Book Talk and Music Samples with Author Dr. Marika Kuzma—Carols of Birds, Bells and Sacred Hymns from Ukraine: An Anthology and Cultural Companion

Monday, November 18, 2024 at 5:00pm
Memorial Chapel, 221 High Street, Middletown, CT

Free and open to the public

Introduced by Oleksandra Volakova ’27

Critically acclaimed conductor and choral historian Marika C. Kuzma talks about her book, Carols of Birds, Bells and Sacred Hymns from Ukraine: An Anthology and Cultural Companion, and presents some music samples.

“...groundbreaking..... A unique book that one can not only read but also sing.”
—Harvard historian Serhii Plokhy

“The recent horrendous invasion of Ukraine has given heightened urgency to the study and promulgation of Ukrainian culture. Marika’s comprehensive anthology and passionate scholarship shines a bright light on the vital choral tradition in Ukraine and makes it accessible to choirs, conductors, and music lovers around the world.”
—Grant Gershon, Grammy Award Winning Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale

Marika C. Kuzma is a critically acclaimed conductor and choral historian who has performed repertoires from many centuries and diverse countries. She has directed music by composers from Hildegard to Dufay, Bach, Mozart, Verdi, Messiaen, Britten, Reich, Weston in venues such as Carnegie Hall, NYC, Stephansdom in Vienna, Austria, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, USA and the Kyiv Mohyla Academy, Ukraine. Kuzma is a Professor Emerita of the University of California, Berkeley, USA. Her experience in producing a critical edition of Dmitry Bortniansky’s choral concertos (Carus Verlag) and in scrutinizing scores by Brahms and Stravinsky for scholarly articles has guided her process of researching and curating this anthology. She has given invited talks at universities across North America and at the Kyiv and Moscow conservatories. Of Ukrainian descent, she is honored to create this bridge to the culture of her forebears.

Co-sponsored by Fries Center for Global Studies; Music Department; Religion Department; Department of Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies; Center for the Arts.

Images: Photo of church in Kryvorivnia by Tania D’Avignon; embroidery frame by Jaroslava Kukil; author photo by Lisa Keating