COMMUNITY CHRONICLE: Chicago proud of its chamber orchestra (09/23/01)

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE

Chicago proud of its chamber orchestra

by Orysia Antonovych

CHICAGO - Ukrainians in Chicago are very pleased to have a professional chamber orchestra whose main objective is to promote the Ukrainian musical heritage in the context of world culture. Its founder and conductor is Zeonid Modryzkyj.

Mr. Modryzkyj was born in Drohobych, Ukraine. There he completed his studies at the Faculty of Music at Ivan Franko Pedagogical University. From there he went to Lviv to study at the Lysenko Conservatory, where he specialized in conducting for opera and symphony.

After working at the Theater of Music and Drama in Drohobych and at the Lviv Opera, he worked as an intern in the Shevchenko National Theater of Opera and Ballet in Kyiv for two years.

Mr. Modryzkyj came to the United States in 1994 and three years later founded the Ukrainian Artistic Center Chamber Orchestra. This orchestra has performed with Polish opera productions and at various community events.

The recent concert at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art on Saturday, June 30, verified the high caliber of this orchestra. Writer and critic Alexandra Mudry thanked the orchestra, wishing them continued success, and pointed out the invaluable contributions the new immigrants are making in the arts.

Among the examples she recalled was the Bohdan Lepkyi concert at Ss. Volodymyr and Olha Auditorium in which the main participants were members from the new Blahovist choir, whose artistic director and conductor was Olesia Konyk-Kozak from Lviv. (The new conductor of this excellent choir, known for its church music, is Olena Novyk who studied choir conducting in Kyiv).

Another example cited by the speaker was a concert in memory of Volodymyr Ivasiuk at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. This concert was organized by Olha Vynnychuk, a dramatic soprano who knew Ivasiuk personally, and who brought together the most talented new immigrants from Ukraine to honor the martyred composer.

At the reception following the Ukrainian Artistic Center Chamber Orchestra's concert, Ludmila Protasova, Ukraine's consul in Chiago, expressed her enthusiastic hopes that the orchestra will continue to thrive.

The program, which was made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, included music of W.A. Mozart, J. Benda, J. Kyshakevich, M. Kolessa, Kh. Hliuk, M. Leontovych, V. Barvinsky and M. Skoryk. The guest pianist was Gene Schlabach, and the vocalist was baritone Bohdan Kosopud.

The orchestra is composed of: Olena Hirna, Yaroslav Rudnytsky, Vera Khytra, Daria Horodysky, Ester Mytkovetska, Tania Butkovska, violins; Andrey Vasylenko, Taras Mysiv, violas; Yurii Jatsynych, cello; Anatoliy Khavkin contrabass; Ihor Palamar, oboe; Myron Bohun, bassoon; and Yevhen Kopach, Vasyl Yakovchuk, horns.

The members of this orchestra are selected from among the most talented musicians, many of whom have performed with the Lviv Philharmonic.

There is a large influx to Chicago of artists from Ukraine, and it is often difficult for newcomers to find an appropriate forum for their talents. Mr. Modryzkyj deserves great credit for undertaking the task of creating an orchestra in which accomplished musicians get exposure. They also have an opportunity to work in a milieu where they can nourish their talent.

It is hoped that this talent will receive financial support from foundations, businesses and individual benefactors. The major sponsors for the June 30 concert were Selfreliance Ukrainian Federal Credit Union and 1st Security Federal Savings Bank.

The Ukrainian Artistic Center Chamber Orchestra was featured in August as part of Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations in and around Chicago.

For information regarding the chamber orchestra, call Mr. Modryzkyj at (773) 342-0436 or (847) 502-1496.

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