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The Ukrainian Culture Center of Los Angeles and the Ukrainian National Choir, Kobzar, presented “Song of Ukraine”

On the afternoon of November 4th, 2007, Ukrainian-Americans from all around Southern California gathered at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale for a very special event. The Ukrainian Culture Center of Los Angeles and the Ukrainian National Choir, Kobzar, presented “Song of Ukraine.”

This “musical tribute to Ukraine and her people” raised funds for a joint project between The California Association to Aid Ukraine and Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund. These two important organizations are combining efforts to support the advanced training of medical doctors from Ukraine for the Future Children’s Hospital of Kyiv, Ukraine.

Taking part in the concert were the 70-member strong Ukrainian National Choir, Kobzar, and the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra consisting of 65 musicians. Kobzar, whose members primarily reside in the greater Los Angeles and San Diego areas, also included participants from as far away as Illinois and Georgia. The choir’s Director, Gregory Hallick, artistically arranged and orchestrated the music, allowing these normally a cappella choral works to be supported by a large symphony orchestra.  Mr. Hallick, who began his musical studies at a very early age under the tutelage of his father, the Very Reverend Stephen Hallick, commenced his conducting studies at West Chester State Teachers College in Pennsylvania, continuing on under various Ukrainian Directors such as Dmytro Yakubenko, Petro Kondratenko and Yuri Kolesnyk of the Kyiv Opera Chorus and Orchestra. In addition, Mr. Hallick has studied composition and arrangement under Maestro Paul Bateman of the Royal Philharmonic of London, England. The Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director and Conductor, Ivan Shulman, is one of the oldest community orchestras in the United States, having its origin in the health professions, still presenting regular concerts. A number of its members are physicians, dentists or allied health professional women and men in medicine and other healing arts.

The afternoon event was hosted by well-known film and television actor George Dzundza, himself a Ukrainian-American.  Mr. Dzundza, who has had major roles in films and television for more than 30 years, expertly guided the program with aplomb and humor. The program began with a reading in Ukrainian of a “pryvit” or “welcome” from Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko, the First Lady of Ukraine and Chairperson of Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund, by Mr. Mykola Tochytskyi, Consul General of Ukraine, San Francisco. The welcome letter was also read in English by Mr. Dzundza.  Mrs. Yushchenko’s greeting highlighted the extremely important work that this concert was supporting in raising the level of medical care to children throughout Ukraine. Additionally, she acknowledged the contributions of everyone involved in making this event possible, not the least of which being the members of the Ukrainian-American community, who came out to support the fund-raiser.

The musical portion of the program commenced with the national anthems of both the United States and Ukraine, followed by works by noted composers such as Lysenko, Ludkevich and Rimsky-Korsakov, among others.  Guest Bass Soloist, Stefan Szkafarowsky of New York’s Metropolitan Opera performed on a number of pieces, including “Taras’ Aria” from the opera Taras Bulba and a memorable “Ol’ Man River,” from the musical Showboat.  Tenor Soloist and Ukrainian Bandurist Laureate, Vasyl Nechepa, offered several songs, accompanying himself on the Kobza.  Messrs. Szkafarowsky and Nechepa also were featured as soloists in a powerful rendition by Kobzar’s all-male voices of the Ukrainian folk song “Play My Bandura.” This brought the audience to its feet, and the “Medley of Kolomeykas” which immediately followed, and was performed by the full choir and orchestra, had everyone tapping their toes to the lively up-lifting beat. Orest Shushko deftly played a medley of songs on the traditional Ukrainian instrument, “tsymbaly,” dedicating his performance to his late grandfather, who was also his mentor. Mr. Shushko’s performance was rewarded with long and hearty applause. Tenor soloist, John Jewell, Alto Soloist, Ludmilla Honchariw-Simon and Soprano Soloist, Christine Marie Linton also appeared during the course of the program. Individually and as an ensemble, their lyrical performances added to the excitement which had already permeated throughout the concert hall.

Other highlights included Vasyl Yemet’s stirring “For the Republic” skillfully arranged and executed with gusto by the choir and orchestra,  Ludkevich’s “In the Meadow,” as well as Kyrylo Steczenko’s tribute to the great Ukrainian Bard, “Shevchenko.” With the choir, orchestra and soloists, the concert concluded with the highly moving performance of “Poem for Ukraine,” arranged by Gregory Hallick and dedicated to the millions of Ukrainians who were impacted by ravages of World War II.  Based on the number of tears wiped from listeners’ eyes, this arrangement was certainly impactful. The afternoon had turned into dusk, the concert had ended, and the audience stood and gave the performers a five minute standing ovation with cries of “More! More!”

Ukrainian Weekly newspaper