‘Voices of Ukraine’ concert celebrates Ukrainian culture through song, dance
Skidmore College invites the community to experience “Voices of Ukraine,” a moving celebration of Ukrainian culture through its rich musical and dance traditions, at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at the Arthur Zankel Music Center.
Co-presented by the Department of Music and the Ukrainian Classical Voice Project, the concert will highlight rarely heard works from Ukrainian opera, art song, and folk traditions, offering a poignant tribute to Ukraine’s resilience and artistic legacy. The event is free and open to the public.
Under the musical direction of the Metropolitan Opera’s Yelena Kurdina, “Voices of Ukraine” will showcase an extraordinary lineup of artists, including many Skidmore community members.
Guest soprano Vedrana Kalas will be joined by Skidmore faculty members Senior Artist-in-Residence Young Kim (piano) and Private Music Instructor Casey Gray (voice); student soloists from the Musical Theater-Opera Workshop; and the Skidmore Chorus, directed by Artist-in-Residence and Choral Director Floydd Ricketts.
The Zorepad Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, led by Skidmore student and Artistic Director Lucas Lewyckyj ’26, will join the concert’s vocal and instrumental performances, bringing the beauty of Ukrainian folk traditions to life with traditional Ukrainian dance.
The afternoon will open with remarks by Dr. Andrij Baran, president of the local branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. A celebrated member of the Capital Region Ukrainian community, Baran is known not only for his brilliance as a cardiologist but also as a passionate historian, tireless researcher, and honorary Cossack-in-disguise. His deep knowledge and unwavering dedication to Ukraine’s cultural and historical legacy will set the stage for this powerful program.
Founded by Skidmore Private Music Instructor Irina Petrik, the Ukrainian Classical Voice Project is dedicated to preserving and promoting the vocal heritage of Ukraine. The project gives voice to the underrepresented composers of Ukraine by organizing workshops, presentations, seminars, and concerts, among many other offerings.
The concert is co-produced by Petrik alongside Skidmore voice faculty and alumna Sylvia Stoner-Hawkins '94.
