The music of the festival “Vyshyvanka Unites – Rahvustikand ühendab” warmed, inspired and united!

Even when the May sky above the festival sometimes hid behind the clouds, the stage glowed with warmth – thanks to our unique performers.

Special thanks to ALIKA: she became the true voice of the festival’s heart. Her performance was not just a concert – it was a tender embrace of the Ukrainian soul. ALIKA sang in Ukrainian, performed her own songs and favourite songs by Okean Elzy, which all the museum’s guests sang along to. Her voice seemed to wrap everyone in warmth and remind them of home, no matter how long they have lived abroad.

And when Cossack Mamai and Katia Boiko – leader of the band E.K.A, soloist of the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and a volunteer – took the stage, the space filled with the living power of tradition.

And, of course, Ruslan Trochynskyi – the long-standing frontman of the band “Sviata Vatra”. A man who is welcomed equally warmly in Ukraine and in Estonia. His music is a fire that lifts you off the bench and makes you clap, dance and feel unity through rhythm and melody.

We thank the ambassador of Ukrainian culture and art, Ambassador of Peace and Honoured Variety Artist of Ukraine Lesia Korolyk, who came from Italy for our festival to perform for the Ukrainian community!

The festival stage also became a meeting place for dozens of groups, each of which brought a piece of its heart:

• Ukrainian song and dance ensemble “VOLYA” led by artistic director Yevhenii Novokhatnii, chief choreographer Anastasiia Kozachok and head of the vocal group Kateryna Chalova (Tallinn)
• Rahvakunstiselts «Leigarid», artistic director Sille Kapper-Tiisler (Tallinn)
• Ukrainian Sunday school “Nadija”, leaders: Karina Amirkhanian-Chervinko and Alla Inno-Yakymenko (Tallinn)
• Rahvatantsuansambel «Soveldaja» leaders Elo Unt and David Truusa
• Vocal ensemble “Malvy”, artistic director – Anastasiia Remen (Kohtla-Järve)
• Tantsurühm «Kedrus», artistic director – Eevi Pärt (Saaremaa)
• Sillamäe Ukrainian community “Vodograi”, leader – Svitlana Stashkevich (Sillamäe)
• Dance group “Rytm”, leader – Olena Mukhina (Paide)
• Vocal ensemble of the Ukrainian community of Narva, leader – Iryna Lobanova (Narva)
• Vocal studio “Karamel”, artistic director – Yana Balakina (Tallinn)
• Vocal and instrumental ensemble “Dzherelo” led by Taras Muzychko (Tallinn)
• Folk ensemble “ZHURBA”, leader – Volodymyr Leibiuk (Tallinn)
• Pupils of class 5U of Keila Kool led by Oksana Koturha (Keila)
• Ensemble “Barvinok”, artistic director Svitlana Fursova (Rakvere)
• Duo True Colors
• Zinaida Vinchura and the ensemble “Rodovid”
• Yevheniia Verhun
• Kyrylo Dudkin
• Di Yurii

Together they created a unique atmosphere of unity, strength, memory and hope. Thank you to everyone who gave us music and to everyone who listened with their heart. You are part of the great Ukrainian story in Estonia!

We also thank the photographers for the pictures that captured the moments of our artists’ performances:

• Ivan Danyliuk
• Olya Makarchenko
• Sukhodolska Lilia
• Natalia Drozd
• Kot Ramzes
• Iryna Shestakova
• Shestakov&Maki
• Maryna Zelenko
• Artem Pylypchuk
• Oleksandr Storozhuk
• Riazantseva Halyna
• Vasilevych Anhelina

At this link  you will find all the photos from the festival.

A reminder: today is the last day of the giveaway! Write a post about your impressions of the festival, tag the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia on Facebook or Instagram and add the hashtags #вишиванкаобєднує and #rahvustikandühendab.

The post with the most likes and the one the organisers judge the most heartfelt will receive a gift – a T-shirt and tote bag from the Association.

Posts can be published until 26 May (inclusive), and the winner will be announced tomorrow – 27 May!