The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) has consistently supported young talents for many years, seeing this as one of the most important ways to preserve and develop Ukrainian culture. Passing this invaluable heritage to the next generations is not only the mission of the Institute but also its profound responsibility.

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On one of the first days of the new year, the UIMA gallery was filled with the sounds of an inspiring concert by two bright young musicians — violinist Yulia Perehozhuk and pianist Myroslav Mykhailenko. Their joint performance was a convincing testament that the Ukrainian musical tradition is not only preserved but also developed, finding new resonance in the modern cultural context.

Yulia and Myroslav truly convey the magic of Ukrainian music — its soul, beauty, and deep emotionality. Their performance was a bright sign of hope and a worthy continuation of the musical tradition that we at the Institute gratefully preserve and pass on, revealing the richness and uniqueness of Ukrainian culture to a foreign audience. After all, culture is the heart of the people, its spirit, and invaluable heritage, which we proudly defend and multiply.

The concert began with a blessing from Father Pavlo Drozdjak, who symbolically noted that this evening we gathered for a "spiritual dinner, where we will consume special food for the soul — music as a unique and profound form of art." Orysia Cardoso, the head of the UIMA board, warmly welcomed the guests and performers, emphasizing that the Institute nurtures and presents young talents, whom the esteemed audience has the honor to listen to this evening.

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In the first part of the program, works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Camille Saint-Saëns were performed. The audience was overwhelmed with emotions, captivated by the high technique, musical maturity, and expressiveness of the young performers' play.

The second part of the concert was dedicated to Ukrainian music. The audience enjoyed "Ukrainian Dance" (from six Ukrainian folk songs) by Markiyan Melnychenko and "Ukrainian Rhapsody" by Ivan Levytsky. The arrangement of the Ukrainian folk song "Plyve kacha po Tysyni" was listened to standing, with tears in their eyes, as everyone thought of Ukraine and the great tragedy of today — the loss of our bloom, those who give their lives for the freedom and fate of their native land. Myroslav Skoryk's "Melody," with which the concert concluded, was performed with special emotion.

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The audience was genuinely impressed by the performance of Yulia Perehozhuk and Myroslav Mykhailenko, rewarding the young artists with ovations for each piece performed. Incidentally, among the attendees were over a dozen listeners with education from the Lviv and Kyiv conservatories, so their prolonged and warm applause was an especially valuable professional evaluation of the young talents. Therefore, it can be confidently said that these two young musicians are serious candidates for a successful professional career.

We are pleased to note that the activities of the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art are a vivid example of how a living cultural space is formed in the diaspora, uniting contemporary art, music, literature, and cinema. With dedication and dignity, the Institute represents the Ukrainian cultural voice to the world, passing it on to the next generations and establishing modern Ukraine on the international art map.

Finally, another important point. The musical evening we told you about was charitable. During its preparation and execution, $1,000 was raised for the Syniagovsky Orphanage located in the city of Zinkiv, Poltava region. Therefore, sincere gratitude to everyone who attended the creative evening, supporting both the young musicians and such an important charitable cause.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

Yulia Perehozhuk is a laureate of numerous awards and distinctions from prestigious music competitions. Her performances have been broadcast on WFMT radio, and in 2023 she performed at Carnegie Hall as a winner of the American Protégé Music Competition. Yulia has participated in master classes with outstanding musicians and is a recipient of the Frank Little Merit Scholarship Award (2020–2024) and the Academy Merit Scholarship Award (2022–2023) at the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC). For eight years, she was a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) and served as concertmaster during the orchestra's tour in Spain. In 2025, Yulia also performed at the Lollapalooza festival. In collaboration with pianist-concertmaster Myroslav Mykhailenko, Yulia has performed in numerous solo concerts on various stages, including multiple times at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA). She is currently a student at Benet Academy.

Myroslav Mykhailenko is a talented pianist pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees in piano performance at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. He actively performs as a soloist, concertmaster, and chamber musician. Myroslav is a laureate of the Chicago International Music Competition (2022) and the Concours International de Piano Ville de Gagny (2017). He has performed in Washington and on WFMT radio. Myroslav has participated in master classes with leading teachers and renowned musicians. Active participation in the musical life of the Chicago and Baltimore communities holds special significance for him. As a concertmaster and chamber musician, Myroslav has collaborated with his brother Nazarii Mykhailenko, with Yulia Perehozhuk, and other performers. He previously studied at the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory and was a Fellow at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago.