NOTE: Cultural Forces Ukraine are presenting THREE Cleveland concerts in the next two days. They are:

FRIDAY JUNE 7 — 6:30 p.m. at Slavic Full Gospel Church, 5851 E. Wallings Road, Broadview Hts.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 — 12:30 p.m. at the USS Cod (WWII submarine) 1201 N. Marginal Road, downtown Cleveland

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 — 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Orthodox Church, 9672 State Road, North Royalton.

All are free, as part of Ukraine’s Thank You to the U.S. for its support in the cause of Ukrainian freedom.

DETAILS BELOW….

May 29, 2024 – About 45,000 Northeast Ohioans are immigrants here from Ukraine, including approximately 3,000 refugees who have settled here since Russia’s unprovoked and horrific invasion began in late February 2022.

To say Thank You to the United States for its military and economic support for Ukraine — and also to connect the area’s Ukrainian population to its cultural roots — the Ukrainian nation is sending military musical ambassadors to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio as part of a 40-day Cultural Forces tour.

Begun in Washington, DC, last week, the tour will stop in 10 different states and about 15 U.S. cities. Known as Culture Forces Ukraine, the group of five Ukrainian Army musicians will present renditions of a wide variety of music, from Ukrainian and world classical pieces to ‘cover hits’ of popular hits. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture and Information are presenting the tour. (See below for set list for the musicians.)

In Cleveland, concerts are planned for Slavic Full Gospel Church, 5851 E. Wallings Road, Broadview Heights on Friday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m. and at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 9672 State Road, North Royalton, on Saturday, June 8, also at  6:30 p.m. There is no admission charge.

Performing will be:

• Mykolai Sierga (Sr. Lieutenant, 59 Separate Mechanized Brigade) is a famous Ukrainian presenter, musician and producer.

• Taras Stoliar (Sr. Soldier, Reconnaissance Operative, 112 Separate Brigade, Territorial Defense Forces) is a People’s Artist of Ukraine, a graduate of Chernivtsi music school and National Music Academy, the first prize bandura player of the First Hnat Khotkevych International Folk Instruments Competition, he is a soloist of the NAONI Orchestra.

• Olha Rukavishnikova (Sr. Soldier, Reconnaissance Operative, Grenade Launcher Operator, 112 Separate Brigade, Territorial Defense Forces) is a violin player, conductor and symphonist, a graduate of the National Music Academy and a laureate of international music competitions.

• Mykhailo Oliinyk (Soldier, 59 Separate Mechanized Brigade) is a composer and pianist, a Stanislav Lyudkevych Prize Laureate, a graduate of Glier Kyiv Municipal Music Academy and Lyssenko Lviv National Music Academy.

• Yurii Ivaskevych (Sergeant, Infantryman, Grenade Launcher Operator Ast., 110 Separate Brigade, Territorial Defense Forces) is a former vocalist and soloist of the Zaporozhtsi Song and Danse Ensemble at Zaporizhzhia Philharmonic Orchestra. Linked here is a video about Yurii:  https://youtu.be/UanYnNt9RTg

The musicians are receiving rave reviews. Here are links to two stories about their initial concerts in Washington DC last week.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/26/ukraine-musicians-fight-russia/

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ukraines-soldier-musicians-thank-america-014206036.html

“Slavic Full Gospel Church is pleased to welcome Cultural Forces Ukraine for a concert,” says Pastor Peter Trokhimeko of SFGC. “We have felt God’s calling to send 40 shipping containers filled with relief supplies to the people of Ukraine, and we’ve also assisted well more than 150 refugees resettle her in Cleveland. We hope all people who love freedom will come to these concerts and hear these talented musicians and singer.”

CLEVELAND MEDIA: For interviews or to book Cultural Forces Ukraine on a program, contact Corporal Valéry Shyrokov, press attaché, Cultural Forces, Armed Forces of Ukraine, at 732-486-5787 or via email at v.shyrokov@culturalforces.org

To See Cultural Forces Ukraine’s set list, click here: