In celebration of 120 years of Ukrainian settlement in Canada, Vesnivka has invited The Lysenko Choir from The Netherlands to tour Ontario with a concert program of Ukrainian sacred and secular music from Oct. 29th – Nov. 5th. Please find the attached flyer with details about the Ontario concert tour.
As part of the tour, the ensemble will also be guest artists at Vesnivka’s first concert of its Season of Song in Toronto, to be held at Runnymede United Church on November 5, 2011.
Below is further information about the Lysenko Choir
_______________________________________________
Yvan Baker
President,
Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Ontario Provincial Council
uccontario@gmail.com
The Lysenko Choir
This choir originated from a project choir initiated by Dr. Myroslav Antonowycz to give a benefit concert in May 1997, together with Utrecht Byzantine Choir, for the International Lysenko Family Foundation from Kyiv. This Foundation supports performing artists promoting Ukrainian music. The result of this successful concert was the formation of a regular choir in September 1997 – “The Lysenko Choir”, named in honour of the composer M.V. Lysenko – under the leadership of Dr. Antonowycz and Paul Hakkennes. Their first concert was held in May 1998 in which they performed a program consisting of liturgical and profane Ukrainian chants as well as a number of excerpts from Ukrainian operas.
This ensemble of mixed voices has approximately 45 members. Their mandate is to promote Ukrainian choral music throughout The Netherlands and abroad. Their respect for the Ukrainian culture and their love of Ukrainian music – a love imparted to them by Dr. Antonowycz and Mr. Hakkennes – has earned this choir many accolades. In addition to concerts, they sing the Liturgy of St. John Crysostom, as well as other liturgical services, at various churches throughout The Netherlands. The choir has also travelled to Ukraine to sing liturgical services in Ukrainian churches and has given many concerts there as well.
The Lysenko Choir’s support of Ukrainian music goes beyond concert performances; the ensemble provides ongoing financial support to a music school in Dr. Antonowycz’s birthplace of Dolyna, located in the region of Ivano-Frankivsk, as well as supporting various exchange programs for its music students
Thanks to the passion and dedication of the singers of The Lysenko Choir, their work will ensure that the Ukrainian song remains appreciated in The Netherlands.
