On Saturday, in Parma, Ohio, one of the brightest events of the spring took place — a concert by the women's bandura ensemble WBENA (Women's Bandura Ensemble of North America) as part of the Near & Far Spring 2025 tour. The event became part of a series of concerts called «Songs from Near & Far», which combines musical works from various parts of the world interpreted through the Ukrainian traditional instrument — the bandura.
The concert was held in an incredibly warm atmosphere, gathering the Ukrainian community and culture enthusiasts, who had the opportunity to enjoy not only a high level of performance but also a diverse repertoire — from classical to contemporary, from Crimean Tatar melodies to jazz standards.
A feature of the program was genre diversity and cultural variety. The stage featured works by artists such as Hryhoriy Kytasty, Oleksandr Bilosh, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, Myroslav Skoryk, Anatoliy Pashkevych, as well as folk songs from Crimea, Lemkivshchyna, Poland, and other regions. The evening’s highlight was two captivating performances — Ey Guzel Qirim, a traditional Crimean Tatar song, and a medley of Ukrainian lullaby «Oй ходить сон» and George Gershwin’s Summertime — a vivid example of cultural synthesis that perfectly emphasizes the universality of the bandura.
In the concert participated 21 bandura players from various U.S. states and Canada, including Chicago, Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Boston, Hartford, San Antonio, and other cities. Performers appeared both as full ensembles and small groups and soloists. Also joining the performance were violinist Galyna Ischak and drummer Khrystyna Levitska, adding a special rhythmic color to the concert program.
The Parma concert was also the first public appearance for several new ensemble members. All of them are united by a common goal — to preserve and develop Ukrainian musical heritage, promoting it among a broader audience. WBENA was founded in 2015 with the aim not only to preserve bandura traditions but also to adapt them to contemporary art, combining ancient melodies with baroque and modern music.
WBENA actively supports charitable initiatives, and part of the proceeds from the tour will be donated to UCARE (Ukrainian Children's Aid and Relief Effort), which helps Ukrainian children, especially in wartime conditions. Such cooperation between cultural and humanitarian projects only highlights the depth of the ensemble’s mission.
