VODA Voice Becomes the Voice of Ukraine at New Jersey Multicultural Festival

At Marlboro High School in Marlboro Township, New Jersey, the local community held its 16th annual “Multicultural Day” heritage festival. One of the most emotional highlights of the event was the performance of three Ukrainian vocalists — the group VODA Voice, who powerfully represented Ukraine’s musical tradition on the international stage. 

This was reported to Vilni Media by Maryna Vlasiuk, president of the USA Stands with Ukraine foundation.

According to her, Ukrainian culture resonated at this year's festival, held on December 7, in a particularly profound way — not through flags or presentations, but through the power of the human voice. VODA Voice became a true symbol of Ukrainian presence at the event.

The trio includes Yuliia Maltseva and twin sisters Nataliia and Yevheniia Maltseva from Kharkiv, who had professional vocal careers in Ukraine, worked on Ukraine’s national television, and developed their own creative project. After moving to the United States, they formed the group together with their friend. 

Today, VODA Voice is not just a musical ensemble — it is a cultural mission. The performers are Ambassadors of Ukrainian Song in the World and winners of the 5th Intercontinental Radio Festival “Sing in Your Native Language.” They have given over 65 concerts across the U.S., most of them fundraising events. In 2025, the group received a human rights award for supporting children affected by the war — the award was presented by Hero of Ukraine, General Yurii Hordiienko.

At the festival, the trio performed two signature pieces: the globally renowned “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych and the folk song “Oi, syvaia ta zozulenka.” Both became an emotional pinnacle of the evening.

“We don’t just sing — we fight,” says Nataliia Maltseva. - When we were invited to the festival, I immediately understood this was not just a concert — this was our cultural defense. People in the audience looked at us with such respect, such interest, such warmth, that at times I could hardly hold back tears. ‘Oi, syvaia ta zozulenka’ is a song from women’s memory. When we performed it, I felt that every woman of Ukraine was standing beside me. We carry Ukraine with our voices, because right now song is also a weapon — a weapon of light.”

Yevheniia Maltseva added that “Shchedryk” holds special meaning for their family:

“Shchedryk is my home, my childhood. Our grandmother sang it to us hundreds of times. We went caroling every Christmas — relatives gave us candy, money, apples, but the most valuable thing was the singing itself. When I sing Shchedryk here in the U.S., it feels as though I am back in that house, with those people. And I understand that we are carrying a song no one can ever take away from Ukraine. We are from Kharkiv; Leontovych was from eastern Ukraine too. Sometimes it feels like an invisible thread connects all Ukrainians, even across oceans. It’s an honor to sing during the war. Sometimes I want to cry right on stage, but we hold the voice — because this is our front.”

For the singers, performing Ukrainian music in the United States has become a way to preserve and share national cultural identity, unite the community, and support Ukraine in wartime. Yuliia Maltseva added that every performance is a bridge between the Ukrainian diaspora and their homeland:

“We help children, families, soldiers. When people come up after a concert and say, ‘Thank you, you brought Ukraine back to me for a few minutes,’ I realize that music is also a hero. And singing during the war is a very special mission. You go on stage not for yourself. You go for your country.”

The group also presented their newest release, “Ridna Zemlia” (“Native Land”), which became the emotional finale of the Ukrainian program at the festival.

Photos provided by Marina Vlasyuk
Author: Inna Mikhno