John Pidkowich for New Pathway, Toronto.
Vesnivka Choir treated music lovers in the Ukrainian community and many others in the Canadian music community to a unique heavenly choral experience to commence Vesnivka’s 50th Anniversary Season. Vesnivka presented the world premiere of Roman Hurko’s Liturgy No.4 “Vesnivka” conducted by Vesnivka’s founder, choral and artistic director Halyna Kvitka Kondracki on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Toronto. This has been Vesnivka’s home base since it first started as a girl’s choir at the parish’s associated Ukrainian School. The magnificent musical work was especially commissioned for the choir’s Golden Anniversary and newly written for its matured all-female voices. Present at the premiere, composer Roman Hurko is a Canadian American with Ukrainian heritage, born and raised in Toronto, who has childhood roots attending St. Nicholas Church and later conducting its youth choir. Mr. Hurko, who started composing in high school, is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and a member of the Composers’ Union of Ukraine since 2004.
This remarkable performance by Vesnivka foremost created a prayerful and solemn spiritual experience for some 500 attendees. Rightly so, following the welcome address and appeal by St. Nicholas Church Pastor Rev. Dr. Roman Lobay to the listeners as People of God to avail themselves of the opportunity in time and space to gather mystically as the Body of Christ, meditate upon the sung liturgy, reflect upon partaking in the Eucharist for the forgiveness of sins, and give thanks to Christ’s sacrifices for our salvation.
Main excerpts of the liturgy were sung in concert format in Ukrainian according to the text of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the most celebrated Eucharistic liturgy in the Eastern Christian Catholic and Orthodox Churches of the Byzantine Rite. An English text translation was provided in a programme. The priest’s invocation for the choir’s responses and prayers was sung most spiritually by Rev. Taras Dusanowskyj with superbly resonating baritone voice. The soprano solo lines were sung wonderfully with bright and clear enlightening voice by choir member Lesia Komorowsky. To round out and enrich the liturgy-in-concert, the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir performed adeptly to provide a full dependable sound to join and complement Vesnivka in singing the closing prayers Gentle Light and Ave Maria, written earlier by composer Roman Hurko.
The consistently high standard of musical choral performance by Vesnivka is well-known on many stages and in concert halls, both locally and internationally. Vesnivka’s impressive performance from high above in St. Nicholas Church choir loft generated no less a majestic sound with full range dynamics and contrasts, having great attention paid to details in producing rich tones, harmonies and keen intonation, all enhanced by the acoustics provided by the church knave’s high ceiling and wrap-around wood. To the audience listening below and around on the balcony, surrounded by the church’s magnificent interior of religious paintings, icons and iconostasis, an angelic image of the choir was imprinted in the mind, reflective of Vesnivka Choir at St. Nicholas painted by William Kurelek in 1973.
A post-concert reception welcomed all choir members, Vesnivka alumnae and audience, held in the Church Hall. A short program lead by Vesnivka’s President Irka Nabereznyj included Kvitka Kondracki being awarded a medal from the Ukrainian World Congress by Board Member Anna Kisil for ‘Outstanding contribution during the Year of Taras Shevchenko [2014] celebrating 200 years of his birth’, and presentation of a $5,000 sponsorship cheque to Vesnivka Choir from Ukrainian Credit Union by Board Members Walter Drozdowsky and Oleh Marianchuk. Vesnivka also gratefully acknowledges the generosity of these key sponsors: the Ontario Arts Council; Toronto Arts Council; Ihnatowycz Family Foundation; Olzhych Foundation; Shevchenko Foundation; John and Lessia Tkach; Delores Y. Buka-Huculak; Temerty Family and many other supporters.
A special round of applause was given to the Vesnivka 50th Anniversary Committee chaired by Myroslawa Anna Diakun and comprised of Vesnivka members. Their dedicated work and months of planning gave people attending the event the opportunity to learn about Vesnivka’s accomplishments. Help from the men in the Chamber Choir and spouses of Vesnivka members was also greatly appreciated. Numerous displays about Vesnivka’s past 50 years were presented including concert dress outfits arranged by Lydia Cymbaluk, photo tableaux of many tours and competitions held in several countries, and a 700 plus photo montage running slideshow of the choir’s events and trips prepared by Nykola Parzei. There was the opportunity to purchase Vesnivka’s new 50th Anniversary CD recording, decorations, and chef aprons designed with Vesnivka’s logo. Most importantly, everyone had the opportunity to meet with Vesnivka members and alumnae, and of course enjoy the delicious food and refreshments lovingly prepared and presented for sharing.
Vesnivka repeated singing in Ukrainian Roman Hurko’s Liturgy No. 4 “Vesnivka” in its entirety during regular Sunday Divine Liturgy at The Great Martyr, St. George the Victorious Ukrainian Catholic Church with Pastor Rev. Dmytro Hancharyk on November 1, 2015 in Oshawa, Ont. The Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League prepared a beautiful reception after the church service for Vesnivka and the parish community.
Bravo Vesnivka at 50!
Vesnivka Choir invites to more 50th Anniversary Season concerts in Toronto:
– Christmas Concert with special guests on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 3pm, Islington United Church, 25 Burnhamthorpe Rd.;
– 50th Anniversary Gala Concert with renowned guest artists Elmer Isler Singers – Lydia Adams, conductor, and Roman Borys, cellist of The Gryphon Trio along with the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 3pm, Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W.
Tickets/information: 416-246-9880 or 416-763-2197.
Also, Vesnivka Choir sings:
Christmas Liturgy on January 7, 2016 at 11:30 am and;
Easter Liturgy on May 1, 2016 at 9:30 am at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Queen St. W. at Bellwoods Ave.
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