Celebrating Ukrainian Culture: Highlights from the New York Ukrainian Cultural Festival
This year’s inaugural festival, founded by Razom in partnership with Yara Arts, the Shevchenko Scientific Society and the Ukrainian Institute of America, took place from November 7 – 19 in New York City. It was dedicated to the memory of renowned Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, who tragically lost her life this past June when Kramatorsk was attacked.
“We decided to hold a cultural festival in New York to preserve her memory and the cause she was passionate about, the New York Literary Festival that she founded. Amplifying Ukrainian voices and cultural diplomacy here in the States are core principles of Razom’s mission, which we wanted to advance with this initiative. In general, over a thousand people connected with the festival, many of whom were not Ukrainian,” shared Razom Board member, Maria Genkin.
Various cultural events took place in Manhattan during the festival that focused on Ukrainian literature, music and cinema.
“We included a diverse range of films, opening with ‘Dovbush’ and hosting a packed evening with a selection of short films, concluding with ‘Pamfir’ receiving a standing ovation,” explained Polina Buchak, film curator at Razom.
Four events were dedicated to Ukrainian poetry. Poets Alex Averbukh, Boris and Lyudmila Khersonsky, and Iya Kiva read their poetry in the original, while translators or actors read in English. In events produced by Yara Arts Group, poetry from the Executed Renaissance generation of writers, Victoria Amelina, and Serhiy Zhadan, was featured.
In addition, the New York Public Library hosted a meeting with Ukrainian writers. Andrii Kurkov, Oksana Lutsyshyna, and Olena Styazhkina presented their novels published in America this year to over a hundred readers who attended.
During the festival, the public discovered the music of Sergei Bortkiewicz. Musicians Anna Shelest, Pavlo Hintov, and Oleksandr Chaplynsky performed works by this little-known composer born in Kharkiv at the end of the 19th century.
Throughout the festival, organizers raised funds for Amelina’s beloved “New York Literary Festival”. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped organize this extraordinary celebration of Ukrainian culture and to all who attended!
Razom has recently supported the publication of Olena Stiazhkina’s novel “Cecil The Lion Had to Die” by Harvard University Press’s HURI Books.
In this novel, Stiazhkina follows the fate of four families as the world around them undergoes radical transformations when the Soviet Union unexpectedly implodes, independent Ukraine emerges, and neo imperial Russia begins its war by occupying Ukraine’s Crimea and parts of the Donbas. Stiazhkina shows how new identities are forged based on distant and recent decisions people make when faced with the situation of a stark choice. Just as Stiazhkina’s own decision to transition to writing in Ukrainian as part of her civic stance—performed between the covers of this book that begins in Russian and ends in Ukrainian—the choices that the members of the four families make, take them in vastly different directions, presenting an image of the Donbas that is multifaceted and nuanced. A tour de force of stylistic registers and intertwining stories, ironic voices and sincere discoveries, this novel is a must read for those who seek to more deeply understand Ukrainians from the Donbas, and how history and local identity have shaped the current war with Russia.
A historian by training, Olena Stiazhkina is a prolific Ukrainian writer and journalist with numerous scholarly publications and eleven books of fiction. Until the occupation of the city of Donetsk, she taught Slavic history at Vasyl Stus National University in Donetsk (1993–2015) and then at Mariupol State University (2015–2016). Her scholarly interests focus on women’s history, life in the Soviet Union, and the history of the Donbas. Since 2016, she has served as the senior research fellow at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Her works of fiction comprise collections of short stories, novels, and detective stories (under the pen name Olena Iurska). Having written almost exclusively in Russian before, Stiazhkina has been transitioning to writing in Ukrainian following Russia’s 2014 aggression against Ukraine .
The novel will be published by Harvard University Press in their Havard Library of Ukrainian Literature in the beginning of 2024. Advance copies of “Cecil the Lion had to Die” and “Ukraine War/Love: A Donetsk Diary” will be available at the November events listed below.
