Young Performers Foundation

Upcoming Concerts

Gala at Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall

Performances of the winners and judges of the Second Ukrainian Music Competition.Friday, January 10th, 2025, 7 PM
at Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall
(154 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019)

group photo

Ukrainian Music Competition 2025

Held in collaboration with Ukrainian National Women’s League of America

Annual International Youth Music Competition held in New York City.Application deadline is May 1, 2025Any instrument, voice, or ensemble.

More info...


Our Programs:

Community Outreach

Share your talent with your local community in concerts held at various locations. This program provides performance opportunities and lets active individuals volunteer to serve their community.

Chamber Music

Concert-competition for students to perform in a friendly yet challenging environment, create friendships, and share the joy of music. Apply as a program participant or as a competing ensemble.

Learn&Travel

Visit different cities and countries, learn about their culture, art, and education system, share your experience, and showcase your talent during this enrichment program.
Tune up for the updates!


Ukrainian Music Competition Gala

at Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall

January 10th, 2025 at 7 PMPresented by the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America and Young Performers Foundation.Supported by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations.Winners and esteemed judges of the Second Ukrainian Music Competition in the US will take the stage for a captivating evening of music. Their performance will showcase the rich tapestry of music by Ukrainian composers and original works inspired by Ukrainian motifs.This Gala Recital promises to be a vibrant celebration of Ukrainian culture. Witness the passion and talent of young musicians and experience the enchanting beauty of Ukrainian music, ranging from traditional folk songs to contemporary pieces.The recital will also feature the Grand Prize winners of the Chamber Music Competition 2024.Performers and program to be announced.
Duration: approximately 2 hours with one intermission.
Tickets: $75
Children and students (up to 18 y.o. with ID): $45

CarnegieGala

About Us

Young Performers Foundation is a non-profit 501(3) organization, created to nurture talents and establish cross-cultural educational connections.
We believe that regular performances and watching others perform create motivation and give energy for personal development.
Our participants may take charge of the process by acting as accompaniers, designers, promoters, and organizers of events; and earn volunteer hours showing their service to the community. A students' president will be elected from the active participants at the beginning of each calendar year. Scholarships are offered to active participants of 3 or more years who choose to pursue a career in music and education.
We are open to cooperation with all art supporters who share our values. We rely on support from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

Girl violin lake

Past Events

Ukrainian Institute of America Recital

Performances of the finalists of the
Second Ukrainian Music Competition.
Sunday, December 8th, 2024, 4 PM
at the Ukrainian Institute of America
(2 E 79th St, New York, NY)

Gala Recital at Carnegie Hall 2024

Showcase of the Winners and the Judges of the First Ukrainian Music Competition, and the Chamber Music Competition.
January 12, 2024 at 7 PM
Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall

Ukrainian Institute of America Gala Recital 2024

Concert of the Winners of the First Ukrainian Music Competition and guest performers.
November 5th, 2023 at 3 PM
Ukrainian Institute of America
(2 E 79th St, New York, NY 10075)

© Young Performers Foundation. All rights reserved.

© Young Performers Foundation. All rights reserved.

© Young Performers Foundation. All rights reserved.

© Young Performers Foundation. All rights reserved.

© Young Performers Foundation. All rights reserved.

© Young Performers Foundation. All rights reserved.

Chamber Music Competition Application

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Guest Performer Application

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Ukrainian Music Competition 2023
Winners Recital at Carnegie Hall

© Young Performers Foundation. All rights reserved.

Ukrainian Music Competition 2024
Winners Recital
Ukrainian Institute of America, New York

© Young Performers Foundation. All rights reserved.

Ukrainian Music Competition 2025

Annual International Youth Music CompetitionHeld in New York City

Application deadline is May 1, 2025Any instrument, voice, or ensemble.

Held in collaboration with the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America.
Supported by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations.

Dedicated to Yurii Leonidovych Kerpatenko (9 September 1976 – 28 September 2022) - a Ukrainian conductor, orchestrator, and accordionist; principal conductor of the Mykola Kulish Music and Drama Theatre and the Gileya chamber orchestra of the Kherson Regional Philharmonic.

For the First round you may choose to attend auditions in New York City on May 3, 2025 at 4 PM (PianoPiano Rehearsal Studios 37 W 65th St 4th Floor, New York, NY 10023);
- or submit a video.

Second round: juried performance in the recital at Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City on May 18th, 2025 at 2 PM; in person or on Zoom.- Gala concerts at Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall (January, 2026) and the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City (December, 2025).

Repertoire:
- Compositions by Ukrainian Composers;
- Original compositions on a Ukrainian theme;
- Compositions of composers born in Ukraine.
You may perform one or a few compositions within the time limit for the auditions.

All participants receive diplomas.
- Multiple winners will be selected in each age group.
- Grand Prizes include cash awards.
- Special prize from UNWLA, NJ regional council for best performers of a Ukrainian composer and original compositions.

