Shchedryk Youth Choir brought Ukrainian Christmas spirit to Denmark

The events surrounding Shchedryk's visit to Copenhagen were organized by Ukraine House in Denmark together with The Ukrainian Institute with support from The Danish Ukrainian Youth House and the Augustinus Foundation.

Young Ukrainian talents performed both European and Ukrainian Christmas classics including the world's most popular Christmas carol – known as Carol of the Bells. In fact it is originally a Ukrainian folk song “Shchedryk” arranged by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921) and the concert was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the performance of “Shchedryk” at Carnegie Hall.

Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine and non-stop attacks on the civilian and critical infrastructure, the young musicians of the Shchedryk choir recently have been rehearsing during power outages in Kyiv, in the darkness of the local Palace of Arts, with only flashlights illuminating their musical scores. 

“Unfortunately this year many Ukrainian families will not see lights, many will not be together and many more will not have a heart and a strength to sing being too busy surviving the russian atrocities and living through horrible blackouts. In the deliberate shelling of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure during wintertime, Russia is showing their signature style of cruelty and attempting to freeze out the spirit of freedom. Their efforts are useless - Ukrainians will prevail”, – commented Nataliia Popovych, chairperson of the Ukraine House in Denmark.

Nataliia also explained that the root of the word “Shchedryk”, both the name of the choir and the name of the world's famous carol, in the Ukrainian language means generosity – in folk songs people wished for well-being, health, good harvest and prosperity. They sang the joy of everyday life and family matters. The very life that millions of Ukrainian families, men, women and children are now deprived of because of Russia's invasion.

Among the guests of both concerts were Ukrainian soldiers, who are recovering in Denmark – Ihor Kuzmyn, Andriy Yanchenko, Ihor Zaremba. People greeted them with a standing ovation, like heroes.

Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Ukraine in Denmark Yuri Romanchuk reminded that the war Russia is waging on Ukraine is not about territories, it is the war of values. Russia's full-scale invasion has had a catastrophic impact upon the cultural heritage of Ukraine. Over 1000 cultural sites in Ukraine have been destroyed during the last 9 months of this brutal war. 

The surprise guest of the concert in "Helligåndskirken” was the Danish Boys Choir. They performed two songs and gave the candles to the “Shchedryk choir” as a symbol of hope, the beginning of friendship and unity of common values ​​– freedom and human dignity.