Razom is proud to be coordinating this book tour in partnership with other organizations.
NOVEMBER 8th BOSTON
Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, 6:00 pm
Pritsak Memorial Library at HURI, 34 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
The Ukrainian Cultural Festival is organized by Razom, Yara Arts, Ukrainian Institute of America, Shevchenko Scientific Society and Bowery Poetry Club and will take place November 7th through November 15th in New York.
Over ten days in November, you will have an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Ukrainian poetry and prose and check out the best in contemporary Ukrainian cinema.
Meet writers Andriy Kurkov, Oksana Lutsyshyna, Olena Stiazhkina and poets Iya Kiva, Alex Averbuch and Lyudmyla and Boris Khersonskys. Watch “Pamfir” and other contemporary films.
Below is the schedule of events. Please check in often for changes and ticket information.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th
DOVBUSH
Presented by Razom
The most ambitious Ukrainian action movie to date, the drama, directed by Oles Sanin, tells the story of Oleksa Dovbush, one of the leaders of Ukrainian resistance known as ‘Opryshky’ which opposed Polish and Austrian administrations. The resistance movement had been active from 16th to 19th centuries. Released in Ukraine in August 2023 the movie became a box office sensation even when the movie showings are interrupted by air raids.
How Fire Descends: NY Poets & Artists Respond to Ukrainian Poetry
Presented by Bowery Poetry Club & Yara Arts Group
NY Poets & Artists Respond to Ukrainian Poetry featuring Ukrainian poet Iya Kiva.
Translators Amelia Glaser, Olena Jennings, Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps; and poets: Pichchenda Bao, Bob Holman; Yara Arts Group and Bushwick Book Club react to Serhiy Zhadan’s new book “How Fire Descends”
Poetry in Ukrainian with English translation. Moderation by Oleh Kotsyuba
Translations read by Sashko Krapivkin.
Alex Averbuch will read from his latest book Zhydivsky korol (The Jewish King, a 2023 finalist for the Shevchenko National Prize), as well as from his upcoming collection, Of Rage and Longing, and answer questions from the audience. Averbuch’s poetry deals with intertwoven Jewish-Ukrainian relations through the prism of his family history and Ukraine’s multiethnic past and present. The book features poeticized documentary materials related to the Second World War: letters by Ukrainian Ostarbeiters sent to their relatives in Ukraine, intertwined with letters by Jewish Holocaust survivors who returned to devastated villages in Ukraine in search of their murdered relatives, as well as poems about the Russo-Ukrainian war currently taking place in his home region of Luhans’k. Unsettling but ultimately liberatory de-specifications of ethnos, language, and sexuality relieve trigger-points in Ukraine’s history through the confessional intimacy of family, shame, pleasure, and the reconciliation of self and other.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th
6:30PM in The Frederick P. Rose Auditorium at Cooper Union
A FOREST SURROUNDS POETS: UKRAINIAN POETRY IN PERFORMANCE
In English with some Ukrainian
Come to hear Ukrainian Poetry in Performance by Yara Arts Group, a resident company at La MaMa Experimental Theatre. Reception sponsored by Razom for Ukraine immediately following the event.The event is dedicated to Victoria Amelina, who was killed last summer. Tern Kuzma will perform her poetry, while Olena Stiazhkina will speak about Victoria Amelina and the New York Literary Festival she founded in Ukraine.The event is inspired by a recent poem by Serhiy Zhadan: “It feels like every year in November a forest surrounds poets – a forest of the condemned…”In “A Forest Surround Poets” Yara artists perform in English the poetry by such cultural giants of the 1920s as Les Kurbas, Pavlo Tychyna, Volodymyr Svidzinsky, Mikhail lohansen, and Hat Khotkevych, accompanied by master-bandura player Julian Kytasty, as well as the wild verse of Futurists Mykhail Semeneko and Oleksa Vlyzko. Then, Yara’s George Drance, Silvana Gonzalez, Susan Hwang, Petro Ninovskyi and Lesia Verba perform a concert version of the third act of “Radio 477!” by Serhiy Zhadan, accompanied by composer Anthony Coleman. The act opens with a scene that draws a connection between the destruction of Ukrainian culture in the purges and the assault on Kharkiv in the first days of the russian invasion and then plunges into Serhiy Zhadan’s newest poetry.
