A Musical Tribute to Ukraine's Defenders

On November 4, the concert titled “A Musical Tribute to Ukraine's Defenders” took place, performed by the National Academic Wind Orchestra of Ukraine under the direction of conductor Ivan Stetsky. This musical evening honored the brave defenders of our nation.
The concert program revealed the history of Ukraine through the works of both contemporary and classical composers. The ceremonial fanfare “Glory to Ukraine” by Irina Alexeychuk set an uplifting tone for the evening, while the symphonic poem “Baidar” by Anatoliy Zhulyov and the vibrant “Zaporozhian March” by Bohdan Reshetilov highlighted the heroic nature 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 “SOUNDS, VOICES, AND DREAMS FROM UKRAINE” by American composer Kevin Polking, created in collaboration with Ukrainian writer and warrior Pavlo Vyshybaba.
As the composer noted, the opportunity to create a piece about Ukraine was “one of the greatest honors of his career”: “I hope this work inspires people to learn more about this unique and beautiful culture. It helped me feel a connection with Ukrainians and made the world a bit closer 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 struggle for Ukraine's independence. Kevin Polking emphasized that he created the music over the course of a year, drawing on the experiences of his Ukrainian colleagues: “This composition should not be viewed as a precise reflection of Ukrainian music, but rather as a work by one composer who found inspiration in Ukrainian culture, history, and people.”
The concert concluded with the uplifting piece by Yuriy Shevchenko “We Are” performed by Honored Artist of Ukraine Olga Rukavishnikova.
The evening served as an artistic testament of gratitude and respect for those who defend Ukraine.