Kobzarska Sich
Encyclopedia
Kobzarska Sich is a summer music camp devoted to learning bandura
and Ukrainian choral music. Kobzarska Sich is held every August at All Saints Camp in Emlenton, Pennsylvania
. In its current format, four courses are offered: Bandura Course, Junior Bandura Workshop (for children between the ages of 9 and 11), the Ukrainian Choral Workshop, and the Ukrainian Sacred Music Workshop.
For many years the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
has sponsored various bandura camps and workshops throughout North America. The first music camp Kobzarska Sich was led in Emlenton, Pennsylvania
in 1979 by Hryhory Kytasty
, the long-standing conductor of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and inspiration to generations of bandura enthusiasts.
, Julian Kytasty
, Oleh Mahlay
, Taras Lazurkevych, Oleh Sozansky, Ola Herasymenko, Alexis Kochan
, Bohdan and Halyna Heryavenko, Halyna Kvitka-Kondratsky and others.
Participants attending Kobzarska Sich’s Bandura Course are exposed to an intense personal experience. Participants receive over seven hours of daily individual and group instruction. Formal classroom instruction is offered in the techniques of bandura playing, bandura history, solo and ensemble playing, solo and ensemble singing, music lectures and theory.
All Saints Ukrainian Church Camp has always been home to Kobzarska Sich. Participants live in well kept cabins along the Allegheny River
and, in addition to a rigorous music schedule, have an opportunity to enjoy recreational activities such as swimming, tennis, volleyball, baseball, basketball, and other fun activities.
Those who are 12 years and older have an opportunity to enroll in the full two week Bandura Course. This course focuses on over seven hours of daily group instruction in: the technique of playing bandura, bandura history, solo and ensemble playing and singing, music lectures, and elementary music theory
.
The Sacred Music workshop is a four-day seminar that provides an opportunity to sing sacred works by Ukrainian master composers and provides practical pointers for church singers, cantors, and conductors alike relative to common areas of church singing. Listening lectures open up many hidden aspects of sacred music tradition.
The Ukrainian Choral Workshop is a one-week intensive and enjoyable workshop focuses on the singing and performance of Ukrainian folk music
. Participants take part in various ensembles, private lessons, and are instructed by teachers with extensive backgrounds in Ukrainian vocal music.
Bandura
Bandura refers to a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument. It combines elements of a box zither and lute, as well as its lute-like predecessor, the kobza...
and Ukrainian choral music. Kobzarska Sich is held every August at All Saints Camp in Emlenton, Pennsylvania
Emlenton, Pennsylvania
Emlenton is a borough located mostly in Venango County, in the southeastern corner of the county, with a small portion located in Clarion County in Pennsylvania. The population was 784 at the 2000 census...
. In its current format, four courses are offered: Bandura Course, Junior Bandura Workshop (for children between the ages of 9 and 11), the Ukrainian Choral Workshop, and the Ukrainian Sacred Music Workshop.
For many years the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus is a semi-professional male choir which accompanies itself with the multi-stringed Ukrainian folk instrument known as the bandura...
has sponsored various bandura camps and workshops throughout North America. The first music camp Kobzarska Sich was led in Emlenton, Pennsylvania
Emlenton, Pennsylvania
Emlenton is a borough located mostly in Venango County, in the southeastern corner of the county, with a small portion located in Clarion County in Pennsylvania. The population was 784 at the 2000 census...
in 1979 by Hryhory Kytasty
Hryhory Kytasty
Hryhoriy Trokhymovych Kytasty was a Ukrainian émigré composer and conductor. In 2008 he was honored with the Hero of Ukraine state decoration.- Early years :Hryhory Kytasty was born in the town of Kobeliaky, Poltava oblast...
, the long-standing conductor of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and inspiration to generations of bandura enthusiasts.
Overview
Kobzarska Sich allows young musicians to study under some of the most accomplished bandurists as well as non-bandurist musicians from around the world,. improving their bandura skills and musicianship. Previous camps have featured such prominent instructors as: Hryhory KytastyHryhory Kytasty
Hryhoriy Trokhymovych Kytasty was a Ukrainian émigré composer and conductor. In 2008 he was honored with the Hero of Ukraine state decoration.- Early years :Hryhory Kytasty was born in the town of Kobeliaky, Poltava oblast...
, Julian Kytasty
Julian Kytasty
Julian Kytasty is a Ukrainian-American composer, singer, kobzar, bandurist, flute player and conductor. He was born January 23 1958 in Detroit, Michigan, in the family of refugees....
, Oleh Mahlay
Oleh Mahlay
Oleh Mahlay - American violinist, pianist, bandurist, choral conductor and lawyer of Ukrainian ethnicity. Mahlay has made a significant contribution to Ukrainian emigre music, primarily through his work with the Ukrainian bandura and the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus.-Biography:Born in Cleveland,...
, Taras Lazurkevych, Oleh Sozansky, Ola Herasymenko, Alexis Kochan
Alexis Kochan
Alexis Kochan is a Ukrainian-Canadian composer and singer. She was born in 1953 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Ukrainian immigrants.-Biography:Singer Alexis Kochan was born in 1953 and raised in Winnipeg's North End...
, Bohdan and Halyna Heryavenko, Halyna Kvitka-Kondratsky and others.
Participants attending Kobzarska Sich’s Bandura Course are exposed to an intense personal experience. Participants receive over seven hours of daily individual and group instruction. Formal classroom instruction is offered in the techniques of bandura playing, bandura history, solo and ensemble playing, solo and ensemble singing, music lectures and theory.
All Saints Ukrainian Church Camp has always been home to Kobzarska Sich. Participants live in well kept cabins along the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
and, in addition to a rigorous music schedule, have an opportunity to enjoy recreational activities such as swimming, tennis, volleyball, baseball, basketball, and other fun activities.
Bandura Programs
Campers are able to enroll into four different programs, based on experience, age and Interests. Aspiring bandura players between the ages of 9-11 have an opportunity to enroll in one week course.Those who are 12 years and older have an opportunity to enroll in the full two week Bandura Course. This course focuses on over seven hours of daily group instruction in: the technique of playing bandura, bandura history, solo and ensemble playing and singing, music lectures, and elementary music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
.
Choral Programs
Campers of all ages also have the option to be part of either the Ukrainian Choral Workshop or Sacred Music.The Sacred Music workshop is a four-day seminar that provides an opportunity to sing sacred works by Ukrainian master composers and provides practical pointers for church singers, cantors, and conductors alike relative to common areas of church singing. Listening lectures open up many hidden aspects of sacred music tradition.
The Ukrainian Choral Workshop is a one-week intensive and enjoyable workshop focuses on the singing and performance of Ukrainian folk music
Ukrainian folk music
Ukrainian folk music includes a number of varieties of ethnic , folkloric, folk inspired popular and folk inspired classical traditions....
. Participants take part in various ensembles, private lessons, and are instructed by teachers with extensive backgrounds in Ukrainian vocal music.