The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
2004 Yearbook

2004 February
European Tour Live Recordings

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus releases
the live recordings from the 2003 European Tour.
See more information about this recording.

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2004 April
Spring Concert Series

The Chorus celebrated the successful return from the European Tour
with several concerts in east coast cities: Syracuse (April 2), Hartford (April 3), New York City (April 4), Clifton (April 24), and Philadelphia (April 25).

Audience anticipation was reflected in the local newspapers:

Syracuse's The Post-Standard

Ukrainian singers, musicians to perform -- April 01, 2004

By Radworth M. Anderson, Contributing writer

On Friday, the Fowler High School auditorium will be filled with the music of Ukraine. The internationally renowned Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus kicks off its 2004 spring concert series with a rare performance in Syracuse. From Our Advertiser The all-male ensemble features vocalists accompanied by musicians who play the bandura, a 60-stringed instrument that shares characteristics with the harp and the lute and that produces a mellow, soothing sound. Orest Hrycyk, of Onondaga Hill, has been a member of the group, which is based in the Detroit area, for three years. He will be joined on stage by two fellow Central New Yorkers, Mykhaylo Artymovych and Vasyl Troyanovych, both of Camillus. Hrycyk, a German-born Ukrainian-American, became intrigued by the sounds and sights of the chorus when he saw them perform as a child. "The last time the show was (in Syracuse) was in the 1960s," he says.

Hartford's The Hartford Courant

Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus back -- April 1, 2004

By Nick R. Scalia

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus performs at the Learning Corridor's Theatre of the Performing Arts Saturday at 7 p.m., marking its first appearance in Hartford since 1987. Combining an ensemble of voices with the unique sounds of Ukraine's national musical instrument, the bandura, the all-male chorus has performed its traditional Ukrainian repertoire since 1918. The chorus' signature 60-string Kharkiv bandura combines the acoustic principles of the lute and the harp and produces a sound similar to the harpsichord. This particular version of the instrument has nearly disappeared in the Ukraine. The chorus immigrated to the Detroit area in 1949 with the assistance of Allied forces. Since then, it has brought its music to audiences in concerts around the world, recorded 26 albums and performed for Presidents Nixon and Reagan. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for students, and are available by calling 860-757-6388. The Theatre of the Performing Arts is at 359 Washington St. in Hartford.

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April 2 -- The Chorus at Fowler School Auditorium in Syracuse, New York
in its first concert of the 2004 Spring Concert Series.
The Chorus last performed in Syracuse in 1979.

April 3 -- Ihor Rudko, President of the The Greater Hartford Council of
Ukrainian Organizations greets the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
at the post concert reception in Hartford.

April 4 -- UBC bandura players stand at the corner of 7th Street and Taras
Shevchenko Place in front of St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York City.

April 4 -- Singing during the Palm Sunday Liturgy
at St. George's Ukrainian Catholic on April 4th.
Oleh Mahlay conducting.

April 4 -- The Chorus is performing live in The Great Hall At The Cooper Union.
This historic hall has hosted various U.S. Presidents (before or during
their respective terms in office) including Abraham Lincoln,
Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and William Jefferson Clinton.

April 4 -- UBC Artistic Director Oleh Mahlay (second from left) and UBC President
Anatoli Murha (second from right) are seen here with Bohdan Kekish, President
and CEO of Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union; Bishop Basil Losten
from the Stamford Eparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; and Askold
Lozynskyj, President of the Ukrainian World Congress, with his children.

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus in concert
in Clifton, NJ on Saturday, April 24th, 2004.

Seen here is a proclamation fro the city of Clifton, NJ
on behalf of the Chorus. This proclamation was presented
to the Chorus at the end of the concert
by Clifton City Council officials.

UBC artistic director, Oleh Mahlay, talking with
Rev. Oleh Zhownirovych at the post concert reception.

UBC President Anatoli Murha (far left),
Oksana Charuk - Bodnar, Halia Newmerzyckyj,
and UBC Artistic Director Oleh Mahlay (far right).
Mrs. Charuk-Bodnar and Mrs. Newmerzyckyj
helped organize the concert in Clifton.

