It seems they do nothing unusual: they just step onto the stage and sing. Familiar songs, forgotten and rediscovered in archives, original and folk works, folklore, world and Ukrainian classics. But they do it so uniquely, in their own interpretation, with such raw nervous energy of the soul, that they were immediately called a phenomenon of modern Ukrainian song creativity.

Have you guessed or been hinted at who this is about? Of course, it's about the choir "Homin," well-known far beyond Ukraine, at least everywhere Ukrainian hearts beat, which in 2023 became a creative part of the Lviv Organ Hall. It was then that the new history of the ensemble began — with the new leader Vadym Yatsenko and an updated lineup of singers.

Did they dream of such success? I don't know. But, after performing a cappella in a jazz arrangement "This Dream, This Dream" — a famous song by Stepan Higa, they truly woke up famous. And soon, after a few more works, the term "phenomenon" became firmly associated with them. Do they like it — young and ambitious? Probably, yes. Who wouldn't be pleased when praised, when there are so many positive reviews about you. But only they know the incredible work behind this characteristic. Otherwise, there would be no phenomenon. Otherwise, there would be no success. There would be no popularity — there would be no great joy of knowing that you are awaited in different corners of the world.

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And they were awaited in Chicago. And they came. Last Saturday, "Homin" invited their fans to the retro song program "This Choir, This Choir." The concert took place in the heart of the Windy City — at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.

While the audience hall was filling up with those eager to hear the popular "Homin," we spoke with one of the directors of the Lviv Organ Hall, who accompanies the ensemble on the creative trip. Mr. Taras Demko told the newspaper "Surma" that the concert in Chicago was part of a large tour of the ensemble, which began back in August last year.

Initially, performances took place in almost all major cities of Ukraine. In October, the ensemble headed to Europe — nine countries and eighteen cities. The next stage was a Christmas tour of Ukraine. On the eve of the Easter holidays, there was another, smaller-scale, trip to Europe. And now — the United States.

The ensemble is in America for the first time. Performances have already taken place in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte. Today — Chicago (by the way, the 273rd concert of the big tour). Next — Detroit, a move to Canada and performances there in all major cities. The creative journey will end again in the USA, in Sacramento. Then the choir flies to Europe, where concerts are also planned until the end of May before returning home.

– As you can see, we are in a very active creative period right now, – says Taras Demko. – We brought a program of retro songs to America, which has become very popular with audiences. Besides, I would call it special for "Homin." It is unifying. It unites our entire country. Even in the sense that people from different regions of Ukraine work in the ensemble. In the sense that in our songs — forests, steppes, mountains… In the sense that these are songs known to different generations of viewers. And names like Volodymyr Ivasyuk, Anatoliy Horchynsky, Yuriy Rybchynsky, whose works we have included in our repertoire, speak for themselves.

– Many of these songs are both popular and have their amazing stories, – continues Taras Demko. – For example, the song "In the Autumn Garden White Asters." You probably know that it was stolen by Russians, who turned it into a somewhat vulgar "Someone Came Down from the Hill…" So, we are returning this and other songs to Ukrainian culture, returning them to people who know the true creative value of such songs. We sing about love, about spring, about youth, about the beauty of native land and the beauty of human relationships… It seems to me that this program — retro — embodies the Ukrainian dream. And it inspires. Both singers and viewers. When people leave these concerts, they say: we had a great rest, we were charged with amazing energy, we shed a few years or even decades off our shoulders. Pleasant words…

Pleasant is also the official recognition of the ensemble, which, according to Ukrinform, was named the best choir in Ukraine in both 2024 and 2025. Behind this success is also great work: a rich repertoire — from music created over 500 years ago to modern rhythms; several concert programs of different thematic directions; a truly unique opportunity to work with an organ or with the large symphony orchestra of the Luhansk Philharmonic, which is currently temporarily relocated to the Lviv Organ Hall.

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No less important was the bold step to include works by French composers, Scandinavian and Baltic choral music, as well as compositions in Latin in the repertoire.

