KOLO choir

02/12/2026

Last Sunday, Kolo had the honor of performing at the book launch event for Terra Invicta. This edited volume is a collection of essays about Ukraine — the unconquered land — which is surviving and continuing to create and to hope despite four years of Russian bombing and invasion. How fitting it was to sing old ancestral songs at an event celebrating the Ukrainian people's connection to the land.🌾

Almost every folk song we sing paints a picture of a field, a meadow, an orchard, or a grove. These landscapes turn into soundscapes as Ukrainians sing about their love for and connection to the land. Kolo, made up of Ukrainians far away from home and Canadians with Ukrainian roots, connects to our land — to Terra Invicta — one song at a time.

01/20/2026

Dear Vancouver friends! In these times, when winters are cold and dark for Ukrainians remaining in Ukraine, it is especially important to continue raising awareness around the world about our homeland.

📚 On Sunday, February 8, we invite everyone to attend the presentation of TERRA INVICTA: Ukrainian Wartime Reimaginings for a Habitable Earth — a series of critical and creative articulations of pasts, presents, and possible futures. The book understands the war in Ukraine not only as political and military, but also as environmental — a struggle over land (zemlia), ecology, memory, and the right to a future.

Through themes of decoloniality, ecocultural identity, reconstruction, and artistic responsibility, the contributors explore the deep relationship between Ukrainians and the land they belong to. The volume asks how culture and art can respond to collective loss, and what it means to remain committed to place and life amid destruction and uncertainty.

The event will include an overview of the book, a conversation with two of the book’s co-author participants describing their recent travels in Ukraine, and musical performances by Oleksiy Hrynyshyn and us, — a special opportunity to hear us at our first performance of 2026.
A reception with food and drinks will follow.

📍EVENT DETAILS:
Sunday, February 8, 2026
3:00–5:00 PM PST
Rooms 1400–1410, SFU Harbour Centre
https://facebook.com/events/s/terra-invicta-ukrainian-wartim/3913768455434753/

📷:

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! 🌟🎄
Thank you for sharing beautiful moments with us in 2025. With courage, inspiration, and many new ideas, we are stepping into 2026.
Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead!

12/25/2025

In Kolo Choir, we’re curious about how Ukrainian music and songs were preserved and shaped in Canada and North America by the first waves of Ukrainian immigrants 🇺🇦🇨🇦

Some books survived better here in Canada than in Ukraine, where Russian influence led to censorship and destruction. Part of Ukraine’s cultural memory was safeguarded across the ocean, and we want to explore how this influenced Ukrainian songs.

Part of this journey involves collecting old vinyls, and we’ll be sharing our finds with you along the way. Today, we’re starting with a vinyl that isn’t originally Ukrainian music, but Ukrainian translations of English Christmas carols, recorded in 1965 (60 years ago).

Many Ukrainians know the Ukrainian version of Silent Night. This album credits all translations to W.T. Sklyapovich, suggesting he may have been the original translator of the Silent Night we still sing today.

More discoveries to come 🎶✨

12/20/2025

We’re excited to share the results of Kolo Choir’s first stand-alone concert, held on November 29, 2025.

Our choir’s mission is to explore the power of the human voice through ancient folk songs and their interpretations, to reconnect with our history, and to bring to life the stories passed down through generations — preserving and nurturing Ukrainian heritage on Canada’s West Coast.
Performing for a wider Canadian audience was deeply moving for us, as we had the honor of sharing the depth, beauty, and spirit of our ancestors’ voices.

We are deeply grateful for the support and heartfelt feedback we received after the concert. Seeing a sold-out audience of over 300 guests was truly inspiring. We thank everyone who attended — through ticket sales, the auction, and donations, the evening became a meaningful act of support for Ukraine.

$6,418 from the Ancestral Voices concert went toward helping Ukraine.
The event was made possible through the organizational support of the non-profit Maple Hope Foundation and had a fundraising purpose, with part of the proceeds directed to the Foundation’s medical aid line.
We also planned to direct part of the funds to support causes chosen by our choir members. It’s a pleasure to announce that the choir has decided to contribute to another Maple Hope Foundation project — “Heal a Mother’s Heart” — which provides bereavement programs for women in Ukraine who have lost loved ones due to the war.

