CATHEDRAL CHOIR
March 1950 - the choir was officially organized under the direction of Dmytro Lubansky (soloist of the T. Shevchenko Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus). By the end of the year, the choir acquired additional members from the renowned Nestor Horodovenko Chorus and was being directed by Ivan Trochymovych Kytasty.
1950-1975 - Ivan T. Kytasty directed the choir and dedicated himself to expanding the choir's repertoire (i.e. learning the O. Koshetz's Liturgy in its entirety) and training the younger and newer choir members. Along with singing during Divine Services, the choir participated in numerous concerts and programs including Ukrainian music festivals hosted in Flint, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. They were also invited to perform 2 concerts of Ukrainian carols and religious songs by a Presbyterian Church in Southfield.
1975 - Vasyl Spisarchuk and Tatiana Hychko - Following the death of I. Kytasty, V. Spisarchuk and T. Hychko led the choir for a short period of time.
Fall of 1975 - 1976 Petro Kondratenko, a renowned church choir conductor, led the choir and shared his deep love of religious music. His attention to detail and great discipline further enhanced the development of the choir.
1976-2006 Petro Ivanovych Kytasty, son of I. Kytasty was convinced by P. Kondratenko of the importance of taking over the choir. Mr. P. Kytasty took on this role for 30 years during which time the choir added the Liturgies of Kyrylo Stetsenko and Hryhory Kytasty and other composers to their repertoire. In 1984 Mykola Samokyshyn and a group of choir members under the direction of P. Kytasty learned seldom sung Ukrainian carols and began caroling for various causes, i.e. aid to the Ukrainian dissident Mykola Rudenko, in support of "Rukh" (V. Chornovil) political party, aid to the Children of Chornobyl and later UCARE, Inc. Over the years, they collected and donated $15, 960 to these causes.
2006-present day Mykola M. Newmerzyckyj (son of our former pastor, Father Mykola Newmerzyckyj ) was selected to lead the choir. He is very well versed in church music and has organized the choir to have weekly rehearsals and has published all the major Liturgies of the Church Calendar in a standardized format using a music writing software.
Many thanks to all the dedicated choir members through the years for their commitment and beautiful singing. Throughout the years, we were blessed to have over 35 trained singers from the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus as members of our choir. Eternal Memory (Vichnaya Pamiat) to all the choir members and conductors who have Fallen Asleep in the Lord! We wish good health to M. Newmerzyckyj along with all the members of the choir - wishing you good fortune without end and a long life to praise the Lord with your singing!