Pamfir is a 2022 Ukrainian fictional feature film directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, which premiered on May 22, 2022, at the 75th Festival de Cannes.
“Savagely cinematic, charged with feral energy and exploring a story that dances between muddy realism and a mythic, quasi-magical abandon, Pamfir would be impressive even if it hadn’t been made in Ukraine on the cusp of conflict.” – The Guardian
MONDAY NOVEMBER 13th
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), 455 Fifth Avenue, NY 6:30 PM
The New Ukrainian Novel: Kurkov, Lutsyshyna, Stiazkina
Presented by New York Public Library and Razom
Join some of Ukraine’s most prolific and distinguished writers – Olena Stiazhkina, Oksana Lutsyshyna and Andrey Kurkov – for this evening celebrating the rich literary culture of Ukraine. The authors will discuss their latest works, which illuminate Ukraine’s diverse society and deal with the legacy of Soviet and post-Soviet rule, as well as the present situation in the country.
Please join us for an evening celebrating Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952), a brilliant Ukrainian composer and pianist, whose deeply lyrical and expressive piano music will take center stage.
Program:
Crimean Sketches op. 8
Three Pieces op. 24.
1001 Nights op. 37.
Performers: Alexander Chaplinskiy, Pavlo Gintov and AnnaShelest.
Sergei Bortkiewicz was born and grew up in Kharkiv, a birthplace of Ukrainian Romanticism and one of the country’s most significant cultural centers. A true romantic, he often drew inspiration from literature and nature, and in spite of him facing incredible hardships, his music never wavered in its pursuit of beauty.
We are dedicating this program to the people of Kharkiv and their courageous stand in the face of the blatant russian aggression. All funds raised from this concert will go to Razom for Ukraine toward their relief work in the Kharkiv region.
Today is a Different War: Poetry of Boris and Lyudmyla Khersonsky
Presented by Shevchenko Scientific Society and Razom
Poetry in Russian and in Ukrainian with English translation. Conversation is in English. Moderated by Marie Howe, the State Poet for f NY.
Boris Khersonsky and Lyudmyla Khersonska write poetry that speaks to the crisis of our times. Widely regarded as one of Ukraine’s most prominent rusophone poets, Boris Khersonsky was born in Chernivtsi and spent most of his time in Odesa, where he practices psychiatry. Born in Tiraspol, Moldova, Lyudmyla Khersonska is an award winning poet. Her first collection in English came out recently in Arrowsmith. Boris and Lyudmila’s joint collection “The Country Where Everyone’s Name is Fear” came out in Lost Horse Press in 2022.
The Ukrainian Cultural Festival is organized by Razom, Yara Arts, Ukrainian Institute of America, Shevchenko Scientific Society and Bowery Poetry Club and will take place November 7th through November 15th in New York.
Over ten days in November, you will have an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Ukrainian poetry and prose and check out the best in contemporary Ukrainian cinema.
Meet writers Andriy Kurkov, Oksana Lutsyshyna, Olena Stiazhkina and poets Iya Kiva, Alex Averbuch and Lyudmyla and Boris Khersonskys. Watch “Pamfir” and other contemporary films.
Below is the schedule of events. Please check in often for changes and ticket information.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th
DOVBUSH
Presented by Razom
The most ambitious Ukrainian action movie to date, the drama, directed by Oles Sanin, tells the story of Oleksa Dovbush, one of the leaders of Ukrainian resistance known as ‘Opryshky’ which opposed Polish and Austrian administrations. The resistance movement had been active from 16th to 19th centuries. Released in Ukraine in August 2023 the movie became a box office sensation even when the movie showings are interrupted by air raids.