Rules

Solo compositions must be performed from memory. Music sheets allowed for duets and ensembles.Videos must be unedited, done in one take, with a clear view of the performer and the instrument.
The dress code is formal or semi-formal.
Multiple compositions may be performed within the time limit.
The same repertoire may be performed for both rounds of the competition.
Compositions required accompaniment must be performed with a live acoustic accompaniment.
- Duration of performance is based on age group: 6yo and younger - up to 6 min; 7 to 10yo - up to 8 min; 11 to 13yo: up to 10 min; 14 to 18yo - up to 15 min; 19 - 24yo - up to 20 minutes. No minimum time requirements.Participants who will not advance to the second round may participate in the online recital, or community recitals (TBA).Application fee is $149 per solo, $199 per duet, or an ensemble. It includes participation in the first and second rounds of the competition.
Scholarships are available for Ukrainian refugees; please reach out by email.
First, Second, and Third place winners in each age group are invited to participate in the Gala Recital at Carnegie Hall.All winners are invited to perform in the Gala Recital at the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York.The time limit for the Gala Recital at Carnegie Hall performance is under 6 minutes, one composition only, no repeats or first endings, performed by heart. The registration fee of $215 per solo and $135 per ensemble member includes venue, insurance, winner’s Certificate, the participant's ticket, and digital photos.The registration fee of $125 for the concert at the Ukrainian Institute of America includes venue, insurance, winner’s Certificate, up to 4 tickets, and digital photos and video.Teachers with three or more winners may perform in the same recital with their students.Ukrainian refugee participants may apply to a special no-cost professional string instrument lending program through our partner Vovk Foundation.

Judges

Pavel Gintov

Pianist Pavel Gintov has been described as "a poet of the keyboard" by Marty Lash of the Illinois Entertainer and as a "musical storyteller" by the Shikoku News.
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Dr. Solomiya Ivakhiv

Dr. Solomiya Ivakhiv
Head of Strings, Associate Professor of Violin and Viola at the University of Connecticut
Violin Faculty at Longy School of Music of Bard College
Artistic Director of Music at the Institute (MATI) Concert Series in New York City.
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Michael Bulychev-Okser

Hailed by New York Times as "enticing and brilliant", Michael Bulychev-Okser is a well-know concert pianist, composer, and educator with more than 20 years of experience based in New York.
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Pawel Grinaew

Pawel Grinaew - composer, pianist, certified piano teacher.
read more...

Valeriya Sholokhova

Cellist Valeriya Sholokhova - active soloist and chamber musician based in New York City.
read more...

Gene Hahn

Gene Hahn - violinist, founder of Eclectic String Music Ensemble, associate concertmaster of The West Michigan Symphony.
read more...

Olga Dyadiv

Olga Dyadiv - opera singer based in Bologna, Italy.
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Gene Hahn

Andrii Didorenko - a New York-based violinist, composer, teacher, and leader of a contemporary rock fusion ensemble Lost World Band. read more...

Yuliya Basis

Yuliya Basis is a sought-after collaborative pianist and educator, based in New York. read more...

Mission

Throughout Ukraine's history, Ukrainian composers were tragically silenced, suppressed, and often compelled to seek refuge elsewhere. Their compositions were intentionally obscured, serving as poignant reminders of the countless untold stories. Thus, the concept of organizing the Ukrainian Music Competition in New York emerged.

Ukrainian Music Competition 2023 Winners

Grand Prize Winners: Harry Kee Chen and Eva Kukreja
Prize for the best performance of Ukrainian composers' composition: Brandon Yip and Ian Zhao

Group One (6yo and younger):
First Place - Edward S Chen.

Group Two (7 to 10yo):
First Place - Harry Kee Chen;
Second Place - Brandon Yip, and Kaylie Wang;
Third Place - Enzo Ke, Khudolii Yesieniia, Runtong Liu, and Travis Yip;
Honorable Mention - Christina Grygorenko, Gail Beyda, Meryl Li, and Nadia Konozenko.

Group Three (11 to 13yo):
First Place - duet Elias and Nia Nicozisis, Alice Maria Sorochan;
Second Place - Ava Shu, and Brayden Fung;
Third Place - Alisiia Machula, Ian Zhao, and Ensemble Stellar Voices;
Honorable Mention - Abigail Lee, Anna Taran, and Marianna Franco.

Group Four (14 to 18yo):
First Place - Andrea Nalywajko, Andrey Leshchiner, Anna Duffy, Eva Kukreja, Hyewon Son, and Lydia Mushkatina;
Second Place - Faith O’Hanlon, and Siddhant Sharma;
Third Place - Alina Hoxha, Anna Shyrokova, and Sophia Pidvysotski;
Honorable Mention - Alexandra Lobanova, Eric Falcone, and Sophia Ksenzenko.

Group Five (19 - 24yo):
First Place - Vincent Kaverud, and Yana Gotynyan;
Second Place - Zoia Bobko;
Third Place - duet Kalyna and Uliana Leshchuk.

