Kurbasy Comes To The University Of Saint Joseph

The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) will showcase the eclectic music of Ukrainian group Kurbasy on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

From the Carpathian Mountains, Lviv-based alt-trad group Kurbasy will bring their folk-based multimedia performances to the University of Saint Joseph on their debut U.S. tour. Exploring the eerie other-worldliness that pervades traditional village life, this performance draws on the ritual songs and stories of Ukraine. Conceived and directed by the band's three actress-singers Maria Oneshchak, Myroslava Kyshchun-Rachynska, and Nataliia Rybka-Parkhomenko, Kurbasy's sonic-theatrical explorations of Ukraine's rich trove of calendar song cycles, lullabies, and legends conjure the natural world, beliefs, and rituals, tracing contemporary connections to an archaic past.

Kurbasy's performances are a mesmerizing marriage of Ukrainian folklore, history, and musical experimentation. Enchanting electronic visuals and soul-stirring, harmonic vocals beckon audiences into dream-like visions of Ukraine's past, present, and future. The changing of the seasons, wedding ceremonies, and other elements of the Ukrainian cycle of life form the basis of the group's exploration. The theatrical backgrounds of Kurbasy's vocalists and their work with costume designers, musicians, and artists allow the group to create performances overflowing with dramatic tension, emotional expression, and stimulating visuals.

In 2017, Steve Raider Ginsburg, director of the Autorino Center for the Arts, was invited by the New England Foundation for the Arts to participate in the search for the Center Stage artists, of which Kurbasy is one. "Kurbasy was one of more than a dozen performing arts groups selected as finalists and they were clearly a top talent that I am thrilled to be able to bring to the Greater Connecticut community," said Raider Ginsburg. The group has also performed across Europe and at several notable venues in the United States, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The presentation of Kurbasy is part of Center Stage, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts. It is made possible in cooperation with the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and with support from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art and the Trust for Mutual Understanding. General management is provided by Lisa Booth Management, Inc.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for children and students with a valid ID. Tickets can be purchased at the Frances Driscoll Box Office: 860.231.5555 or online at tickets.usj.edu.

The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) offers a wide range of coeducational undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs that combine a professional and liberal arts education with opportunities for mentored research, community service, clinical field work, and internships. Programs are taught on the University's two campuses in West Hartford and Hartford, Connecticut; at off-campus locations throughout the state; and online. Founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy, the University of Saint Joseph offers degrees with value and values. To learn more, view our website at www.usj.edu.

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