On November 4, the concert "MUSICAL VOICES OF UKRAINE" took place, performed by the National Academic Wind Orchestra of Ukraine under the direction of conductor Ivan Stetsky. This musical evening was dedicated to the heroes defending our country.
The concert program revealed the history of Ukraine through the works of modern and classical composers. The ceremonial fanfare "Glory to Ukraine" by Irina Alexeychuk set an uplifting tone for the evening, while the symphonic poem "Bayda" by Anatoly Zhulev and the vibrant "Zaporozhian March" by Bohdan Reshetilov highlighted the heroic spirit of the program.
In the second part, the audience heard the emotional piece by Kateryna Likhuta, "Bury and Rise", as well as the world premiere of the eponymous composition "MUSICAL VOICES OF UKRAINE" by American composer Kevin Polking, created in collaboration with Ukrainian writer and soldier Pavlo Vyshybaba.
As the composer noted, the opportunity to create a work about Ukraine was "one of the greatest honors of my career": "I hope this work inspires others to learn more about this unique and beautiful culture. It helped me feel a connection with the Ukrainians and made the world a little smaller and more united".
The title of the piece was inspired by words from an interview with Ukrainian warrior and poet Maksym Kryvtsov, who lost his life in the fight for Ukraine's independence. Kevin Polking emphasized that he composed the music over the course of a year, drawing on the experiences of his Ukrainian colleagues: "This composition should not be seen as an accurate reflection of Ukrainian music, but rather as the work of a composer who found inspiration in Ukrainian culture, history, and people".
The concert concluded with the life-affirming piece by Yuriy Shevchenko, "We Are", performed by the honored artist of Ukraine Olga Rukavishnikova.
The evening was an artistic testament of gratitude and respect for those who defend Ukraine.