With gratitude to everyone who joined us in this journey, we look forward to continuing to celebrate, share, and support the spirit of Ukraine through song.

12/03/2025

While we still cherish the memories from our concert last Saturday, the Christmas season is already unfolding. Can’t believe it’s December — Christmas is coming up so fast! ✨🎄

On December 12th, we’ll be guest performers at the ‘Carol of the Bells’ event at the Annex Theatre. This event is dedicated to the story of the Ukrainian song “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych and, more importantly, to supporting children affected by the war in Ukraine.
🌟 This is a wonderful opportunity to hear us — and other talented performers — for the last time this year while supporting a meaningful cause.

More details and tickets here:

12/01/2025

What an unforgettable night! 🤍🎶
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday and helped fill the hall with 300+ amazing people. Your energy was truly incredible, and we’re so grateful you chose to spend the evening with us.

A huge thank-you to Maple Hope Foundation for supporting us and helping make this concert possible.
We especially want to acknowledge Iaroslav Pokhilko, President and Co-Founder of MHF, and Hanna Khondak, Director of Marketing at MHF — it was such a pleasure collaborating with you.

Our warmest thanks also go to Sabrina Rani Mehra Furminger, our wonderful host for the evening. Your energy and presence made the night even more special.

Thank you to all our choir members — you are the best!
Special thanks to Lera and Olha for your active help and dedication throughout the entire preparation;
to Tanya and Inna for creating our beautiful looks;
and to Masha, our wonderful staging manager. 🪄

And of course, none of this would have been possible without our choir director, incredible soul Oleksiy .sound — we are so lucky to have you!

Thank you again to everyone who came and shared this night with us.
Until next time! ✨

Photos by

@ Darren
Thank you for capturing these precious moments for us!

11/28/2025

TOMORROW
Ancestral Voices calling...

Ukrainian Polyphony with Kolo Choir
📍Canadian Memorial United Church
⏰7pm, doors open at 6:30pm

11/28/2025

It’s been almost three years since the idea of KOLO was born. United by our commitment to preserving Ukrainian polyphony and supporting Ukraine in these difficult times, we never expected to come this far. We’re very grateful for our community — none of this would be possible without you.

A special thank you to Mykhailo Ozorovych and the community at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral for welcoming us and offering us a space to rehearse. We truly appreciate your ongoing support!

Meanwhile, 2 days left until our concert!
✨ Ancestral Voices: Ukrainian Polyphony with Kolo Choir
🎫 Tickets at the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1533481066149

11/26/2025

Вітання від хору КОЛО! Наближається дата нашого концерту, який ми виношували в серці та до якого готувались протягом всього року 🧡

В останні дні перед виступом, квитки закінчуються особливо швидко! Поспішіть придбати ваші ⏳
Діє знижена вартість при купівлі завчасно онлайн

🎟 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1533481066149

11/26/2025

Greetings from KOLO choir! We’re getting so close to the concert date — something we’ve been carrying in our hearts and preparing for you throughout this past year 🧡

In these last days before the show, seats are going fast — make sure to grab yours! And there’s a lower price when you book tickets online in advance

See you on November 29 at 7 PM at Canadian Memorial United Church in Vancouver!
🎟 Tickets at the link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1533481066149

11/25/2025

Vancouver! This Saturday, November 29, we’re gathering to welcome you to our special charity concert in one of the city’s most beautiful historic venues 🙌

We’re privileged to share with you the authentic treasures of Ukrainian musical heritage — from ancient ritual songs to the warm magic of Christmas carols, including ‘Carol of the Bells’, first written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych over a century ago and now beloved around the world.

No knowledge of Ukrainian is needed to feel the magic of this evening!

👉 Ancestral Voices: Ukrainian Polyphony with Kolo Choir
🎫 Tickets at the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1533481066149

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The concert is presented by Kolo Choir with the support of Maple Hope Foundation

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