Special recognition goes to Edward Maximus Devinney III, Flute Ensemble from Music School No.5, Mykolaiv, Ukraine ( teacher Svitlana Krupniak), Iryna Pavlova (accompanist Hanna Ponomarova), Jay Cole Devinney, Mikhalaki Esfir, Paul Lee,
Violin Trio from Music School No.3 Mykolaiv, Ukraine (teacher Victoria Kovaliova).

Community Concerts

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Share your talent with your local community in concerts held at various locations. This program provides performance opportunities and lets active individuals volunteer to serve their community.
Follow us for updates.

Chamber Music

Chamber Music Competition will be held at the Ukrainian Institute of America (2 E 79th St, New York, NY) on December 7th, 2025.
The event offers a great opportunity for recognition, connecting with fellow musicians, gaining valuable insights, and making new friends within the music community.
Instrumental, vocal, one piano four hands duets, or mixed ensembles of up to 12 members are eligible to apply.If you're not experienced in chamber music but would love to perform your favorite compositions, whether they be vocal, string, or piano duets or trios, we're here to support you every step of the way. Apply as a program participant, and we will help you find like-minded partners who can join your ensemble and who will share your musical interests and aspirations.The Program Participant's application deadline is October 15th, 2025.
The Competition Participant's application deadline is December 5th, 2025.
Repertoire:
- Competing ensembles apply with one composition of their choice;
- Program participants may apply with one composition of their choice, or may request to be assigned a composition according to their skill level;
- Memorisation is not required.
- Performance duration is up to 10 minutes.
- Adults may participate if the youngest ensemble member is under 24 y.o.
Multiple winners will be selected in different creative categories.Special Prize for best performance of a Ukrainian Composer's composition.The Grand Prize Winner ensemble will perform at the Gala Recital at Carnegie Hall on January 9, 2026.Application fee of $185 per participant includes registration, two rehearsals coached by acclaimed professional teachers, Competition participation, and a diploma. Additional rehearsals will be scheduled with the teachers directly. The number of the required sessions and the location of the rehearsal place will be arranged with the participants individually.Application fee of $200 per ensemble includes registration, Competition participation, and diplomas.

Winners 2024:

Grand Prize - Violin and Piano Duet Rafael Joshua Estrada and Kateryna Sorochan; and Piano Trio "The Messages" Neel Sebek Thomas,
Cyrus Mai, and
Sophia Victoria Placido Galard

The Most Spirited - Piano Duet Nazariy Maslennikov and Iryna Borsa;
The Most Dynamic - Violin and Piano Duet Vasilisa Kukanova and Alice Sorochan;
The Most Engaging - Piano Duet "Chervona Kalyna" Kateryna Golovko and Iryna Borsa;
The Most Promising - Violin and Piano Duet Gail Beyda and Alice Sorochan;
The Bravest - Violin and Piano Duet Julietta Beyda and Kateryna Sorochan

Winners 2023:
Grand Prize - Philina & Nickita Zhang;
First Place - Trio Con Brio: Abigail Kwon, Hélène Lafourcade, Kirana Widha;
Best Musical Achivement - Alice Sorochan and Vasilisa Kukanova.

Chamber Music Winners

Learn&Travel

Visit different cities and countries, learn about their culture, art, and education system, share your experience, and showcase your talent during this enrichment program.
Tune up for the updates!

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Among the prominent Ukrainian composers, these are the most famous:Barvinsky, Vasyl
Berezovsky, Maksym
Bilash, Oleksandr
Bortkevych, Serhiy
Bortniansky, Dmytro
Dominchen, Klymentiy
Frolyak, Bohdana
Havrylets, Hanna
Huba, Volodymyr
Hulak-Artemovsky, Semen
Karabyts, Ivan
Kolessa, Mykola
Kolodub, Levko
Kos-Anatolsky, Anatoliy
Kosenko, Viktor
Koshyts, Oleksandr
Kozarenko, Oleksandr
Krasotovitsky, Oleksandr
Levytsky Oleksandr
Leontovych, Mykola
Lyatoshynsky, Borys
Lysenko, Mykola
Lyudkevych, Stanyslav
Nyzhankivsky, Viktor
Revutsky, Levko
Runchak, Volodymyr
Shamo, Ihor
Shchetynsky, Oleksandr
Shukailo, Liudmila
Shymko, Oleksandr
Silvestrov, Valentyn
Skoryk, Myroslav
Sonevytsky, Ihor
Stankovych, Yevhen
Stepovy, Yakiv
Stetsenko, Kyrylo
Vedel, Artem
Vilinsky, Mykola
Zahaykevych, Alla
Zubytsky, Volodymyr
This is not an exhaustive list but includes many of history's most notable Ukrainian classical composers.We recommend ukrainianlive.org as a source for information and music scores of Ukrainian Classical Composers.
Some music scores are available at the free Petrucci Music Library.

