The Ukrainian Church Music Archive

Website Contact the establishment

The Ukrainian Church Music Archive A systematic effort to find and catalogue Ukrainian church music before it is lost forever. We are looking specifically for choral sheet music.

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?I recently came across a photocopy of a manuscript written by Stepan STELMASCHUK [Степан Стель...
10/12/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

I recently came across a photocopy of a manuscript written by Stepan STELMASCHUK [Степан Стельмащук], which contains choral arrangements of two Christmas carols from Ternopil. Unfortunately, there’s no date to indicate when it was made.

Stepan Stelmaschuk was born on October 8, 1925, in the village of Skorodyntsi, [с. Скородинці Терноп. обл.]. After receiving his musical education in the 1950s at the Lviv Music College and the Lviv Conservatory, he went on to conduct numerous choirs. In 1962, he organized the male choir "Beskyd" [“Бескид”], and directed it for 37 years.

In the realm of sacred music, he composed a Divine Liturgy for mixed choir and made arrangements of hymns and carols.

Professor Stelmaschuk passed away in Lviv on January 5, 2011, and is buried in the Sykhiv Cemetery [Сихівський цвинтар].

I am the choir director at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, and I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?This is the beginning of a 1952 composition written in Brazil by Monsignor Clemente PREIMA [o....
10/05/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

This is the beginning of a 1952 composition written in Brazil by Monsignor Clemente PREIMA [o. Климентій Приймa], a Ukrainian Catholic priest of the Order of St. Basil. His complete score, is posted on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Clemente Preima was born in Brazil in 1914. He came from the small town of Iracema in the Santa Catarina region. In 1932, he traveled to Rome to study at St. Jospahat Pontifical Ukrainian College. After his ordination, he returned to Brazil and was assigned to a small church in the town of Mallet. In 1953, he was elevated to the rank of Monsignor. In the 1960s, he was brought to the U. S. at the request of Bishop Joseph Schmondiuk, who assigned him to the parish of St. George (Boston) and later St. Nicholas (Brooklyn, NY). Monsignor Preima hoped someday to return to Brazil, but he passed away in Brooklyn in 1979. His body was sent back to Brazil for burial in the Ukrainian Cemetery in Mallet.

I am the choir director at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, and I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?This little booklet for congregational singing [Самоїлка] was issued in Winnipeg in 1951 by Re...
09/28/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

This little booklet for congregational singing [Самоїлка] was issued in Winnipeg in 1951 by Rev. Vasyl KUDRYK [o. прот. Вaсиль Кyдрик], Ukrainian Orthodox priest, poet, and newspaper editor. The complete book, along with a few more of his publications, are posted on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Father Kudryk was born in Halychyna in 1880 in the village of Tsebriw [Цебрів, Тернопільська область]. His family came to Canada in 1903 and settled on a farm near Tolstoi, Manitoba. He was the first editor (1910-1921) of the weekly newspaper “Ukrainian Voice.” He was also one of the founders of St. Mary the Protectress Cathedral in Winnipeg. In 1923, he was ordained into the priesthood and served at various parishes around Saskatchewan until 1941, when he became editor of “The Herald” [Вісник], the official newsletter of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada. Father Kudryk was a great lover of Ukrainian music and literature. He lectured at St. Andrews College until his retirement in 1954. He passed away in Winnipeg on October 7, 1963.

I am the choir director at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, and I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?I found this item up in the choir loft of my church in Parma, Ohio. It’s a transcription of th...
09/21/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

I found this item up in the choir loft of my church in Parma, Ohio. It’s a transcription of the Nativity Canon made in 1943 by Rev. Wolodymyr SLUZAR [Прот. о. Володимир Слузар], who served for 48 years as pastor at St. Sophie Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Montreal. It is posted, along with a few more of his scores, on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Rev. Sluzar was born in 1895 in Bukovyna in the village of Chunkiv [с.Чуньків у Чернівецької області]. He immigrated to Canada in 1923 and shortly thereafter was ordained a priest. He served at several parishes in Saskatchewan before moving to Montreal, where he established the church of St. Sophie--the first Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Eastern Canada. Rev. Sluzar was also a great choral conductor. Each of the choirs that he directed were known for their excellence. He passed away in 1976.

I am the choir director at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, and I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?Here are a few excerpts from a 1988 Divine Liturgy composed by Sergei EREMENKO [Сергій Яременк...
09/14/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

Here are a few excerpts from a 1988 Divine Liturgy composed by Sergei EREMENKO [Сергій Яременко], the choir director for 38 years at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Elia in Edmonton, Alberta. The rest of the score, is posted on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Professor Eremenko was born in 1912 in the city of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi [Білгород-Дністровський, в Одеській області]. In 1940, he studied at the conservatory of music in Chernivtsi. During World War II, he became a political prisoner and was sent to the Netherlands. He immigrated to Canada in 1952, settling first in Vancouver and then in Edmonton where he taught music, and conducted choirs and orchestras. He collaborated with Maria Dytyniak to form the women’s vocal group “Merezhi.” He was also a member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. In 1959, he began directing the choir at St. Elia and held that post until his death on November 19, 1997.

