Music is one of the most powerful expressions of national culture. It preserves historical memory, passes on traditions from generation to generation, unites Ukrainians and tells the world about Ukraine. From now on, its special role in the life of Ukraine is highlighted by Ukrainian Music Day, which is officially celebrated for the first time on the third Saturday in September.
The date of the holiday was not chosen at random and carries deep symbolism. It coincides with the historic «Chervona Ruta» festival, which in September 1989 in Chernivtsi became a powerful manifesto of freedom. It was then that the anthem «Shche ne vmerla Ukraina» (Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished), still banned by the Soviet regime at the time, was publicly performed on stage, becoming a symbol of cultural resistance, national revival and the indomitable nature of our identity.
Ukrainian musical culture has endured imperial bans, censorship, repression and attempts at appropriation by the aggressor, yet it has never lost its distinctiveness. Today, amidst a full-scale war, it is not merely art – it is our weapon, a means of uniting society and a powerful instrument of cultural defence. Establishing a dedicated day will help to further promote the Ukrainian language, support young performers, supplant hostile content and strengthen the position of Ukrainian art on the international stage.
Cultural institutions in the Donetsk region, despite the challenges of relocation and martial law, are actively participating in the celebration of this landmark date, presenting large-scale artistic projects in various parts of Ukraine/
In Kamianets-Podilskyi, the municipal institution «Ivan Karabits Bakhmut Vocational College of Culture and Arts» held the vocal and instrumental festival «The Music of Donetsk Region Unites Hearts».
Also to mark Ukrainian Music Day, the «Donetsk Regional Educational and Methodological Centre for Culture» organised a regional event entitled «The Musical DNA of Donetsk Region» – an interactive art space for representatives of local communities, pupils, students and teachers from art schools and clubs across the region.
In addition, a whole series of themed concerts, creative gatherings, arts marathons and educational events are planned to take place across the country at relocated cultural institutions and humanitarian hubs from the Donetsk region. The events will feature masterpieces of Ukraine’s musical heritage — ranging from classical works by Ukrainian composers of various eras to contemporary patriotic hits.
The music of the Donetsk region is an integral part of our unified national sound. By preserving and promoting our native language and melodies, we affirm our freedom, safeguard our memory and shape the future of a free Ukraine!