The Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival (UCMF-2025) successfully debuted at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City, becoming a vibrant celebration of Ukrainian music, literature and cultural resilience. Over the course of three days, audiences were immersed in the world of Ukrainian classical and contemporary music, combined with American and Canadian musical traditions.
This was reported by Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival.
This year, the festival presented more than ten American premieres, including works by legendary Ukrainian composer Leonid Grabovsky. A special event was the performance of the first composition commissioned by the UCMF - "The Solar Machine" by Solomiya Moroz, as well as the world premiere of "Homo Fugens" by Oleksiy Voitenko, performed by Ukrainian musicians.
Famous American new music ensembles such as the TAK Ensemble, the Pink Noise Ensemble, the Rhythm Method Quartet and the NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble performed on the festival stage. They presented music that transcends borders and unites cultures.
Cary Hall was packed on all three nights of the festival, and the final UCMF Afterdark concert offered guests a special performance by Barva Ukraine, an American band with a Ukrainian soul. The event ended with a symbolic performance of "Many Years" in honour of Leonid Grabovsky.
UCMF-2025 was made possible with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Cultural Affairs, and Ukrainian organizations including Self Reliance New York, the Shevchenko Scientific Society of New York, and the Ukrainian Self Reliance Federal Credit Union.
The organizers emphasized that the festival is a powerful artistic manifesto that confirms that Ukrainian culture cannot be destroyed. It continues to evolve, inspire and unite people around the world.
"We are grateful to everyone who joined this celebration of contemporary Ukrainian music. See you next season," concluded the organisers of UCMF-2025.
Author: Danylo Pievchev