How Fire Descends: NY Poets & Artists Respond to Ukrainian Poetry
Presented by Bowery Poetry Club & Yara Arts Group
Presented by Bowery Poetry Club & Yara Arts Group
NY Poets & Artists Respond to Ukrainian Poetry featuring Ukrainian poet Iya Kiva.
Translators Amelia Glazer, Olena Jennings, Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps; and poets: Pichchenda Bao, Bob Holman; Yara Arts Group and Bushwick Book Club react to Serhiy Zhadan’s new book “How Fire Descends”
Poetry in Ukrainian with English translation. Moderation by Oleh Kotsyuba
Translations read by Sashko Krapivkin.
Alex Averbuch will read from his latest book Zhydivsky korol (The Jewish King, a 2023 finalist for the Shevchenko National Prize), as well as from his upcoming collection, Of Rage and Longing, and answer questions from the audience. Averbuch’s poetry deals with interwoven Jewish-Ukrainian relations through the prism of his family history and Ukraine’s multiethnic past and present. The book features poeticized documentary materials related to the Second World War: letters by Ukrainian Ostarbeiters sent to their relatives in Ukraine, interwoven with letters by Jewish Holocaust survivors who returned to devastated villages in Ukraine in search of their murdered relatives, as well as poems about the Russo-Ukrainian war currently taking place in his home region of Luhans’k. Unsettling but ultimately liberatory de-specifications of ethnos, language, and sexuality relieve trigger-points in Ukraine’s history through the confessional intimacy of family, shame, pleasure, and the reconciliation of self and other.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10th
6:30PM in The Frederick P. Rose Auditorium at Cooper Union
Pamfir is a 2022 Ukrainian fictional feature film directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, which premiered on May 22, 2022, at the 75th Festival de Cannes.
“Savagely cinematic, charged with feral energy and exploring a story that dances between muddy realism and a mythic, quasi-magical abandon, Pamfir would be impressive even if it hadn’t been made in Ukraine on the cusp of conflict.” Guardian
MONDAY NOVEMBER 13th
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), 455 Fifth Avenue, NY 6:30 PM
The New Ukrainian Novel: Kurkov, Lutsyshyna, Stiazkina
Presented by New York Public Library and Razom
Join some of Ukraine’s most prolific and distinguished writers – Olena Stiazhkina, Oksana Lutsyshyna and Andrey Kurkov – for this evening celebrating the riJch literary culture of Ukraine. The authors will discuss their latest works, which illuminate Ukraine’s diverse society and deal with the legacy of Soviet and Post-Soviet rule, as well as the present situation in the country.
Today is a Different War: Poetry of Boris and Lyudmyla Khersonsky
Presented by Shevchenko Scientific Society and Razom
Poetry in Russian and in Ukrainian with English translation. Conversation is in English. Moderated by Marie Howe, the State Poet for f NY.
Boris Khersonsky and Lyudmyla Khersonsky write poetry that speaks to the crisis of our times. Widely regarded as one of Ukraine’s most prominent rusophone poets, Boris Khersonsky was born in Chernivtsi and spent most of his time in Odesa, where he practices psychiatry. Born in Tiraspol, Moldova, Lyudmyla Khersonska is an award winning poet. Her first collection in English came out recently in Arrowsmith. Boris and Lyudmila’s joint collection “The Country Where Everyone’s Name is Fear” came out in Lost Horse Press in 2022.
Please join us for an evening celebrating Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952), a brilliant Ukrainian composer and pianist, whose deeply lyrical and expressive piano music will take center stage.
Program:
Crimean Sketches op. 8
Three Pieces op. 24.