Dr. Solomiya Ivakhiv

Violinist Dr. Solomiya Ivakhiv is celebrated as a soloist, recitalist, chamber music collaborator, champion of new music, and a dedicated educator. She is an Associate Professor of Violin and Viola and Head of Strings at the University of Connecticut, Professor of Violin at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, Artistic Director of Music at the Institute (MATI) concert series in NYC and Caspian Monday Music Festival in Greensboro, VT. A dedicated educator, Dr. Ivakhiv has led masterclasses and coached chamber music at Yale, Columbia, Penn State, University of Hartford Hartt School of Music, Boston Conservatory, Curtis Summer Fest, University of Maryland, Bard College Prep, SUNY – Fredonia Universities, Oberlin, Guangzhou and Hunan Conservatories in China.Dr.Ivakhiv has performed at such prestigious concert halls as Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, CBC Glenn Gould Studio, Curtis Institute Field Concert Hall, and has made solo appearances with the Istanbul State Symphony, Charleston Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, and the Hunan Symphony Orchestra in China. Dr.Ivakhiv has premiered new works for violin by composers such as David Ludwig, John B. Hedges, David Dzubay, Bohdan Kryvopust, Yevhan Stankovych, Alla Sirenko, and Oleksandr Shchetynsky, and has been featured at chamber music festivals worldwide, including Tanglewood, Ottawa Chamberfest, Bach Festival of Philadelphia, Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music, Newport and Nevada Chamber Music Festivals, and KyivFest.Dr. Ivakhiv’s recordings – Ukraine-Journey to Freedom (NAXOS), Mendelssohn Concertos (Brilliant Classics), Haydn and Hummel Concertos (Centaur Records), and Poems and Rhapsodies (Centaur Records) – have aired nationally and internationally and have all been widely lauded and featured in top charts on iTunes and Spotify.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Dr. Ivakhiv has been very active in organizing and performing benefit concerts to help displaced Ukrainian musicians, wounded civilians, and the “Tikva” orphanage in Odesa in collaboration with the Lisa Batiashvili Foundation "Relief Fund for Ukrainian Musicians", United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Nova Ukraine, The Philadelphia Orchestra, EUNIC and Ukrainian Institute of America.
Solomiya Ivakhiv is the 2022 recipient of the Merited Artist of Ukraine Award, the 2019 Curtis Institute of Music Alumni Award, the 2016 New Scholar Award from the University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts, the 2003 Fritz Kreisler and Charles Miller Award from the Curtis Institute of Music.
Dr. Ivakhiv graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied with Joseph Silverstein, Pamela Frank, and the late Rafael Druian. During this time, she was the concertmaster of both Curtis and Tanglewood Center Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Ivakhiv holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, where her principal teachers were Philip Setzer and Pamela Frank.

Pavlo Gintov

Pianist Pavel Gintov has been described as "a poet of the keyboard" by Marty Lash of the Illinois Entertainer and as a "musical storyteller" by the Japanese publication Shikoku News.
Following his debut at the Kyiv Philharmonic Hall at the age of 12, when he performed Mozart Concerto no. 20 with Kyiv Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Roman Kofman, Mr. Gintov has been touring throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States, performing as a soloist with numerous orchestras, appearing at such stages as Carnegie Hall in New York, Berlin Philharmonic Hall, Teatro Verdi Nationale in Milan, the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory and Kioi Hall in Tokyo.
A native of Ukraine, Mr. Gintov won First Prize in Japan's Premiere Takamatsu International Piano Competition. He was also awarded four special prizes, First Prize in the 2010 Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition and First Prize in The World Competition in 2013. Other prizes include The Bach Prize in the Rina Sala Gallo International Piano Competition in Italy and the Prize for the Best Performance of Russian Music in the Russian Music International Piano Competition in San Jose, California. Mr. Gintov receives the Grant from the Shevchenko Scientific Society in New York, the Scriabin Foundation Scholarship, the Mieczyslaw Munz Foundation Scholarship, and the Scholarship of the President of Ukraine.
Mr. Gintov was awarded the prize for the best collaborative pianist in the International Paganini Violin Competition in Moscow.
Mr. Gintov graduated with honors from Moscow State Conservatory, where he was a student of Lev Naumov and Daniil Kopylov. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he studied with Nina Svetlanova.

