Volodymyr Runchak 
composer and conductor

All-Ukrainian Music Festival "A Day of Ukrainian Accordion"

This festival of accordion performers was held for the first time in April 2013, organized by the National Ukrainian Music Union and its Association of Accordionists. The need for this festival was dictated by an alarming trend which has become quite prominent in today’s Ukrainian accordion musicianship: a decrease of interest in the accordion among music school and college students, as well as students of higher musical institutions. The instrument is rarely seen on the television or heard on the radio. There are no published music collections with new works by composers, nor are repertoires updated with works that have been published previously. The number of Ukrainian accordion concerts is reduced, we are not sending competitors to the prestigious international competitions, and the production of musical instruments in Ukraine is pathetic. The blame for this, of course, lies with the objective circumstances: the lack of money to popularize the instrument and in general to support culture and arts in Ukraine. Unfortunately, we must admit that there are also subjective factors, such as the long-standing leadership of individuals who think least of all about the development of accordion in our country, and most of all about their position in society. Pseudoscientific propaganda activities have dealt a fatal blow to priorities of improving performance, creation of new musical works, improving the design of the instrument, and creating conditions for the development of concert activities. All this and more are factors which led us to create the nationwide music festival "A Day of Ukrainian Accordion."

 

The festival is held in all regional centers of Ukraine and in small towns as well. In general, there are 40-50 concerts, master classes, and creative meetings. And everything, of course, is thanks to the enthusiasm of creative individuals who live and work in these towns. The concerts have had great resonance in the media and now we await our audiences every last week of March. Concerts in Kyiv are held, traditionally, the last weekend of March. They are attended by accordionists from major Ukrainian cities, university students, and students from music colleges and schools. Already a tradition is the arrival of the best foreign artists. Over the years, we have enjoyed visits by these prominent foreign musicians: Samuele Telari, Daniel Eliassen, Sava Vujacic, and Duo Accosphere: Alena Budzinakova and Grzegorz Palus, Hiroto Yashima and Konstantin Buryan. Their performances create a special holiday for our students.

 

It is our dearest hope that the festival will become a tradition for amateurs as well as professionals in Ukrainian accordion performance.

 

Volodymyr Runchak

Composer and Conductor

Artistic director of the festival