Gloucester Ukraine Festival Events
Ukrainian Craft Market
Ukrainian Craft Market
Throughout the day there will be an opportunity to buy a variety of Ukrainian craft items. All are produced by Ukrainians living in Britain.
These include:
Motanka dolls
Pysanky painted eggs
Greetings cards (pictured)
Handbags
Jewellery
Bread and Salt Ceremony
To start our weekend of song, dance and music, join us for the ceremony of bread and salt... a traditional Ukrainian welcome in which guests are invited to share bread with each other. It also features songs from Slavio and Iryna Pole and from Ukrainian teenagers now living in Gloucester
Tetiana Hnilytska
Tetiana Hnilytska
Tetiana is from Odessa in Ukraine. She has played the violin for the Odessa Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra from 2006 to 2022.
Amongst other pieces, Tetiana will be playing Melody by Myroslav Skoryk and Romanish Dance.
Recently Tetiana has also joined the Gloucestershire based punk folk band "The Swing Rioters".
Slavio and Iryana Pole
Slavio and Iryana Pole
Slavio and Iryna are a creative family from Ukraine. Before the war, they worked as professional musicians in Ukraine. The have performed live throughout the Ukraine, in China and, more recently, the UK.
Iryna is a songwriter, singer and author. Slavio is a composer and music producer creating music in several styles from pop music to cinematic. One of the first songs he wrote in the UK was ‘Strength Of Will’, written especially for a project about Ukrainians who came to Dorset because of the war, organised by the As One Theatre company director Jane McKell.
Here in the UK, Slavio took part in the international competition ‘Golden Time Talent’ and won 1st place five times. The lyrics for the songs in each case were written by Iryna. They also took part in the ‘UK Songwriting Contest’ where both were highly commended.
Katrin Ananieva
Katrin Ananieva
Katrin, originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, arrived in England in May 2022. She began singing at the age of five and has never stopped. For her, Ukrainian folk songs are a powerful connection to her homeland, preserving its rich culture and traditions. These songs capture the shared experiences of the Ukrainian people, accompanying every stage of life—from birth to death—with heartfelt melodies.
DzvinCo
DzvinCo
Ukrainian Vocalist Project DZVIN.CO, established in March 2023, brings together professional singers from various regions of Ukraine impacted by the war. Our repertoire includes traditional Ukrainian folk pieces with a modern twist, along with pop, Christmas carols and jazz classics, performed a cappella.
Since its inception, the collective has performed at multiple venues for various occasions. DZVIN.CO was the opening act at a concert of Okean Elzy, the top rock band in Ukraine for the past 30 years, at the Royal Albert Hall in April 2023. We have also participated in charitable recording sessions with renowned British musicians and composers, and performed at events at the Embassy of Ukraine, as well as at multiple concerts and festivals.
https://www.instagram.com/dzvin.co?igsh=MWw2NWRicmpmYWdnMQ==
Styx Morris
Styx Morris
Styx of Stroud is a mixed Border Morris side based in Stroud, which is where we practice through the winter, and where we're often found dancing outside pubs and at fetes and festivals and Wassails.
Border Morris hails from the borders of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and a little bit of Gloucestershire, and is a louder and less precise form of dance than the more traditional Cotswold style - we watch that with envy! We wear tattercoats and top hats and disguise our faces with black and red paint, and there's a lot of shouting and clashing of our long sticks of whittled hazel.
We celebrated ten years together in 2023, although we have members of the side joining and leaving all the time, it's always someone's first time dancing in public. We particularly love dancing on the cobbled streets of Gloucester, which is one of our favourite places, so we'll be limbered up and ready to dance with our friends from Ukraine.
Stefania dance group
Stefania dance group
1.00 pm and 3 p.m.
.Ukrainian Dance ensemble “Stefania” has been performing in the UK folk and contemporary dances from different parts of Ukraine since April 2022.
“Stefania” has united professional and semi-professional dancers from Ukrainian cities, affected by the war.