1001 Nights op. 37.
Performers: Alexander Chaplinskiy, Pavlo Gintov and AnnaShelest
Sergei Bortkiewicz was born and grew up in Kharkiv, a birthplace of Ukrainian Romanticism and one of the country’s most significant cultural centers. A true romantic, he often drew inspiration from literature and nature, and in spite of him facing incredible hardships, his music never wavered in its pursuit of beauty.
We are dedicating this program to the people of Kharkiv and their courageous stand in the face of the blatant russian aggression. All funds raised from this concert will go to Razom for Ukraine toward their relief work in the Kharkiv region.
A BRAVE, VISCERAL, MERCILESS MASTERPIECE… FEELS LIKE A CINEMATIC SIEGE OF THE SOUL.
Razom is proud to be a presenting partner with PBS Frontline and the Associated Press on the US theatrical release of the award-winning Ukrainian documentary “20 Days In Mariupol,” directed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and filmmaker, Mstyslav Chernov. Earlier this year, the film won the audience award at the Sundance Film Festival.
The documentary follows an AP team of Ukrainian journalists who were trapped in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol during the first weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The film documents their struggle to continue their work documenting Russian atrocities. As the only international reporters who remained in the city, they captured what later became defining images of the war: dying children, mass graves, the bombing of a maternity hospital, and more.
Our own Polina Buchak and Christopher Atwood helped coordinate the screenings with PBS Frontline. After a packed pre-release private screening, Polina Buchak moderated a conversation with director Mstyslav Chernov. The two spoke about how and when his reporting shifted into documenting the invasion of the city. Mstyslav spoke about how he navigates being a journalist, filmmaker, and, most importantly, Ukrainian while documenting the brutal invasion of Mariupol.
Razom co-presented the sold-out first screenings of the film, on July 14th-16th in New York, together with the Ukrainian Institute of America and PEN America. We are proud to have connected the film to our extensive network of organizations and activists around the film to promote the screenings in cities around the country. We want to thank Film Forum for supporting Ukrainian storytelling as well as our friends at the Ukrainian Institute of America and PEN America for helping us amplify and raise awareness about the documentary. In fact, the film has proven so popular that its New York screening run at Film Forum has been extended until August 3rd.
We encourage you to help us continue to make noise and spread the word on social media and find tickets to a screening near you via 20daysinmariupol.com. Keep in mind that screening dates can be extended, so always double-check with your local theater. And remember to tag the filmmakers while you’re making noise online, so they can feel your support!
Ukrainian cinema has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, with a new generation of filmmakers producing bold and innovative works that have gained international recognition. From gritty social dramas to surreal, genre-bending art films, Ukrainian cinema is attracting attention from audiences and critics around the world. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the state of contemporary Ukrainian cinema within the Razom For Ukraine network, exploring some of the most exciting films, directors, and trends emerging from this vibrant and dynamic film scene.
The Cleveland International Film Festival is starting on March 22nd and will highlight some films that are supported by Razom for Ukraine, so we encourage you to tune in virtually if you cannot attend the Ohio festival in person.
Whether you’re a fan of independent cinema or simply curious about the latest developments in international film, Ukrainian cinema is definitely worth exploring.
A RISING FURY
Synopsis: Filmed over eight years, A Rising Fury tracks the evolution of the conflict in Ukraine, from the 2013 Maidan Revolution in Kyiv, Ukraine to today. The documentary intimately accompanies Pavlo, a young idealist who enlists in the Ukrainian army to defend his country following Russia’s invasion of the Donbas and Crimea regions in 2014. In this vicious struggle between two culturally intertwined nations where friends can suddenly become foes, Pavlo finds himself on the opposite side of the battlefield from many he once considered allies as he fervently acts to defend his country’s independence, sovereignty, and democracy.
Why you must watch it:
the perspective of a civilian who became a soldier is conveyed through a first-hand narrative;
from Maidan to the full-scale invasion — a span of 8 years was dedicated to filming;
one of the director films the impact Razom makes in Ukraine;
Razom connection: grantee.
