The Gala Concert of the winners of the Second Ukrainian Music Competition in the USA was a great success

On January 10, 2025, the legendary Carnegie Hall hosted the Gala Concert of the winners of the Second Ukrainian Music Competition in the USA with great success. Young talents from across America, Ukrainian children who found refuge from the war in America and Europe, and professional musicians who served as competition judges performed works by Ukrainian classical and contemporary composers.

The Gala Concert was presented by the Young Performers Foundation and the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America. Among the main sponsors were Selfreliance New York, Veselka Restaurant, Ukrainian National Association, Inc. (UNA), Nova UA Federal Credit Union, and Selfreliance Federal Credit Union.

This concert marked the culmination of the Ukrainian Music Competition, which was first held in New York in 2023. The competition was established by Oksana Sorochan, a member of СУА’s 98th branch, in collaboration with renowned musician Pavlo Gintov, with support from Solomiya Ivakhiv, Valeria Sholokhova, Mykhailo Bulychev-Oksner, Olga Dyadiv, Pavlo Hrynaiev, and Jin Han. The competition takes place annually in May and June, featuring two rounds of live and virtual auditions in New York City.

The competition is supported by Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Members of the mission, along with diplomats from other countries, attended the concert. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya delivered a speech before the concert, emphasizing the importance of music as a universal language that connects hearts across borders and time, heals emotional wounds, and helps restore peace. The concert also honored those whose dreams and lives were cut short by the war.

In keeping with Ukrainian tradition, the concert opened with a prayer. Renowned violinist Jin Han arranged Mykola Lysenko’s “Prayer” for solo violin in the style of Bach’s partitas. This year, the prayer was performed by 17-year-old Roman Velychko from Chernivtsi, whose emotional performance deeply moved every audience member.

Natalia Pavlenko, UNWLA president, highlighted the importance of the organization’s educational mission and its role in promoting Ukrainian cultural achievements worldwide:

“Today, these young talents prove that music is stronger than any weapon. Their melodies are the voice of our history, resounding even in the hardest times. We thank them for that!”

The concert was hosted by young UNWLA members Natalia Livcha and Kateryna Sorochan.

The first part of the concert featured competition winners. The audience was impressed by the performers’ high level of professionalism. Roksolana Kit received the grand prize for her performance of Antin Rudnytsky’s Piano Sonata. Interestingly, the composer’s sister, Milena Rudnytska, was a President of the Ukrainian National Women’s League and editor of the biweekly publication Zhinka (Engl: Woman) in the 1930s. Prizes from UNWLA were awarded to 12-year-old pianist Ivan Shelest from New York for his inspiring performance of Yakiv Borkovych’s Toccata and violinist Angelina Todoriko from Chernivtsi for her brilliant rendition of Myroslav Skoryk’s Carpathian Rhapsody and Yuriy Meitus’s Allegro.

Several Ukrainian refugee children also performed at the concert. These children were forced to leave their homeland following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and are now building their musical careers in the United States. According to their feedback, participating in the competition and performing on Carnegie Hall’s stage were among the brightest moments of their lives.

American guests were particularly impressed by 12-year-old Maria Bohomolova’s performance on the bandura of Hryhoriy Kytasty’s modern piece Echo of the Steppes.

“The variety of instruments, especially the uniquely Ukrainian ones, kept the show fresh and fun. Witnessing such young performers play these complex pieces and instruments so professionally was incredibly impressive,” said 18-year-old Erik Fradkin from New Jersey, who attended a Ukrainian music concert for the first time.

A director of an American school, whose student participated in the event, expressed her admiration:

“Thank you so much for inviting me to attend tonight’s performance. While I have zero musical talent, I have a deep appreciation for the arts. Your daughters, and all the young performers, were truly awe-inspiring. It was such a touching celebration of Ukrainian culture.”

The second half of the concert featured performances by renowned musicians from the competition jury: cellist Valeria Sholokhova, pianist Dr. Pavlo Gintov, and the duo of Yulia Basis and Andriy Didorenko. The program included piano, string, and vocal works by prominent and contemporary Ukrainian composers, such as Mykola Lysenko, Yuriy Shchurovsky, Myroslav Skoryk, Serhiy Bortkevych, Borys Lyatoshynsky, Liudmyla Shukaylo, Vasyl Barvinsky, Mykola Leontovych, Fedir Akimenko, Valentyn Sylvestrov, Viktor Kosenko, Yuriy Babenko, Zoltan Almashi, and Oleh Bezborodko.

The extraordinary talent of all the young musicians who graced the stage that evening deserves special recognition. Each of them brought their passion and dedication to Ukrainian music, making the evening truly unforgettable.

The Ukrainian Music Competition celebrates Ukraine’s musical heritage, serves as a platform for young talent, and symbolizes hope and unity. As it continues to grow, it promises to further highlight the rich tapestry of Ukrainian music and culture.
The competition is dedicated to Yuriy Leonidovych Kerpatenko, the conductor of the Kherson Philharmonic, who was killed in October 2022 by Russian occupiers for refusing to collaborate.

Oksana Sorochan
Cultural Chair, New Jersey
Founder, Young Performers Foundation