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32 OUR LIFE • March-April 2023 The idea of holding a series of concerts to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lesia Ukrainka’s birth first came up in 2019, when the president of the Ukraini - an Bandurist Chorus of North America (UBC), Anatoli Murha, proposed a collaboration between the UBC and the UNWLA. The concept articulated by UBC con - ductor Oleh Mahlay – honoring Lesia Ukrainka’s pow - er and place in Ukrainian culture by highlighting her poetry using original songs set mostly to the poetess’s own words – wowed then UNWLA President Marianna Zajac and this writer. A partnership was formed, and planning and promotion for the concert series began. UNWLA Ohio Regional Council President Halyna Yarema expressing thanks to UBC conductor Oleh Mahlay at the concert in Cleveland on October 1. Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus Collaborates with UNWLA on Concerts Honoring Lesia Ukrainka Oksana Lodziuk Krywulych , UNWLA Officer-at-Large The concert in Morristown, NJ, on October 22. A portion of the ticket sales from each concert was donated to fund UNWLA initiatives. The concerts were to be held in several cities across the U.S. COVID delayed the concert series from 2021 to 2022, but, in the end, five highly successful concerts were performed in September-October 2022 before enthusiastic audiences in Michigan, Ohio, Washing - ton, D.C., New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The concerts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania were narrated by My - roslava Gongadze, with the final concert in Philadel - phia livestreamed to over 2,000 people in Ukraine and around the world. The first half of each concert (Seven Strings) show - cased Lesia’s poetry set to music. Lesia Ukrainka’s own voice was heard in preserved wax recordings of the beautiful music of the kobzari – recordings that she had made while traveling throughout Ukraine in the early 20th century. Photos were projected on a large screen, coupled with a narrative to propel the story and inform the audience about her rich life. All the songs were written specifically for this concert series. With the ongoing war in Ukraine, the second half of the concert opened with the beautiful “A Prayer for Ukraine” and featured patriotic songs such as “Broth - ers: To Arms” as well as familiar favorites. Appreciative audiences greeted the artists with thun - derous applause at each venue. The many standing ovations were a testament to the exceptional talents of the artists and the beauty of the concerts. Soyuzianky filled the concert halls, and the talented performers were graciously treated to receptions in each city. There were calls for concerts in more ven - ues, particularly in Florida. A special guest at the New Jersey concert was the great grandnephew of Lesia Ukrainka, who attended with his family. This outstanding concert series provided new insight into the woman who stands in the pantheon of Ukrain - ian heroes. It also cemented a wonderful partnership between the UNWLA and the UBC, one we hope to repeat in the near future.
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