comes in. As master of ceremonies Roman Hirniak pointed out, the UNA was founded with 439 members and assets of $220. Its goal, then and now: to extend “a helping hand to its members, to the Ukrainian community in the United States and Canada, to Ukrainians wherever they have settled and to Ukraine itself.” Today, Mr. Hirniak continued, the UNA is “the oldest Ukrainian fraternal organization, …boasting assets totaling almost $200 million.” It maintains its mission of preserving the Ukrainian heritage and culture, and of educating members and others about Ukraine’s past and present. Thus, it can serve all of our community, all of our immigrations, all of our generations. To all of them we say: Welcome home!