Toronto youth ensembles to perform Christmas concerts

PINE BROOK, N.J. - The New York City and New Jersey area public will have the rare opportunity to enjoy the performances of the combined Ukrainian Youth Ensembles from Toronto. The 80-member ensemble consisting of Vanguard concert/marching band, its color guard, Orion male and Levada female choirs, and their junior drummers will perform a concert of Christmas carols which they traditionally perform for the Toronto audience every year.

The ensembles were founded by the late Maestro Wasyl Kardash, who during his long and dedicated career groomed many outstanding musicians and singers who continue to perform for the enjoyment of the public. Their performances are a delight for the eyes and ears of spectators. The colorful embroidered costumes and band uniforms are symbolic of Ukrainian history and contemporary style. The ensembles had performed and delighted the public in Europe, Canada and United States.

Most memorable was the ensembles' 1990 trip to Ukraine, where a 250-member group, with the participation of local artists performed at stadiums, concert halls and theaters of major Ukrainian cities. Their performances brought tears of joy to the eyes of the people, who were led to believe that Ukrainians in the diaspora were non-existent. They were elated to see young performers who not only spoke the language but also preserved their culture and rich musical heritage.

The ensembles will perform in the following two concerts under the direction of Dmytro Bilan, Roman Yasinsky and Oleksander Levkovitch:

• Saturday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m. in St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, 30 E. Seventh St., New York City. Advance tickets are available at Laundrobot, 202 E. Sixth St., New York, telephone (212-533-0704) or from Computeradio.
  
  
• Sunday, December 14, at 3 p.m. at St. Pius X Parish Center, 24 Changebridge Road, Montville, N.J. (Route 287 Exit 47, 202 North, right on Changebridge Road traffic light) in a concert sponsored by the St. Pius X Knights of Columbus.

Tickets are $20 per person; $10 for students.

The concerts are organized by Yuri Blanarovich of Computeradio. For more information and advance ticket sales please contact Computeradio, Box 282, Pine Brook, NJ 07058; telephone (973-808-1970; webpage, www.Computeradio.us; e-mail, K3BU@aol.com.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, November 30, 2003, No. 48, Vol. LXXI

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