When and where to watch: The film had its World Premiere at Tribeca 2022. Follow the instagram page @a_rising_fury_film for upcoming screenings.
FREEDOM ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
Synopsis: The film depicts the horrible realities of this unprovoked war instigated by Putin. It’s an exploration of the courage of the Ukrainian people, fiercely determined to stand their ground until ‘the last drop of blood’. Demonstrating an astounding ability to unite as a people and defend the sovereignty of their country, Ukrainians show compassion and resilience even when surrounded by death, destruction, and unfathomable war crimes. The film transports viewers through a war that started immediately after Maidan (Revolution of Dignity) in 2014 and continues through the 2022 Russian invasion. Through personal stories of civilians, children, soldiers, doctors, the country’s elderly, journalists, religious leaders, and international volunteers, this is a humanizing diary of millions of people whose lives were turned upside down by eight years of conflict.
Why you must watch it:
great companion to the Oscar nominated Winter of Fire documentary;
gives an overall timeline of the full-scale invasion events leading up to July 2022;
follows few storylines of Ukrainians in different regions;
Razom connection: amplifying the message of the film
When and where to watch: The film had its World Premiere at Venice 2023. Follow the instagram page @evgeny_director for screening updates.
SUNFLOWER FIELD (Short Film)
Synopsis: Under the shadowy threat of war, a young girl awaits a call from her father. As the day turns into night, she sinks into a dream from which she must find her way home.
Why you must watch it:
this film explores the impact war and conflict has on young children and shows that children have both the agency and ability to connect with the complexities of life. This is also a film about finding hope in the midst of loss and fear;
Razom connection: the director of the short, Polina Buchak, is an active Razom volunteer who curates film programming as well as creates multimedia content for Razom
When and where to watch: The film will have its World Premiere at Cleveland International Film Festival and Seattle premiere at NFFTY. You can tune in virtually during the duration of those festivals. Follow the instagram page @ms_buchak for screening updates.
KLONDIKE
Synopsis: The story of a Ukrainian family living on the border of Ukraine – Russia during the start of the war. Irka refuses to leave her house even as the village gets captured by armed forces. Shortly after they find themselves at the center of an international air crash catastrophe on July 17, 2014.
Why you must watch it:
offers a unique woman’s perspective on the war;
sheds light on how Russia shapes the narrative;
highlights the pivotal role played by the plane crash in igniting the war;
Ukraine has submitted this movie as its official entry for the Oscars 2023;
Razom connection: grantee.
When and where to watch: Klondike has a US distributor, and it is scheduled for the theatrical release in Summer 2023 in the US. Follow instagram page @klondike.movie for future screenings and updates.
IRON BUTTERFLIES
Synopsis: Step by step, Roman Liyubyi’s collage of archive material of MH17 crash, news and social media clips as well as dramatized and animated elements lays bare the strategies behind this hybrid warfare, and exposes the mechanisms that were used to create a dense smokescreen around the true political and military situation. A painful lesson in revelation that also helps us to better understand the present.
Why you must watch it:
an experimental documentary that shows how vulnerable truth is and how it’s portrayed in media;
Razom connection: grantee.
When and where to watch: The film had its debut at Sundance 2023 and was later premiered in Europe at Berlinale 2023. The film is currently going through festivals.
This is definitely not an exhaustive list of incredible filmmakers, so we encourage you to search for more on a Ukrainian streaming platform called Takflix that features Ukrainian films of all genres and lengths. Also stay tuned for more Festival Guides: Through Ukrainian Eyes on our social media. Have a lovely screening – дивимось Українське Разом!
by Polina Buchak
Learn more about Razom efforts on the cultural diplomacy front within our Razom Culture project.