Olga Dyadiv

Born in Kherson (Ukraine), Olga Dyadiv graduated from the Music Academy of her hometown and The Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music.Finalist and winner of numerous competitions, such as the International Festival "Gold Autumn" in Hungary (2011), the Grand Prix Ukrainian Competition O. Petrusenko in Kherson, Ukraine (2013), the Vocal competition "Class Modern" in Kyiv (2014), first prize at the International Competition "Autumnal Stars of Malta" (2014), finalist and winner of a scholarship at the Concorso Toti Dal Monte (2017), finalist and winner of the audience prize at the Portofino competition (2018).In the summer of 2019, Olga Dyadiv was a member of the Accademia Alberto Zedda in Pesaro and made her debut in Il viaggio a Reims in the roles of Contessa di Foleville and Delia.Among her debuts are: Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor (March 2018), Lisa in La Sonnambula (May 2017), Violante Pescarelli in La prova di un’opera seria (November 2017 and July 2018), Queen of the Night and First Lady in The Magic Flute (January 2017), and Adina in L’Elisir D’Amore (March 2019) at the Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste.
At the Opera and the National Academy in Kyiv, she debuted first as the First Lady in The Magic Flute and Gilda in Rigoletto.
In the 2019/20 seasons, she sang as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Lukasch Fest in Lviv (Ukraine). She debuted in Austria at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt as La Fee in Massenet's Cendrillon.
In the Autumn of 2020, she sang as Königin der Nacht in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte at the Chaikowski Hall in Kyiv and Maxim Kolomiiet's Die Nacht at the Opera Kiev.
In 2022 she sang as Brigitta in Iolanta at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna and as Gilda in Rigoletto at Teatro Verdi in Trieste.
Projects in 2022/23 at the Teatro Verdi di Trieste are Serpina in La Serva Padrona, Musetta in La Bohème, Amore in Orfeo ed Euridice by Gluck and Giulietta in I Capuleti e I Montecchi.
She performs as Martinu's Mirandolina and Comtesse in Le Comte Ory at Teatro Comunale di Bologna in the 2022/23 season.

Pawel Grinaew

Pawel Grinaew - composer, pianist, certified piano teacher.Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music graduate.
- Jury member of Macau piano competition (2019).
- Teacher’s award at Singapore International Youth Piano Competition (2019)
- Specialist in ABRSM & Trinity College Exam Preparation.
- Piano and music theory tutor at Lycaeum Music School, London, UK.
Mr. Grinaew has over 10 Years of International teaching and performing experience (Ukraine, China, Macau, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates).

Valeriya Sholokhova

Cellist Valeriya Sholokhova - active soloist and chamber musician based in New York City.
Valeriya has appeared on concert stages at notable venues such as Carnegie Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Alice Tully Hall, and Saturday Night Live. She has toured internationally across Europe, performing in Denmark, Austria, Croatia, Poland, the Baltic States, Sweden, Germany, and Ukraine. Recently, Valeriya performed as cello chair in the highly-acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish.
Highlights of the past season include concerts at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and regular appearances as a chamber musician at Weill Hall. Valeriya is a laureate of several international competitions, including the Liezen International Cello Competition and was the principal cellist at a number of music festivals, including Spoleto Festival USA, Orchestra of the Americas, Perlman Music Program, Music Academy of the West, and Thy Music Festival in Denmark. Valeriya performed Bloch’s Kol Nidrei as a soloist with chamber orchestra at the United Nations Holocaust Commemoration concert in 2016 and has made TV appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Rachel Ray Show. She has recorded with Albany Records and GPR Records and performs regularly with chamber ensembles such as Mimesis, Metamorphoses, Libero Canto, and is on the Lincoln Center Stage roster.Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Valeriya is a graduate of The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, where she was a full scholarship student of Bonnie Hampton and David Geber. While at MSM, she had the opportunity to study at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark with Prof. Morten Zeuthen. Passionate about community outreach, Valeriya is on the roster of Music that Heals, and derives a great sense of purpose when performing at hospitals, nursing homes, and correctional facilities.

Gene Hahn

Gene Hahn - violinist, founder of Eclectic String Music Ensemble,
associate concertmaster of The West Michigan Symphony.
A native New Yorker, violinist Gene Hahn made his debut at Carnegie Hall where he was invited to perform as a guest soloist at the age of 13. He then continued to perform regularly at Carnegie as a member of the New York Youth Symphony. During this time he also performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Mannes College of Music Orchestra and was a winner of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Young Musicians’ Competition.He received a Bachelor's in Performance at the Manhattan School of Music as well as a Master's in Performance at the Esther Boyer School of Music in Philadelphia where he was awarded full scholarship. Mr. Hahn studied chamber music with the American String Quartet as well as orchestral repertoire with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and The New York Philharmonic. He has also participated in numerous chamber music festivals, including Musicorda at Mount Holyoke College and The Quartet Program at Bucknell University. After finishing his master’s degree, he toured with the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. Hahn also performed as a member of the Haddonfield Symphony in New Jersey. He has performed as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician in several prestigious venues including Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Verizon Hall in Philadelphia.Gene founded and performs in an acoustic string band called ESME (Eclectic String Music Ensemble) based in West Michigan. The group writes and performs their own arrangements, covers, and mash-ups of popular music using classical string instruments. They perform clinics and workshops for high school students at various schools in the Grand Rapids area using music they’ve arranged for ESME and high school orchestra accompaniment. ESME’s mission is to teach high school students to utilize their exposure to pop music (including pop, dance, folk, hip-hop, jazz, and film music) and how to apply it to their school music programs and the study of classical instruments. In September of 2015 after being seen performing at a local Grand Rapids bar the band was invited to appear on Fox17’s morning news segment the following week. In addition to performing clinics at high schools, ESME also performs concerts at social venues, art galleries, and popular bars/restaurants in Grand Rapids.Mr. Hahn performs with the Grand Rapids Symphony in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and as associate concertmaster of The West Michigan Symphony.Gene was a featured soloist in the performance of Mothership by Mason Bates at the November 2015, American Music: Old and New concert.

