National Academic Symphonic Band of Ukraine. The first and only civilian wind orchestra of such level and status in Ukraine.
The State Symphonic Band was established in 1979 on the initiative of the Union of Composers of Ukraine by a decision of the Government of Ukraine (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the UkrSSR No. 488 of October 12, 1979, “On the Status and Measures for Further Improvement of Concert Services to the Population of the Republic”).
The creation of the orchestra aimed to enrich the artistic palette of national culture, promote the best examples of classical musical heritage, and advance the academic genre of wind music in Ukraine.
The orchestra’s primary creative objective is forming a unique repertoire, with a prominent place dedicated to works by Ukrainian composers, including contemporary authors. The orchestra performs pieces by leading Ukrainian composers, such as A. Shtoharenko, L. Kolodub, V. Podvala, I. Karabyts, P. Petrov-Omelchuk, O. Shchetynskyi, O. Bezborodko, V. Runchak, among others.
The orchestra was the first creative ensemble to record the National Anthem of Ukraine which was broadcast every morning by the National Radio Company. Their recordings have been included in the archives of the Public Broadcaster and released in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands. The collective also participated in recording soundtrack music for the films “Vladyka Andrei” (2008) and “Ukrainian revolution” (2012).
NASBU’s mission is aptly summarized by the words of Ivan Svitlychnyi: “Life is short, but art is eternal”.
Milestones of history
Repertoire
The core of the repertoire comprises works by world classical masters: J. S. Bach, L. van Beethoven, G. Verdi, C. Gounod, R. Wagner, and G. Holst. A prominent place is occupied by Ukrainian music — works by M. Lysenko, K. Stetsenko, B. Liatoshynskyi, A. Shtoharenko, A. Kos-Anatolskyi, L. Kolodub, I. Shamo, and many others.
The concert repertoire encompasses all musical genres — from Baroque to Jazz.
- Melodies of the native land
- Ukrainian rhapsody
- Made in Ukraine
- Spanish motifs
- Music of the Strauss family
- In honor of Shakespeare
- Operetta, operetta
- In the Latin style
- Traveling around the world
- Waltz, waltz, waltz
- Hits of the 20th century
- Dances of the peoples of the world
- Ennio Morricone
- John Williams
- Soundtracks
- Hans Zimmer
Soloists and Cooperation
Leading Ukrainian vocalists cooperate with the orchestra: People’s Artists of Ukraine Svitlana Dobronravova, Valerii Buimister, Femii Mustafaiiev, Iryna Dats, Stepan Ficsych, Ivan Popovych, Hryhorii Harkusha, Mykola Koval, Oleksandr Vasylenko, Olha Chubarieva, Lesia and Halyna Telniuk; Honored Artists of Ukraine Liudmyla Davymuka, Iryna Ziabchenko, Irena Zakharko, Halyna Titova, Valentyna Matiushenko, Yelyzaveta Lipitiuk, Zhanna Bodnaruk.
Among the instrumental soloists are Yurii Kot (piano), Valerii Posvaliuk and Andrii Ilkiv (trumpet), Grace Oh and David Witten (piano, USA), Richard Stewart (trumpet, Canada), Bastien Baumet (euphonium, France), Øystein Baadsvik (tuba, Norway), Fred Mills from Canadian Brass, Hedwig Swimberghe (clarinet, Belgium), Zoltan Kiss from Mnozil Brass.
The orchestra has repeatedly and successfully represented national musical art abroad, touring Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovenia, Belgium, France, Serbia, Luxembourg, and Croatia. It has taken part in wind music festivals in the Netherlands and Germany, as well as in Kyiv Music Fest and the festival “Stravinskyi and Ukraine”.
The Big Band of the National Academic Symphonic Band of Ukraine (NASBU), together with the Vincent Bourgeyx Trio, performed at French Spring in Ukraine (2019), and the concert “Music unites the world” was held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania (2022). In recent years, the orchestra has actively developed international partnerships and cultural diplomacy, implementing joint projects supported by diplomatic missions, including those of Australia, Spain, Denmark, Latvia, Mexico, and others.
Upcoming events