Razom for Ukraine is passionate about promoting Ukrainian culture, art and literature. We were thrilled to support the publication of Volodymyr Rafeyenko’s book “Mondegreen” through our Razom Translates program, which raised funds for the translation of the book on Kickstarter. Thanks to the support of our generous donors, the book was published in early 2022.
Mondegreen is a critically acclaimed book that has received praise both in Ukraine and internationally. The book explores the themes of identity, memory, and language and is an important contribution to Ukrainian literature. Through our efforts in translating the book, we are helping to make sure that Ukrainian voices can reach a wider audience.
But our work didn’t stop there. In November 2022, we organized a book tour for Rafeyenko in the United States. Razom covered the author’s travel expenses, arranged his accommodations, and worked with other Ukrainian organizations and universities to organize book readings and events. One of the most exciting aspects of the tour was the active involvement of our Razom Book Club members, who were eager to host Rafeyenko and help bring him to their communities. This grassroots effort is a testament to the passion and commitment of our members to appreciating and promoting Ukrainian literature.
These are just a few examples of the truly inspiring collaborations with organizations and universities to organize book readings and get-togethers. Ania Solovey worked with the local chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and Emory University to put on an event in Atlanta. Irena Chalupa worked with UCCA, Ukraine House, and George Washington University to organize book readings in Washington D.C. And in Cleveland, Irina Bade, a member of Razom Book Club, organized a presentation at the Archive Museum. Maria Genkin moderated a session on the book during the 2022 ASEEES (Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies) Conference in Chicago in collaboration with Nataliya Shpylova-Saeed of Carlton University.
Overall, the book tour covered several cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, New Heaven, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. The book presentations also happened at Columbia’s Harriman Institute, Penn State, Harvard and UCSD. The events were a resounding success, with a large audience eager to hear the author speak about his book and his journey as a Ukrainian author. It was a great opportunity for the author to share his experiences and connect with his readers, sparking meaningful discussions and leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.
We’re proud of the work we’ve done to promote Ukrainian literature and culture in the United States, and we’re grateful for the support of our community and partners in making these events a success.
Learn more about and join our Razom Book Club to appreciate Ukrainian literature together.
Learn more about Razom Translates and support our efforts to promote Ukrainian literature in the world. (link)
The Ukrainian Institute (Kyiv, Ukraine), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine), Razom for Ukraine (New York, United States), and the Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival (New York, United States) co-present Notes from Ukraine: A 100-Year Celebration of Carol of the Bells at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage on Sunday, December 4, 2022at 2:00 p.m.
The concert showcases world-famous choral artists from Ukraine and North America, including Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York (as featured on SNL), Kyiv-based, Ukrainian Children’s Choir Shchedryk, TheChoir of Trinity Wall Street, along with special guests, soprano Janai Brugger and Toronto-based Ukrainian folk singer Marichka Marczyk.
The program features a world premiere by composer Trevor Weston, setting the words of Ukrainian Nobel Prize-nominated poet, Serhiy Zhadan, as well as American choral works with Ukrainian connections by composers Eric Whitacre, Leonard Bernstein, Valentyn Sylvestrov, George Gershwin, and others.
The choral celebration will bring continued awareness to the current war in Ukraine and part of the funds raised through ticket sales will be directed to President Volodymyr Zelensky’sInitiative: United24 Rebuild Ukraine campaign.
“This year, 2022, marks the centennial of the famous U.S. tour by the Ukrainian People’s Republic’s Koshyts Capella where they first performed the all-time-favorite ‘Carol of the Bells’, or ‘Shchedryk’ as we call it in Ukraine. Judging by the popularity of the song one century later, the tour was a great success of Ukrainian cultural diplomacy. We take this year’s celebration as a great opportunity to celebrate Ukrainian centuries-old culture and statehood in the times when Russia tries to destroy them. I am sure the event will give the audience a sense of what we are defending and why Ukraine will win,”Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stated.