Andrii Didorenko

Andrii was born to a family
of professional violinists in Dnipro, Ukraine. He took his first violin lessons with his parents and debuted with an orchestra at the age of 10.
He earned his graduate and postgraduate degrees from Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory with the renowned professors Marina Yashvili and Aleksandr Melnikov, and appeared as a soloist with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Moscow Camerata Chamber Orchestra.
From 1999 to 2004, Andrii lived in Taiwan where he taught, performed, and debuted as a composer.
Since moving to New York in 2006, he has performed regularly as a soloist and chamber musician and
served on the faculty of UNIS, Kaufman Music Center, and 92 Street Y. Most of his works have been
premiered, published, and recorded in the US. Among his compositions are virtuoso pieces for solo
violin, a double concerto, various chamber works, and student pieces. Andrii is also a leader of a
contemporary rock fusion ensemble, Lost World Band, which has released several critically acclaimed
albums. Since the start of the war, he has written several pieces inspired by Ukrainian folk music and
participated in many fundraising events to aid Ukraine.

Michael Bulychev-Okser

Hailed by New York Times as "enticing and brilliant", Michael Bulychev-Okser debuted with Manhattan Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jonathan Strasser. Michael has performed thousands of solos, chamber, and orchestral concerts, collaborating with conductors like Kynan Johns (USA), Dmitri Yablonsky (Israel), and Robert Lehrbaumer (Austria).Critics praise Michael's "imaginative and intelligent style" (David Dubal), "Elegance and grace the piano is destined to produce" (Cosmo Buono), and "Sheer poetry and panoramic vision" (Las Provincias, Valencia).Bulychev-Okser's extensive piano career has showcased him in solo recitals and orchestra appearances around the globe on the world's most prestigious stages: Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), La Salle Pleyel (Paris), Wigmore Hall (London), Heichal Hatarbut (Tel Aviv), The Saal Palace (Alexandria), IBK Concert Hall (Seoul), and Universidad Nuevo Leon (Monterrey).Bulychev-Okser's discography includes recordings of Beethoven's "Pathetique" Sonata and "Goyeskas" by Granados (RCA label), "Transcriptions from Past to Future" (Neue Sterne, Germany), and "Music by living New York composers", recorded live at the Barge Music Festival in New York. Recordings 2023 include complete Ballades and Scherzos by Frederic Chopin (Odradek Record Label) and an album on Convivium Records Label/Naxos as a duo with the British violinist Miriam Davis, celebrating the legacy of Marcel Proust.A recipient of Who’s Who in Music, Michael has been featured on CBS and Channel 12 programs and WQXR and WWFM radio stations, in addition to international media: TV1 (Russia), TV3 (Estonia), RAI 1 (Italy), and Nippon TV (Japan).An avid collaborative musician, Michael Bulychev-Okser collaborated with pianists Olga Kern, Dmitri Bashkirov, and Daniel Pollack; violinists Shlomo Mintz, Pierre Amoyal, Albert Markov, Miriam Davis, Alyssa Margulis; cellists Raphael Wallfisch and Colin Carr; violists Paul Neubauer and Alexander Zemtsov; clarinetist Julian Milkis and Metropolitan Opera soprano, Olga Makarina.Committed to innovative programming and celebrating the world's cultures, Bulychev-Okser has performed rare Italian paraphrases (Ravenna, 2014), presented recitals of music exclusively by Baltic composers (in Estonia and Latvia), and has transcribed Chinese folk songs in a jazzy style; his performance of transcriptions on the bank of Yangtze River was shown to over a million viewers worldwide.An educator with 20 years of experience, Michael Bulychev-Okser is a Piano Professor at Lucy Moses School at Kaufman Music Center and Long Island Conservatory. He also held teaching positions at New York University, Rutgers University of New Jersey, and Mokwon University in South Korea. While teaching piano to a variety of students aged 7-36, Bulychev-Okser has developed his own method of piano education, which is focused on developing critical thought processes. Bulychev-Okser summarized his method in the book “Conversations with students”, which is to be published in 2022 in New York.Bulychev-Okser is a frequent guest at many music festivals, competitions, and concert series, including Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, U. K.; Todi International Music Festival, Italy; Kaufmann Music Center, New York; Latvian Academy of Music in Riga; Changsha Music Competition, China; Valencia International Piano Festival, Spain; Piano Island Festival, Singapore; International piano festival in Universidad de Nuevo Leon, Mexico; Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatory: Tbilisi, Georgia; SUMY International Festival (Ukraine); Rachmaninov Concert Hall in Moscow, Russia; Isidor Bajic Piano Competition – Novi Sad, Serbia; XX Scriabin International Competition – Grosetto, Italy; XVI Compositores des Espagna – Madrid, Spain; Piano Competition “Vals de travers” – Nouchatel, Switzerland; XI MozArte Piano Competition – Aachen, Germany; XI Lyon International Piano Competition – Lyon, France; Palais Auersperg in Vienna, Austria, and Paderewski and Chopin International Competitions in the United States and Poland.Bulychev-Okser’s commitment to initiating multicultural musical forums and curating concert series has inspired him to establish George Gershwin International Music Competition in New York, and Classical Hugs International Music Festival, a large-scale annual event, presenting master classes, lectures, and concerts in 4 countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland.

