 The
Foundation’s History
The Ukraine Millennium Foundation was incorporated in Toronto, Canada
on November 2. 1983 through the efforts of Maestro Volodymyr Kolesnyk,
newly arrived from the Kyiv State Opera, and Mrs. Luba Zaraska of
Toronto. The Foundation quickly drew members from around the world
and a Board of Directors from Australia, Canada and the United States
was formed. It’s presidents have been Ms. Luba Zaraska, Bishop
Yuriy Kalistchuk of Winnipeg and Mr. Gordon Conway of Edmonton.
The Ukraine Millennium Foundation was created in celebration of
1,000 years of Christianity in Ukraine. Its overall objectives are
to support the identification, development, enhancement and appreciation
of the Ukrainian musical arts : vocal, instrumental, choral, operatic
and musicological.
Dmytro Bortniansky (1751-1825): 35 Sacred
Choral Concertos
UMF's first project was the complete recording of Dmytro Bortniansky's
35 Sacred Choral Concertos. Performed a cappella by the Millennium
Choir - 50 professional voices from Canada and the United States
- and conducted by Maestro Wolodymyr Kolesnyk, this recording was
completed in 1989.
To purchase a 4-CD set of this recording, click
here.
The World of Mykola Lysenko:
Ethnic Identity, Music, and Politics in Nineteenth-Century
Ukraine
Forty years ago Dr. Tamara Bulat of Kyiv, Ukraine began her lifelong
work of studying the life and works of Ukrainian national composer
Mykola Lysenko (1842-1912). Knowing that it would be only a matter
of time before much of the politically sensitive information would
be lost, Dr. Bulat soon met with Lysenko's descendants to explain
her intentions, and to secure their cooperation and support. Extensive
research took Dr. Bulat to libraries in Ukraine and Europe. Twenty-three
years later, her son Dr. Taras Filenko - also a musicologist - joined
the project and began collecting archival materials in Canada and
United States. In 1990, Drs. Bulat and Filenko approached the UMF
for help with publication costs, and a working agreement was reached.
The book, in its supplemental and enhanced English language version,
(containing 450 photographs) was printed by the firm Polygrafknyha
in Kyiv, Ukraine in late 2001. The volume immediately received the
"Book of the Year Award" from the Publishers Assocation
of Ukraine, and was enthusiastically reviewed by the Ukrainian Ministry
of Culture. A Ukrainian-language version is in the works, and 2002
was proclaimed Ukraine's "Year of Mykola Lysenko."
To purchase a copy of this book, click here.
Other Projects
The Ukraine Millennium Foundation has assisted a large variety of
musical efforts over the years, including;
- Artem Vedel (1767-1808): Divine Liturgy and 12 Sacred Choral
Concerti, published by the Ukraine Music Society of Alberta
- Lviv Annual International Music Festival Kontrasty (two years
of financial assistance)
- The Kyiv Philharmonic Symphony performance of the Victor Kikta
oratorio Sacred Dnipro
- The Kyiv recording of works by contemporary composers including
Dychko, Filtz, Huba, and Stepurko.
- The Lviv Ivan Franko State Opera & Ballet Theatre Premiere
of the opera Moses
- An annual Choir Directors Seminar, in cooperation with the
Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta; principal instructor Maestro
Wolodymyr Kolesnyk
A New Project: The Ukrainian Diaspora Composers
Compilation
A prospective third major project for the Ukraine Millennium Foundation
is on the horizon. Ukrainian history includes centuries of foreign
domination, and a great number of composers and musicians abandoned
their homeland to take up residence in other countries around the
world. Australia, Canada, Italy, the Czech Republic, France, Germany,
Poland, Russia, Slovakia and other countries have recognized the
talents of their nationals of Ukrainian heritage. The UMF, along
with members of the Ukrainian community across Canada, have expressed
interest in a newly-proposed publication featuring Ukrainian composers
in the diaspora This musicologically-based project proposes to identify
these diaspora composers and produce a book documenting their lives
and work. Travel and research expenses for such a project are expected
to be substantial…
You Can Help
The Ukraine Millennium Foundation has done very important work on
Ukrainian music to date and, as you can see, continues to do so!
Please consider a donation to help the world discover the quality
and breadth of Ukrainian music. You can make a donation
online, or by sending a cheque to:
Ukraine Millennium Foundation
Ste.107, 4990 - 92 Avenue,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6B 2V4
Thank you. |
