CYMK Choir: St John’s Cathedral

Playlist

1. Unite, Children of Ukraine O. Omelsky, accompanist H. Melnychuk

2. In the Cherry Orchard E. Kozak

3. Moonlit Night E Kozak, soloist A. Turzansky

4. Fruitful Tree in the Garden P. Dymutsky, soloists L. Faryna, E. Jereniuk, M. Faryna

5. I’ll Go to the Mill arr. R. Soltykewych

6. Chorus of Birds J. Iwaniw, soloist L. Faryna, whistler G. Gordey

7. The Cherry Orchard W. Wachnianyn, soloists L. Faryna, C. Faryna, A. Drahonchuk, accompanist O. Yurkiwsky

8. Give me the Wings of a Falcon V. Matiuk

9. Darn that Rooster Y. Yaroslavenko, soloist A. Drahanchuk

10. Farewell, my Girl P. Miloslavsky

11. Mist O’er the Valley M. Lysenko, accompanist H. Melnychuk

12. Rocking Over the Waves E Kozak


Choir Members

Sopranos: Myroslava Chomiak, Anita Drahanchuk, Christine Faryna, Leona Faryna, Marie Gordica, Katia Horobec, Eleanor Janis, Orysia Luchak, Anna Melnychuk, Leona Melnychuk, Elizabeth Micalyshyn, Caroline Sembaliuk, Marian Shemeluck, Judy Spilchen, Meri Stechishin, Doreen Sulyma.

Altos: Laresa Chomiak, Elaine Gordey, Darlene Hrynchuk, Leslie Janis, Eugenia Jereniuk, Helene Magus, Linda Melnychuk, Johann Pelech, Helen Prokopchuk, Orasia Yurkiwsky, Iris Zwozdesky. 

Tenors: Bohdan Chomiak, Myron Feryna, Gordon Gordey, Myron Karpiak, David Lazaruk, Andrej Turzansky.

Basses: Bill Baziuk, Joseph Bodnar, Vladimir Eshenko, Dennis Ewasiuk, Bohdan Gordica, Michael Janis, Barry Karpiak, Nestor Maslo, Stevie Melnychuk, Andrew Pelech, Anton Yereniuk, Emil Yereniuk.

About the CYMK Choir

The Canadian Ukrainian Youth Association (CYMK) founded in 1931 was the first Canada-wide organization for young people of Ukrainian descent. Through its ideology and constitutional provision, it is affiliated with the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada. The St. John Senior CYMK Branch, No. 145, was formed in 1933. Over the years it has made a profound contribution to the religious, educational and cultural life of St. John’s Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Edmonton.

In recognition of its current diverse and meritorious programs in these areas, it has been adjudged the most active Senior CYMK Branch in the Dominion. Accordingly, it was declared the winner of the W. J. Perepeluk Trophy for the years 1963 to 1969.

St. John’s Senior CYMK Choir was formed late in 1966 in order to provide another significant and worthwhile cultural activity. The greatest impetus to the formation of the choir came from it conductor, Roman Soltykewych, whose enthusiasm for, and dedication to, choral singing is unbounded. Under his capable and dedicated leadership, the choir has flourished. It has attained a remarkably high standard of musical excellence, thereby winning wide acclaim.

On April 15, 1967, the St. John’s Senior CYMK Choir first sang the entire Divine Liturgy in St. John’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton. In July of the same year, it was invited to sing in St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto. In July 1968, the Choir was one of the feature artistic attractions at the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada held in Saskatoon. It has enhanced its reputation as a chorus of extraordinary merit with performances at the Dominion CYC Convention and Ukrainian Day Observations held in Edmonton recently.

In addition to the performance of sacred music, the choir has an extensive secular repertoire. The songs on this record have been selected to demonstrate the pervasive interest of the members of the chorus and the conductor in Ukrainian folk music. The hope is that their own enjoyment of the melodies presented will in some measure be communicated to the listeners.


Source: LP Cover