Yuliya Basis

A Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory graduate, Yuliya Basis is a sought-after collaborative pianist and educator.
She has appeared in recitals at numerous New York City venues as well as abroad, and serves on the piano faculty of the United Nations International School and the British International School.
Yuliya and Andrii formed their violin and piano duo in 2002. Since then, they have performed in the US, Taiwan, Russia, and Ukraine, and released two albums, Go 4 Sonatas (2008) and Intervals (2013), featuring Andrii’s classical works. They have also toured with Andrii’s contemporary rock fusion ensemble, Lost World Band, which has released several critically acclaimed albums. Since February 24, 2022, the duo participated in many fundraising events to aid Ukraine.

Carnegie Hall Gala Recital

Friday, January 12, 2024
Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall (154 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019)
Program:Prayer For Ukraine
by Mykola Lysenko, arranged by Gene Hahn

GENE HAHN, VIOLIN
The Old Song by Stanyslav Lyudkevich
Petrushka by Liudmila Shukailo

EDWARD S CHEN, PIANO
Scherzino from Four Children's Pieces by Viktor Kosenko
RUNTONG LIU, PIANO
The Cossack from Marionettes, Op.54 No.2, by Sergei Bortkiewicz
TRAVIS YIP, PIANO
Kolomyika by Nestor Nyzhankivskyi
KHUDOLII YESIENIIA, VIOLIN | KATERYNA SOROCHAN, PIANO
Ragtime and Blues by Gennady Sasko
BRANDON YIP, PIANO
"Aus Andersens Marchen" , Op. 30, No. 11 "Golden Treasure" by Sergei Bortkiewicz
KAYLIE WANG, PIANO
I want to go home by Krystyna Prisyazhnyuk
ALISIIA MACHULA, VOCAL | VICTORIA ULANOVSKA, PIANO
The Butterfly, Op. 30 No. 9 by Sergei Bortkiewicz
IAN ZHAO, PIANO
Humoresque by Ihor Shamo
ALICE MARIA SOROCHAN, PIANO
Ukrainian Bells by Elena Cobb
ALINA HOXHA, PIANO
Let There Be Peace on Earth by Vince Gill
HYEWON FAER SON, VOCAL | KATERYNA SOROCHAN, PIANO
Carol of the Bells by Mykola Leontovych / George Winston
SIDDHANT SHARMA, PIANO
Prelude Op.7 No 1 in E flat Major by Lev Revutsky
ANDREY LESHCHINER, PIANO
At a Carnival by Ihor Shamo
ANNA DUFFY, PIANO
Fantaisie Op. 26 by Théodore Akimenko
EVA KUKREJA, PIANO
Lullaby from Melody of Moments by
Valentyn Silvestrov

VINCENT KAVERUD, VIOLIN | PAVLO GINTOV, PIANO
Cheremshina by Vasyliy Myhayluk
YANA GOTYNYAN, VOCAL | VASYL HALABURDA, GUITAR
Ukrainian Folk Song “Rozpryahayte,
Hloptsi, Koney”

ENSEMBLE STELLAR VOICES: ALISIIA MACHULA, TAISIIA MACHULA, ELIZA PADURE, EMILY RUBINSHTEIN, ELENA MANEA
VICTORIA ULANOVSKA, PIANO | OLGA LISOVSKA, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The Autumn by V. Gavrillin
SOPHIA PIDVYSOTSKI, PIANO
Two Poemes, Op. 32 :II by Alexander Scriabin
FAITH O’HANLON, PIANO
Die Fledermaus: Overture by J. Strauss II, arranged by ShinPark Duo for Piano Four Hands
ELIAS AND NIA NICOZISIS, PIANO DUET
Piano trio in D Major. Op 330. No 1, Movement 2 and 3, by Carl Bohm
TRIO CON BRIO: Abigail Kwon, violin | Hélène Lafourcade, cello | Kirana Widha, piano
Sonata for Violin and Piano by Philina Zhang
PHILINA ZHANG, PIANO & NICKITA ZHANG, VIOLIN
Prelude No.1 and No.7 from 12 Preludes by Ihor Shamo;
Three Myths for Piano solo: Love in Peace, Terror of War, Locrian Scherzo
(based on Moldavian and Ukrainian songs) by Michael Bulychev-Okser

MICHAEL BULYCHEV-OKSER, PIANO
Romance by Borys Lyatoshynsky
VALERIYA SHOLOKHOVA, CELLO | PAVLO GINTOV, PIANO
Ex Libris for solo violin: I. Moderato. Improviza
ciono; II. Risoluto ed appasionato; III. Allegretto; IV. Allegro con fuoco, by Hanna Havrylets

