On November 4th, an unforgettable concert titled "MUSIC, VOICES, AND DREAMS FROM UKRAINE" took place, organized by the National Academic Wind Orchestra under the direction of conductor Ivan Stetsky. This musical event was dedicated to all defenders of Ukraine.
The concert program portrayed the history of our country through the works of both contemporary and classical composers. The ceremonial fanfare "Glory to Ukraine" by Irina Alekseichuk set a magnificent tone for the evening, while the symphonic poem "Baida" by Anatoliy Zhulev and the vibrant "Zaporizhzhia March" by Bohdan Reshetilov highlighted the heroic nature of the program.
In the second part, the audience enjoyed the emotional piece by Kateryna Likhuta titled "Bury and Rise", as well as the world premiere of the composition "MUSIC, VOICES, AND DREAMS FROM UKRAINE" by American composer Kevin Polking, created in collaboration with Ukrainian writer and soldier Pavlo Vyshebaba.
As the composer noted, the offer to create a piece about Ukraine was "one of the greatest honors of my career": "I hope this work inspires a deeper understanding of this unique and beautiful culture. It helped me feel a connection with the Ukrainian people and made the world a bit closer and more united".
The title of the piece was inspired by words from an interview with Ukrainian soldier and poet Maksym Kryvtsev, who lost his life fighting for Ukraine’s independence. Kevin Polking emphasized that he composed the music over the course of a year, drawing inspiration from his Ukrainian colleagues: "This composition should not be viewed as an exact reflection of Ukrainian music, but rather as a work by a composer who found inspiration in Ukrainian culture, history, and people".
The concert concluded with the uplifting piece by Yuriy Shevchenko titled "We Are" performed by the honored artist of Ukraine, Olga Rukavishnikova.
The evening served as an artistic testament of gratitude and respect to those who defend Ukraine.