Manor College (Jenkintown, PA)
hosted of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
concert on Sunday, April 25th, 2004.

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus in concert at Manor College.

Ihor Kusznir, UBC's assistant conductor, conducting
the Chorus at the beginning of the second half of the concert.

2004 July
Stratford Summer Music Festival

On Sunday, July 25, 2004 the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus presented a concert during the Stratford Summer Music Festival. The well attended concert at Knox Church gave the Chorus an opportunity to share its music with many from North America.

Following the concert, an article appeared in the Stratford Beacon Herald on Monday, July 26. Staff reporter Laura Cudworth interview UBC Artistic Director Oleh Mahlay, President Anatoli W. Murha and Vice President Andrij Sklierenko.

2004 September
Concert in Pittsburgh

On Sunday, September 26, 2004 the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus presented a concert at Bellefiled Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sharing the stage with the UBC was the Kashtan Dance Ensemble of Cleveland, Ohio.

Bandurist Chorus during the concert

Oleh Mahlay pointing out the soloist

Kashtan Dance Ensemble

The Kashtan Dance Ensemble and Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus

2004 October
Concert in Northville, Michigan

On Saturday, October 31, at 8:00pm, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus presented a concert at WARD EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. This concert was part of our out-reach program that is helping the Chorus cultivate a new audience as it continues its ambassadorial role in preserving Ukrainian music, culture, and bandura. The Chorus was well received by the Ward Community.

The concert was featured in an article on Sunday, October 24th, 2004 in the Observer - Eccentric Newspaper. Here is the full article written by Linda Ann Chomin:

Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus preserves history in song
By Linda Ann Chomin
Staff Writer

Ask any current or past member of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and they'll tell you the group is about preserving heritage and memories of the homeland.

Anatoli Murha's father Wally started teaching him how to play the bandura, a 60-stringed instrument at age 9. At age 26, he's given concerts all over North America and Europe.

Murha does not travel from town to town like the blind bandurists did for centuries in Ukraine, but he's nevertheless keeping the culture alive by retelling their stories through song.

On Saturday, Oct. 30, Murha and the rest of the 45-member chorus bring the ancient tradition to life in an 8 p.m. concert at Ward Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 40000 Six Mile, west of Haggerty, Northville.

Tickets are $15 adults, $10 seniors and students and available by calling the church at (248) 374-5928 or the chorus at (734) 953-0305.

"I've had the opportunity to meet people around the world and share my culture," said Anatoli Murha, a Livonia resident who joined the chorus at age 14. "In more ways than I can say there's a sense of accomplishment and pride in representing Ukraine."

Murha is among four generations performing with the chorus. While other classical art forms struggle to attract youth, the chorus has to turn prospective members away, selecting only the most accomplished musicians and singers.

"There's a real romantic pull to something with a tragic past," said Borys Potapenko, a past member and current director of the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Warren. "Blind storytellers known as Kobzars traveled from village to village, serving as sort of an archivist of Ukrainian history for common folk. They were faced with extinction during Czarist and Communist times and in the 1930s were called to a convention and shot."

The chorus continues on their tradition. Formed in Kiev in 1918, the chorus established itself in America after several of its members immigrated to the United States in 1949 and settled in Detroit. In 1991, they celebrated the 10th anniversary of freedom from Soviet rule in Ukraine with a tour of major cities there.

Today members from ages 16 to 75 travel from as far away as British Columbia, Alberta, Toronto, Connecticut, New York and Ohio to rehearse and perform.

"It goes to our hearts when we hear bandura," said Potapenko. "It hearkens back to a fairy tale land of home, family and God. The chorus is a little bit of Ukraine in Michigan.

"Whenever we play a CD by the chorus or hear a performance we are in our Ukrainian home."

2004 April - November
Hryhory Kytasty Memorial Services

The year 2004 marked the 20th anniversary Hryhory Kytasty's passing, the long standing conductor and artistic director of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. Mr. Kytasty devoted his life to the bandura. As a composer, teacher and bandurist, he became a mentor and musical inspiration to many.

