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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Dumka Shows Its Class

29 May, 1999 - 00:00

By Vanda KOVALSKA, The Day

Dumka began its jubilee concert at the Lysenko National Philharmonic Society
with Kyrylo Stestenko's "Bless My Soul, Oh Lord" and then performed for
the first time Yevhen Stankovych's "Lord God in Heaven." The first half
of the concert was made up of Ukrainian classical pieces and the second
one of world classics: Haydn, Beethoven, and Gershwin. Of course, the peak
of the concert was Dumka performing jointly with the National Meritorious
Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.

Nester Horodovenko, teacher, musician, and great enthusiast, organized
his first church choir at the age of 16. In 1919, he became Dumka's artistic
director (Dumka is the Ukrainian acronym for the State Ukrainian Traveling
Choir). Under his guidance the group reached creative peaks, performing
Ukrainian songs and passionately propagating them.

The choir's high professional level today is largely due to the artistic
director and chief conductor, Yevhen Savchuk, conductors Viktor Petrychenko
and Andriy Voroshylov, and of course the soloists.

To commemorate the company's 80th anniversary, the President and Cabinet
issued edicts and resolutions awarding the best performers. Yevhen Savchuk,
Taras Shevchenko Prize winner, People's Artist of Ukraine, was awarded
the Order of Outstanding Merit, Third Class.

 

The Dumka National Meritorious Academic Choir is Eighty
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