SOLOMIYA IVAKHIV, VIOLIN
Burlesque by Myroslav Skoryk
PAVLO GINTOV, PIANO
The concert showcased the winners and the judges of the first Ukrainian Music Competition in the US, and the First and Grand Prize winners of the Chamber Music Competition.
The evening also featured a few premieres, including Three Myths for Piano solo: Love in Peace, Terror of War, Locrian Scherzo by Michael Bulychev-Okser; Nocturne and Sonata Allegro dedicated to the Heroes of Ukraine by Olga Alino; and Sonata for Violin and Piano by Philina Zhang.
The performances provided an enchanting evening, with music ranging from Ukrainian folk songs to contemporary music.The Gala Recital mesmerized audiences, including a group of diplomats led by Sergiy Kyslytsya, the permanent representative of Ukraine to the UN. All were deeply impressed by the performers' exceptional skill and artistry.All proceeds from the event go toward continued advocacy to promote Ukrainian culture.

Ukrainian Institute of America Gala Recital

Performances of the finalists of the
Second Ukrainian Music Competition.
When: Sunday, December 8th, 2024, 4 PM
Where: Ukrainian Institute of America
(2 E 79th St, New York, NY)
Program:Avi Kukreja, piano
Serge Bortkiewiczh; Der Angel, Opus 30 No. 4, A-minor
Nadia Ugur, piano
Ihor Shamo, Vesnianka
Yesieniia Khudolii, violin | accompanist Yuliya BasisI.Muskiv, Kolomuika No.2 in d minorIvan Shelest, piano
Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata No. 8, Op. 13, "Pathétique", Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio
Anthony Avram, piano
Frédéric Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu in C♯ minor, Op. posth. 66, WN 46
Mykyta Liashenko, guitar
Evgeniy Stefan, "Star Rain" in e-mol
Roman Velychko, violin
J.S.Bach, Sarabande and Gigue, Partita No.2 in D Minor, BWV 1004
Anhelina Todoriko, violin |
accompanist Yuliya Basis
Yuliy Meitus, Allegro for violin
Nazariy Maslennikov, Iryna Borsa piano duet
Ludwig van Beethoven,
"Für Elise", Jazz Paraphrase, arranged by M. Skoryk
Aalap Hardikar, piano
1. J. F. F. Burgmüller, La chevaleresque op. 100 # 25.
2. S. Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf :
1. Peter, 2. The Cat, 3. The Duck, 4. Finale - Peter
Gabriella Roselli, vocal,
accompanist Christa Dalmazio
S. Hulak-Artemovsky,Oksana's Aria from "Zaporozhets za Dunayem"
Iva Verba, oboe,
accompanist Larysa Maliutina
Yurii Babenko, Sonata for oboe and piano

Chamber Music Winners

Ukrainian Institute of America Gala Recital

Gala Recital in support of Peace.When: November 5th, 2023 at 3 PM
Where: Ukrainian Institute of America (2 E 79th St, New York, NY 10075)
The concert showcased the Winners of the First Ukrainian Music Competition, Chamber Music Competition participants and guest performers.
Light refreshments were provided after the recital.
Program:
- Duet Vasilisa Kukanova, violin, and Alice Maria Sorochan, piano: J.Becker, Gavotte.
- Sophia Ksenzenko, piano: Myroslav Skoryk, Melodiya; and Melody Bober, Moonlight Fantasy.
- Anna Duffy, piano: Igor Shamo, Na Gulyanke.
- Eva Kukreja, piano: Theodore Akimenko, Fantaisie Op. 26.
- Sofiya Doroshenko, piano: Frederick Chopin, Fantasie Impromptu, Op 66.
- Duet Philina Zhang, piano, and Nickita Zhang, violin: Edvard Grieg, Violin Sonata No.2, Op.13
I. Lento Doloroso - Allegro Vivace.

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Ukrainian Music Competition 2024 Winners

Group Two (7 to 10yo):

1st Place - Divya Ghatge;
2nd Place - Avni Sesani, and Yichen Cao;
3rd Place - Ariana Luts, and Daniel Chernyak;
Honorable Mention - Adeline Papirnik, Gail Beyda, Juliette Beyda, Yesieniia Khudolii, Yeva Nemova.

Group Three (11 to 13yo):

1st Place - Anthony Avram, and Mariia Bohomolova;
2nd Place - Avi Kukreja, and Ivan Shelest;
3rd Place - Aalap Hardikar, Nadia Ugur, and Nishka Ghosh.

Group Four (14 to 18yo):

1st Place - Levon Liang, and Mykyta Liashenko;
2nd Place - Gabriella Roselli, and Roman Velychko;
3rd Place - Anhelina Todoriko, Nazariy Maslennikov, Sofiia Biekietova, and Viktor Hrechynsky;
Honorable Mention - Sagarika Yagnyeshwaran.

Group Five (19 - 24yo):

1st Place - Roksolana Kit;
2nd Place - Iva Verba, and Yevanhelina But.