— But Ukrainian culture is foremost, — emphasizes Taras Demko. — For example, now we have the goal to record all of Mykola Leontovych for his 150th anniversary. We have been working on this for a year, and another year lies ahead. Because Leontovych is not only "Shchedryk," which made him famous worldwide, but also many other wonderful works. They should also be heard by the world. Therefore, we use every opportunity, every stage, every performance for the promotion of Ukrainian music and for the promotion of Ukraine.

Moreover, today the choir "Homin" has defined two key missions for itself. Our interlocutor speaks of them as follows:

The first is, as I have already mentioned, the popularization of Ukrainian song. The sincere interest of the audience, which gives us strength and inspiration, is particularly inspiring. Allow me to say: never before in the history of Ukrainian culture has there been such interest specifically in a choral ensemble and choral singing. We are witnesses to this process. It not only inspires but also obliges us to work qualitatively.

The second mission, which we are very proud of, is no less important: using publicity to contribute to supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. That is, our activity also has a powerful charitable component. We collect and transfer funds to our military. Just in the last year, we managed to transfer 28 million hryvnias for our greatest dream — peace on native land. But this amount would be impossible without every Ukrainian heart, wherever it beats.

Looking ahead, I will say: at the concert in Chicago, the audience actively supported the charitable activities of the choir "Homin" — with donations to boxes, purchasing tickets for the lottery, and participating in the auction. In total, over 10 thousand dollars were raised.

In addition, the choir invited special guests to the hall — wounded Ukrainian defenders, who, thanks to the charitable foundation PROTEZ FOUNDATION, are in the United States for treatment and prosthetics.

As for the concert itself, I haven't seen such a hall in a long time, where hundreds of hearts beat like one big heart. I haven't heard such silence in a long time while songs were being performed — and there were about two dozen of them. And I haven't heard such a storm of applause when the last chords faded. And how could it be otherwise, when poignant motifs about white asters in the autumn garden, about cornflower eyes, about rose petals scattered on the platform — silent witnesses of a broken love, about the Hutsul girl Ksenia and the night over the Carpathians, about distant mountains and the mysterious red rue were heard from the stage.

The artists sang, communicated with the audience, joked. To the wildly enthusiastic reaction of the audience to their calling card — the song "This Dream, This Dream" — they responded with humor: saying, we understand why it resonates with you so much, because the first line mentions a meeting "by the lake on a summer night…". And now we have almost a summer night with you, and the lake is nearby — the majestic Michigan. Everything comes together. Only, we hope, mutual love will not be limited to a dream but will turn into a good reality.

Some of the audience, unable to contain their emotions, sang along. And not just some — almost the entire hall. And this despite the fact that among the listeners were people of different ages, and some works were performed long before the youngest of those present were born. But there are songs that, no matter how many years pass, remain timeless. Especially when these are songs about love — that bright feeling that ultimately makes a person human.

This was the kind of concert for which the audience thanked the artists not only with thunderous applause and flowers but also… with a korovai. Yes, yes, a real korovai, which was specially baked for this creative meeting by the Ukrainian craftswoman Oksana Klyuiko, supporting the idea of the well-known community host of artistic events and private events Liliya Semko. It was she who presented it to the artists as a symbol of unity, love, and blessing. And again, the hall was filled with the spirit of Ukraine — sincere, hospitable, blooming.

And the leader of the ensemble, Vadym Yatsenko, took and said: "Now we will sing a song about one Ukrainian city (it was the incomparable "Kyiv My"). About my favorite city. And you, singing along with us, can close your eyes and imagine each your native corner on the parental land… And soar there in thoughts… And feel it…”

I don't know about other viewers, but I managed to soar. To feel. Thanks to the incredible singing of "Homin," and also because that very day, a few hours before the concert, my mother sent me a photo: cherry trees are blooming near my house. There, in the native village in Prykarpattia.

They bloom so lushly, so uncontrollably, so tenderly. And indeed: how can you not love, dear land? Just peace to you. Just peace…

 

Photographer Roman Kost