Celebrating 100 Years of Carol of the Bells
The year 2022 marks one hundred years since the North American premiere of Mykola Leontovych’s “Shchedryk” (known today as “Carol of the Bells”) at New York’s Carnegie Hall. This Christmas classic has captured the American imagination through film, television and commercials — from Home Alone to Coca-Cola to the Muppets — and through performances by groups as diverse as the NBA, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and many others.
“Shchedryk” (“Carol of the Bells”) premiered in the United States at Carnegie Hall on October 5, 1922 on a concert which was part of the first Ukrainian cultural diplomacy project, a world tour by the Ukrainian Republic Capella choir conducted by renowned musician Oleksandr Koshyts. The Capella was established on the initiative of the government of Ukraine and sent abroad to promote awareness of Ukrainian independence in Europe and the Americas and to counter Russian propaganda. The tour was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Arts and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), and they performed more than 200 concerts in North America alone, at major halls and universities.
Carnegie Hall Renovation 2014, Location: New York City, Architect: Iu + Bibliowicz | photo credit: Jeff Goldberg / ESTO
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Tickets for “Notes from Ukraine: 100 Years of Carol of the Bells” range from $50 to $105 and are on sale now through the Carnegie Hall Box Office, by calling Carnegie Charge at 212-247-7800, or by visiting carnegiehall.org.
About Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyiv The mission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is to represent and protect the interests of Ukraine in the international arena and to facilitate a favorable international environment for the development and realization of the potential of Ukraine, its society and citizens.
About Ukrainian Institute, Kyiv The Ukrainian Institute Kyiv is a state institution acting in the field of cultural diplomacy. The institution’s activities are aimed at improving the understanding and perception of Ukraine in the world and the development of its cultural ties with other countries. Established by the Government of Ukraine, the Institute operates under the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
About United24, Kyiv UNITED24 was launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine. Funds will be transferred to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine and allocated by assigned ministries to cover the most pressing needs.
About Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, New York The Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival is an annual three-day concert series showcasing Ukraine’s unique and exciting contributions to the field of contemporary music. Based in New York City, the festival engages audiences at the intersection of new music, contemporary events, and the culture of Ukraine.
Razom for Ukraine, New York Razom is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2014 during the Revolution of Dignity. Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, believes deeply in the enormous potential of dedicated volunteers and donors from around the world united by a single goal: building and maintaining a democratic and prosperous Ukraine. Razom works towards that mission by creating spaces where people meet, partner, and do.
“War cannot eliminate our ability to speak. We retain the right to sing, the right to articulate and to debate our experiences. Ukraine is speaking and today it is impossible not to hear her.”
We were very excited for the amazing concert that took place on January 2nd – Koliadky Reimagined: Ukrainian Carols in the 21st Century. Traditional folk met contemporary classical music in this stunning survey of Ukrainian Carols (Koliada) across generations. Ukrainian Village Voices were joined by musicians from the Aeon Ensemble. They performed centuries-old carols passed down orally and contemporary imaginings of these works by Ukraine’s finest living composers. The concert was broadcast live in both HD and 360° Virtual Reality so audiences could enjoy a completely immersive experience.
“I have to say I am loving every aspect of this – the programming, the performance, the music, the mix” – shared Dmytro during the concert. And we definitely forwarded these words to the artists, volunteers and everyone who made this happen.
Huge thanks to all of you who could join and so supported the bigger goal! The concert was part of a larger fundraising series to help with the production of a centenary concert celebration of Shchedryk’s first performance on the grand stage of the Carnegie Hall in 2022! All proceeds from the tickets are going toward our big vision and huge goal – learn more about and support the 100th anniversary of Shchedryk.
Learn more and support RazomCulture. Let’s share the incredible Ukrainian culture with the world!
It was an honor and an exciting experience for our Razom volunteers to help backstage at BEVZA ‘s February 2020 Runway at NYFW – for the third time in a row!
