An evening of Ukrainian music in Dallas marked the American debut of a festival that evolved into a symbol of cultural resilience following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On July 5, 2026, Dallas hosted the opening event of the first in-person U.S. tour of the 6th Intercontinental Festival of Ukrainian Song “Sing Native” (Співай рідною), bringing together performers from Ukraine and America in a celebration of Ukrainian music, language, and culture.
The event was organized by the U.S. Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, led by President Tamara Velsher, in partnership with festival founder Natalia Bahmut and jury member Ludmila Kasyanenko.
“The festival expands beyond the radio waves and begins its first [in-person] tour across America,” Velsher said in her opening remarks. “It’s a great honor for Dallas and Fort Worth to become the first stop of this remarkable journey, recognizing the dedication and hard work of our Ukrainian-American community in preserving and promoting Ukrainian culture.”
The festival traces its roots to United by Song, an international online initiative launched in 2021 to mark the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, it evolved into a month-long festival of Ukrainian patriotic song. In 2023, those earlier initiatives were brought together under the name Sing Native (Співай рідною), which has since brought together performers from Ukraine and diaspora communities around the world.
Today, the nonprofit festival aims to preserve the Ukrainian language through music, strengthen cultural connections across the diaspora, and introduce Ukrainian songs to broader audiences. Each year, the online festival runs from February 21, International Mother Language Day, through May 21.
The festival welcomes participants of all ages. This year, according to Bahmut, the youngest participant was a four-year-old girl from Canada, while the oldest was an 85-year-old from Ukraine.
Its founder, Natalia Bahmut, is a Ukrainian composer, poet, performer, radio journalist, and Honored Artist of Ukraine. Based in Sacramento, California, she also hosts the radio program Time for Ukrainian Song on Ethno FM Radio.
Bahmut said: “Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, every one of my radio programs has opened with a prayer in song. … We continue to pray through our songs, and to cry through our songs.” After a short emotional pause, she added: “And to sing with joy because we believe in our victory.”
The evening in Dallas opened with a performance by the American-Ukrainian Choir Barvinok, featuring soloists Kseniia Losytska and Natali Aleksandrova. On the choir’s last song, Dr. Ray Behdar joined the ensemble for a performance of the Ukrainian classic Chervona Ruta, receiving one of the evening’s warmest responses. The program also included solo performances by Daria Tsykalo, Viana Giordano, Ludmila Kasyanenko, and Natalia Bahmut. Giordano’s performance was another audience favorite.
The program also included solo performances by Daria Tsykalo, Viana Giordano, Ludmila Kasyanenko, and Natalia Bahmut. Giordano’s performance was another audience favorite.
Beyond the performances, one aspect of the Dallas event particularly impressed Bahmut: many members of the Barvinok choir were Americans with no Ukrainian heritage who had learned to sing in Ukrainian.
“I’ve had many tours, but this is the first time I’ve seen so many Americans singing in Ukrainian. Almost the whole choir! I am amazed! Thank you, Dallas! Bravo!” Bahmut said.
For Bahmut, however, the festival’s journey is far from over. She plans to hold the seventh Sing Native festival in Ukraine, inviting performers from around the world. Her long-term vision is to one day hold the festival in Kyiv, where performers from around the world will sing together.
By Tatyana Bessmertnaya