The program we perform includes verity of dances that represent the beauty and diversity of Ukrainian music and culture.
We dance a passionate Kolomyika from Carpathian Mountains and “My beloved Kyiv” waltz from the hills of Dnipro River for you with love.
https://instagram.com/stefania_dance_ensemble?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Gloucester Bandura Group
Gloucester Bandura Group
Bandura Group Gloucester directed by Galina Grigoriadi at AUGB Gloucester
The group was formed in March 2024 and welcomed displaced Ukrainians and representatives of Ukrainian diaspora. Traditional Ukrainian songs as well as some popular songs are included in repertoire of the group.
Gloucester Children's Bandura Group
Gloucester Children's Bandura Group
Galina Grigoriadi at AUGB Gloucester formed the Gloucester Children's Bandura Group in March 2024
Singing Circle
Singing Circle
Amateur group «Співуче Коло»-"Singing Circle" was formed as an initiative of Ukrainians who temporary moved to Wales following the invasion. Its participations are from different parts of Ukraine that came together to promote Ukrainian heritage through the song and help Ukraine.
For past 2 years, the group was a participant of many district festivals and other events
Taras Shalaiev
Taras Shalaiev
Taras Shalaiev is a talented young Ukrainian bandura player and vocalist, whose artistry has earned him recognition as a winner and laureate of numerous international and national festivals and competitions. A graduate of Lviv Art School No. 10 in the bandura class, he continues to refine his craft as a student at Trafford College in the UK. Taras is also a soloist of the Ukrainian choir Slava in Manchester, bringing the rich musical heritage of Ukraine to international audiences.
Kozachky
Kozachky
One of the highlights of our festival.
The Ukrainian vocal ensemble "Kozachky" was created in October 2022 from a group of women who were forced to leave their homes and relocate to Bristol because of the war. The group hails from different parts of Ukraine: Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Melitopol, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia. It includes musicians, singers, managers, scientists, doctors and beauticians.
To hear her choir Kozachky follow this link: Укр.нар. пісня 'Розпрягайте хлопці коней' хор-Козачки/Ukr.Trad. Song 'Unharness Horse Boys' KOZACHKY (youtube.com)
The Kalianova Sisters
The Kalianova Sisters
The duo Sisters Kalianova from Pavlograd which is in central east Ukraine, located within the Dnipropetrovsk region. Two sisters came to the UK in the summer of 2022. In November, they formed a band to promote Ukrainian culture and support the Ukrainian military.
The instrument on which they will play is the Ukrainian folk instrument bandura, which has a long history and is known for its unique sound. The instrument can have 55 to 68 strings. You can play the bandura with both fingers and special plastic "nails", which allows you to evoke a variety of sounds and melodies. Bandura is an integral part of the Ukrainian musical tradition and is distinguished by its sophistication and emotional sound
In their program you can hear folk melodies, as well as works by Ukrainian authors.
Mryna Dance
The Ukrainian dance ensemble “Mriya” (meaning “Dream”) was established in February 2024 in Birmingham under the guidance of choreographer Yana Kolodovska. Rehearsals were held at a local school in Birmingham, welcoming all those eager to support and develop Ukrainian folk dance in the United Kingdom. Currently, the ensemble boasts over 30 members hailing from various regions of Ukraine, all committed to celebrating and upholding the beauty and strength of the Ukrainian spirit through the art of dance.
Vyshyvanka Choir
Vyshyvanka Choir
The Vyshyvanka group of Hereford was created two years ago. There are 12 people in the group of different ages. Their repertoire includes folk songs and works by modern authors - Ivasyuk, Poklad, Petrinenko, as well as the group's leader, composer Alla Migay. Alla is known as the author of popular songs "Sonko Drimko", "Ukrainian Borscht", "Sim Shlyakhiv" and others. She has the title of “Honoured Artist of Ukraine”.
Choir Shchedryk
Choir Shchedryk
The choir was created in 2018 by Alla Postolaty with the support of the Ukrainian diaspora in Gloucester. It works to preserve Ukrainian culture, in particular Ukrainian song and Ukrainian choral art.