I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?This book was issued in Winnipeg in the 1950s by Rev. Peter ROMANYSHYN [o. Петро Ромaнишин]. U...
09/07/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

This book was issued in Winnipeg in the 1950s by Rev. Peter ROMANYSHYN [o. Петро Ромaнишин]. Using Dolnytsky’s 1894 “Hlasopisnets” as his source, Fr. Peter worked with Andrij Hnatyshyn of Vienna to harmonize the resurrection propers in the eight tones. The complete book, is posted on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Father Peter was born in 1910 in the village of Staryi Myliatyn [Старий Милятин, Львівська область]. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in Lviv in 1935 and went on to earn a master’s degree in church music (Berlin, 1944). After serving as pastor at DP “Camp Ohio” in Burgdorf, Germany (1945-48), he immigrated to Canada (1949), where he was assigned to the parishes in Shoal Lake, Menzie, Birtle, and Solsgirth. In 1965, he was transferred to St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church in Winnipeg, where he remained until 1985 when he became the Spiritual Director at Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa.

I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?Here are a few pages taken from a soprano part book for the Memorial Service [Панахида] made b...
08/31/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

Here are a few pages taken from a soprano part book for the Memorial Service [Панахида] made by Fr. Ihor ZBOTANIW [o. Ігор Зботанів]. He wrote it sometime in the 1950s, just prior to his becoming a Ukrainian Orthodox priest. The rest of the notes for all four voices can be found on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Fr. Ihor Zbotaniw was born in Volyn in 1932 in the city of Lutsk [Луцьк на Волині]. He came to America in June of 1950, settled in Chicago, got married, and joined the parish of St. Volodymyr Cathedral on West Cortez Street. Later, he became a priest and was assigned to the parish at Holy Trinity in Goshen, Indiana. He passed away on Sept. 24, 1988, in nearby Elkhart.

I am grateful to the pastor of St. Volodymyr Father Ivan Lymar and his son Volodymyr for sharing this document with me.

I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?This transcription of Bortniansky’s “Paschal Verses” [Стихири Пасхи] was made sometime around ...
08/24/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

This transcription of Bortniansky’s “Paschal Verses” [Стихири Пасхи] was made sometime around the 1960s by Ivan TRUCHLY [Іван Трухлий], conductor, lecturer, and former choirmaster at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chicago. This, as well as another piece by him, is posted on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Ivan Truchly was born in 1884 in the village of Zhyrivka [Жирівка на Полтавщині]. He received his musical training at the Kyiv Conservatory. In the 1920s, he toured Europe as a singer with the famous Ukrainian Republican Capella directed by Alexander Koshetz. He went on to gain prominence as a conductor of choirs in Ukraine, Slovakia, and Germany.

In 1950, Professor Truchly immigrated to America and settled in the Bronx, where he directed the choir at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. He relocated to Chicago in 1962 to lead the “BOYAN” Choir of St. Volodymyr Cathedral. He also became the principle director of Chicago’s “SURMA” Choir.

Professor Truchly passed away in 1975 at the age of 91 and is buried at St. Andrew’s Cemetery in South Bound Brook, NJ.

I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

8/24/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?I recently came across this very rare item published in Lviv probably around 1900. It is a col...
08/17/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

I recently came across this very rare item published in Lviv probably around 1900. It is a collection of carols arranged for male chorus by Ostap NYZHANKIVSKY [Остап Нижанківський], composer, conductor, and Greek Catholic priest from Western Ukraine. The complete book is posted on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Ostap Nyzhankivsky was born in 1862 in a village near Lviv called Mali Didushychi [Малі Дідушичі, Львівська область]. After his graduation from the Prague Conservatory of Music, he set out to elevate the musical life of Halychyna by organizing choral concert tours throughout the region and establishing Boyan singing societies in a number of cities: Berezhany (1892), Lviv (1895-96), and Stryi (1900–14). Around the same time, he entered the priesthood (1892) and served at first in Berezhany.

In May of 1919, Polish troops invaded Stryi. The first victim of the occupation was Father Nyzhankivsky, who was arrested by the authorities and shot without a trial. He is buried alongside his wife in the family tomb in the cemetery in Stryi.

I am grateful to archivist Tamara Skrypka of the New York branch of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S.A. [УВАН] for her invaluable assistance.

I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?These pages of Ukrainian church music were made in 1962 by Yaroslav KOKORUDZ [Ярослав Кокорудз...
08/10/2026

WHAT’S IN YOUR CHOIR LOFT?

These pages of Ukrainian church music were made in 1962 by Yaroslav KOKORUDZ [Ярослав Кокорудз], former choir director of Chicago's "SLAVUTA" Choir. More of his scores are posted on my website “UKRAINIAN CHURCH MUSIC ARCHIVE” (https://ukrainianchurchmusicarchive.com/).

Yaroslav Kokorudz was born in 1919 in the village of Paportno [с. Папортно], Peremyshl Voivodeship, Poland. He studied music and medicine in Krakow and in Berlin. In his early days as a choir director, he led a student choir in Berlin as assistant conductor to Andrij Hnatyshyn. After World War II, he served as a medical doctor in the camps for displaced persons in Karlsfeld and Ellwangen in Germany. There he also organized and conducted church and camp choirs (1945-49). In 1949, he immigrated to the United States--first to Binghamton, New York, and later to Chicago (1960–74), where he became the choirmaster of the “SLAVUTA” choir of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral. He also directed the choir “SURMA” at SS. Volodymyr and Olha. He passed away on Мay 26, 1974, at the age of 55, and is buried at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Cemetery in Chicago.

Many thanks to Halyna Parasiuk, PhD, of the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago for helping me with this research.

I collect and digitize vintage musical materials like this. If anyone knows where I can find more items from the past, please message me, or send an email to [email protected].

Address

McKees Rocks, PA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Ukrainian Church Music Archive posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to The Ukrainian Church Music Archive:

Shortcuts

Share

Category