Choir, Orchestra and Conductors sing Ukraine’s National Anthem. Conductors (Front Row with bouquets) Left to Right: Orest Soltykevych, Toma Elkow, Hryhoriy Maluzynsky, Dr. Svitlana Lysogor Slava Marozau. Photo: Anastacia Morozova
Marco Levytsky, Western Bureau Chief.
The Yavir Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton celebrated its 40th anniversary with a magnificent concert at the West End Christian Reformed Church, October 26.
In 1984, three members of Edmonton’s Ukrainian community, Wayne Tymchak and brothers Roman and Nestor Petriw, inspired by a recent trip to Ukraine, explored the idea of creating a Ukrainian men’s choir in Edmonton. They put together a list of 17 prospective choristers and approached Orest Soltykevych to be the conductor. When the prospective choristers learned that Orest was to be the founding conductor they were unanimous in agreeing to create a men’s choir and the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton (UMCE) was born. Forty years later, Yavir Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton continues to celebrate Ukraine’s beautiful choral legacy.
The founding principles of the choir included that it be non-denominational and dedicated to Ukrainian choral music, in particular folk compositions. In 2023 they added Yavir (maple tree) to the choir’s name to reflect their Ukrainian Canadian roots.
Over the years they have had four conductors and all four participated in the first half of the program. Current conductor Slava Marozau, who has directed the choir since 2019 opened the evening with a performance of На козацькій дорозі (On the Kozak Road) lyrics and music by Oleksandr Yakubovskyi, arranged by Viktor Hrytsyshyn.
Soltykevych who directed the choir for 30 of its 40 years (1984-2004, 2009-2019) followed with two medleys – the first featuring songs of the Sich Riflemen, the second those of the noted Western Canadian duet of Mickey and Bunny. Peter Tarnawsky sang solos in both. He was joined by Symen Kostiuk for the first one.
Hryhoriy Maluzynsky, who conducted from 2004-2006, directed two numbers — Карпатські січовики (Carpathian Sich Riflemen) based on a poem by Yar Slavutych, arrangement by Hryhory Kytasty and Наливаймо, браття! (Let Us Pour a Drink, Brothers) with a bayan accompaniment by Dmytro Rusnak and solos by Peter Tarnawsky and Tony Horobec.
He was followed by Dr. Svitlana Lysogor who conducted from 2006-2009. Her first number was the sombre Плине кача (The Duck is Swimming) a Lemko song which became the anthem of the Heavenly Hundred. Solos were sung by Andrzej Szymanowka and Tony Horobec.
Maluzynsky provided a sonorous bass solo for her second piece, Taras Shechenko’s poem, Бандуристе, oрле сизий! (Oh Bandurist, You Grey-Haired Eagle), arranged by Yaroslav Orlov.
But the highlight of the first half was the heart-warming reception given special guest conductor Toma Elkow who came “in (from) the bush” to direct the stirring Засяло сонце (The Sun has Shone), music by Stepan Pylypenko, lyrics by Ivan Nedilsky.
The second half opened with the World Premiere of Marozau’s own composition based upon the prayer Богородице Діво (Hail Mary), followed by the folk song Гей, браття опришки! (Hey, Brothers Opryshky solo by Terry Baydala.
A standing ovation was accorded Yavir’s signature piece Той старий кожух (That Old Sheepskin Coat), a tribute to Ukrainian pioneers with words by Anna Zwozdesky and lyrics by her son Willi Zwozdesky. Terry Baydala once again sang the solo, while Anna’s son-in-law Steve Ciona recited the narration. The Yavir 40th Anniversary Orchestra with Tsymbaly by Mitchell Palahniuk came on for this number and stayed for the rest of the performance.
The next number was the a Capella За байраком байрак (Gravemound after Gravemound), solos by Terry Baydala and Nick Horobec. Next, the choir sang Журавлі (Cranes), lyrics by Volodymyr Kushik (excerpt from a poem), music by Willi Zwozdesky, accompanied by the orchestra. This is a poignant number commemorating the Chornobyl tragedy.
Next the audience was treated to yet another World Premiere, this one entitled Засвіти свічку (Light a Сandle), lyrics by Anna Hryhor-Zwozdesky, music by Willi Zwozdesky and solo by Peter Tarnawsky, accompanied by the orchestra.
This was followed by Козак од’їжджає (The Kozak is Leaving) from the cantata “Chervona Kalyna”, music by Lesya Dychko, sung a Capella.
The last piece was the sombre Обійми! (Embrace!), words and music by Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, arranged by Willi Zwozdesky, reflecting the sadness which accompanies the farewells bestowed upon soldiers ready to fight for their country. Solos were performed by Serhiy Kucher and JM Palahniuk and the orchestra accompanied.
The evening closed with the Ukrainian National Anthem.
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