Alla Migay
Alla Migay
Alla Migay is a composer, singer, and TV presenter. She is also the writer of various popular Ukrainian songs including: "Sonko Drimko", "Sim Shlyakhiv" and "Ukrainian Borscht". She is also the leader of the vocal group "Vyshyvanka" and a music teacher at the Ukrainian School in Malvern..
Olha Hornych
Olha Hornych
Olha is a celebrated opera singer from Lviv in Ukraine, currently living in Bristol
Her experience includes solo performances in Ukraine and Europe, work on TV(Ukrainian show “Surise”), singing projects and coaching in vocals. Completed master's degree at Lviv Academy (opera singing) and ensemble singing (European choral academy in Goerlitz, Germany).
She is very happy to present the Ukrainian repertoire and also to perform opera arias in English, Italian, French and German.
Kyrylo Avilov
Kyrylo Avilov
Kiyrylo Avilov managed to leave Ukraine at the beginning of the war with his mum and brought his precious saxophone with him. He currently lives near Reading and plays in various bands. He has been a member of the Ukraine Solidarity Jazz Band since January 2023 and played in all their concerts. The Band will be playing next in Cheltenham on the 7th off June 2025
Concert Finale
Concert Finale
A concert by Ukrainian musicians and singers who have been displaced from Ukraine and are now living in the UK. It features several world class artists.
Kozachky Choir
Kolo Ukrainian School
Mriya Dance
Yulia Shokolenko
Zoia Kobzarenko
Victoria with family
Trevor Valentine
Olha Hornych Opera Singer
A two hour concert featuring pop, folk and classical music from some of the best Ukrainian musicians and singers in the UK. The finale will feature the well-known song “Oh u luzi chervona kalyna”.
Entrance is by donation, recommended minimum £5
Alla Postolatii and Oleksandr Paraskevin
Alla Postolatii and Oleksandr Paraskevin got together to sing in 2024. Alla has been a Gloucester resident for many years. She is also a music teacher and local choir leader. She met Oleksandr when he fled from the war and they decided to form a duo to perform Ukrainian songs.
Zoia Kobzarenko
Zoia is a girl who loves singing and was given a beautiful voice, so she is using to share Ukrainian culture with people
Novitska Angelina
Novitska Angelina is 14 years old and currently living in Cheltenham. She is currently studying at All Saints Academy. She started playing drums in the Orchestra of Drums in Kyiv when she was just eight years old and has played ever since. Unfortunately, the orchestra broke up because of the war and then she came to England. She has also been a singer since eight years old
Kolo Ukrainian School
Ukrainian School "Kolo" in Gloucester welcomes its students from 5 to 18 years old every Saturday. In classes we study Ukrainian language and literature, history and geography of Ukraine, traditions and culture, sing traditional and authentic songs, dance and hold various master classes. We travel together and take part in various events throughout England. We invite you to our friendly Ukrainian Kolo!
Yulia Shokolenko
Yulia moved from Ukraine with her son after the war began. She has sung for pleasure her entire life and participated in many regional competitions and festivals. Over the last few years, Yulia has stopped performing to concentrate on family life. However, since arriving in Britain, she has found new energy to start singing again and is excited to join the festival.
Mriya Dance
The Ukrainian dance ensemble “Mriya” (meaning “Dream”) was established in February 2024 in Birmingham under the guidance of choreographer Yana Kolodovska. Rehearsals were held at a local school in Birmingham, welcoming all those eager to support and develop Ukrainian folk dance in the United Kingdom. Currently, the ensemble boasts over 30 members hailing from various regions of Ukraine, all committed to celebrating and upholding the beauty and strength of the Ukrainian spirit through the art of dance.
Victoria and family
Victoria says:
We are a family from the Zaporizhia region of Ukraine.
We do not have a name as we are not professional singers. We are a family who loves singing, it is not only a hobby for us, but also a way of keeping and sharing our culture.
We hope that our singing will touch your hearts ❤️