December 05, 2024
Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University

On December 05, 2024, a major cultural and artistic project of the Faculty of Musical Art and Choreography “European Bells over Ukraine” was presented at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University with the participation of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Ukraine Luc Jacobs. The author of the idea, participant of almost all musical performances, composer and carillon teacher was Iryna Riabchun, PhD in Art Studies, Associate Professor of the Department of Music and Performing Arts, the only certified carillonist in Ukraine.

For the first time in Ukraine, a presentation of carillon art was presented at a higher education institution, namely at Grinchenko University. Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University is the only higher education institution in Ukraine that provides professional training in learning to play this instrument in the educational and professional program “Instrumental Performance”.
Acting Rector, Honored Education Worker of Ukraine Oleksandr Turuntsev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium Luc Jacobs welcomed the audience and project participants. They noted the uniqueness of this event, as carillon art, which is widespread in Europe, is only developing in Ukraine, and expressed hope for further creative cooperation.
The project involved more than 50 participants - students and teachers of the Faculty of Musical Art and Choreography: Iryna Riabchun, students of her class Liubomyr Loiek and Larysa Horenko, National Artist of Ukraine, Professor of the Department of Academic and Pop Vocal Viktor Teteria, folk art сhoir “Brevis” (art director – Olena Zaverukha, PhD in Art Studies, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Academic and Pop Vocal), folk instruments ensemble “Malachite” (directed by Margarita Malakhova, PhD in Pedagogy, Head of the Department of Instrumental and Performing Arts), bandura band (headed by Olena Ruban, Lecturer at the Department of Instrumental and Performing Arts), ASK band (headed by Yana Kyrylenko, PhD in Art Studies, Associate Professor, Deputy Dean), Green Dance Theater (choreographed by Anna Yelina), invited guests, etc.
The author of the script and director of the project is Hanna Kondratenko, Dean of the Faculty of Musical Art and Choreography, PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor.
The project coordinator is Olena Ivanenko, Deputy Dean, PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor.
As part of the project, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belgium Luc Jacobs and representative of the Embassy Daria Puchkova were given an excursion in the Museum of Musical Instruments by Nataliia Svyrydenko, National Artist of Ukraine, Professor of the Department of Instrumental and Performing Arts. Yulia Bohodyr, a 1st year student of the Instrumental Performance program, performed a sonata by J.A. Benda on a 19th century grand piano.
The cultural and artistic project “European Bells Over Ukraine” brought together music from different European countries and Ukrainian folk songs, demonstrating that combining traditional Ukrainian music with modern technology can create unique musical works that impress with their beauty and depth. The project has become a vivid testament to the power of art and a symbol of Ukraine's unity with European countries.
Materials provided by Faculty of Musical Art and Choreography