The Embassy of Ukraine in the USA is grateful to Ensemble Cherbium, Maestra conductor Marika Kuzma and the Washington Group led by Mrs. Laryssa Courtney for organizing the “Sacred Land: Music and Poems of Resilience from Ukraine” concert held at Saint John Paul II National Shrine on June 26, 2023. 

In his opening remarks Deputy Chief of Mission Yaroslav Brisiuck stressed that Russia’s genocidal war of aggression against Ukraine made the fight to preserve Ukrainian culture the vital line of the common defense.  

The concert program was comprised of songs and chants from ancient to modern times, such as Choral Concerto no. 1 by Dmytro Bortniansky, “My Kyiv,” by Ihor Shamo, Ukrainian folksong “Verkhovyno” (“O Mountaintop!”), arranged by Mykola Lysenko, Crimean Tatar song “Güzel Qirim (Beautiful Crimea),” and the well-known resilient song of the Ukrainian spirit “In the meadow (Oy u luzi).” 

We are deeply grateful to the Ensemble Cherbium and Maestra Marika Kuzma for a deeply moving performance that celebrated Ukrainian spirit, rich culture and history.