HRYHORY KYTASTY

1907 - 1984

To commemorate Mr. Kytasty, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and the Kytasty Foundation organized five memorial services throughout North American from April - November. Services were held in cities which Mr. Kytasty had much influence over bandura studies. The first service was held at his final resting place in Bound Brook, New Jersey.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24 -- 3:00PM
ST ANDREW CEMETERY
SOUTH BOUND BROOK, NJ

SATURDAY, JUNE 5 -- 6:00PM
ST. MARY'S UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL
SOUTHFIELD, MI

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7 -- 7:00PM
ALL SAINTS U.O.C CAMP GROUNDS
KOBZARSKA SICH BANDURA CAMP
EMLENTON, PA

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 -- 5:30PM
ST. VLADIMIR'S UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL
PARMA, OH

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6 - 5:30PM
ST. VOLODYMYR'S UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL
TORONTO, ON

June 5, 2004 - Members of the UBC after the memorial service held at St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan.

2004 November
U of M vs. OSU SHOWDOWN FOOTBALL FUNDRAISER

On Saturday November 20th, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and the Ukrainian-Museum Archives hosted a fundraiser that featured the University of Michigan Wolverines vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes. Approximately 50 guests surrounded the big screen to watch one of college footballs biggest rivalries. Proceeds from the event will go towards ongoing programs of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and the Ukrainian-Museum Archives.

2004 December
BANDURA CHRISTMAS INTERNATIONAL

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and special guest artist Paul Plishka of the Metropolitan Opera

The UBC returned to the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts December 19, 2004 with its Christmas program and special guest soloist Paul Plishka of the Metropolitan Opera, and pianist Thomas Hrynkiw. Local radio personality Jim Harper of Magic 105.1 narrated the program. The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus thanks all of its sponsors of the concert, including Ukrainian Future Credit Union and Ukrainian Selfreliance Michigan Federal Credit Union.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 - The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and Paul Plishka rehearsing at the Ukrainian Cultural Center the day before the perfomance.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 - A VIP reception was held the evening prior to the performance for all sponsors of Bandura Christmas International. The reception included a historical picture montage of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, and remarks from Paul Plishka, Thomas Hrynkiw, Oleh Mahlay - UBC Artistic Director and Conductor, and Anatoli W. Murha, UBC President.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 - Oleh Mahlay - UBC Artistic Director and Conductor, talking to some of the sponsors at the VIP reception.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 - (L to R) Anatoli W. Murha - UBC President, Thomas Hrynkiw, Paul Plishka, and Oleh Mahlay - UBC Artistic Director and Conductor, at the VIP reception.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 - The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus concert ensemble with guests Paul Plishka and Thomas Hrynkiw at the VIP reception.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - Paul Plishka and Thomas Hrynkiw rehearsing at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts before the concert.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus dedicated the well known American Hymn Amazing Grace to the Orange Revolution that was underway in Ukraine.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - Paul Plishka and Thomas Hrynkiw in their opening selection.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - The instrumental ensemble of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus after its performance of Christmas Motives.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and Paul Plishka together performing Adeste Fideles as the finale of the concert.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - Bandura Christmas International finale with the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, Jim Harper, Thomas Hrynkiw and Paul Plishka.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 - (L to R) Oleh Mahlay - UBC Artistic Director and Conductor, Jim Harper of Magic 105.1 FM, and Anatoli W. Murha - UBC President, backstage after the concert.

2004 December / January 2005
Koliada (Christmas Caroling)

A Christmas season tradition in the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus has been caroling from home to home. Members from the different regional locations of the UBC carol on Christmas days and other times during the Christmas season.

DECEMBER 26 - UBC members from the east coast region caroling outside of the Ukrainian Consulate in New York City during the second round of elections that were being held in Ukraine.

January 15, 2005 - UBC members (L to R) Teo Bodnar, Luke Laschuk, Mykola Newmerzyckyj (with bandura), Mychail Newmerzyckyj, and Ihor Kusznir caroling at a home in the Philadelphia area.

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The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus 2004 Yearbook

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
2004 Yearbook