Ukrainian choir showing at Edinburgh Festival is ‘more like a family’
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Ukrainian choir placing the ending touches to their first ever look on the Edinburgh International Festival have mentioned they’re extra like a household than a choir.
Oberih was shaped within the Nineteen Seventies by Ukrainian males who had come to Scotland after the Second World War.
It has performed an important function in serving to refugees fleeing the struggle to settle in Edinburgh.
They will seem on the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens on Saturday to mark the opening of the pageant, as a part of a day-long celebration of music known as Scotland Makes Music.
Choir member Olena Singh got here to Scotland in September 2022 and mentioned it’s “like a family” after she joined final 12 months.
She mentioned: “When we came here we decided it would be a very nice possibility to sing in Scotland. We found friends who invited us to start in the choir and it is a very good community. Now we are like a family. It’s now like a part of life.”
Ms Singh mentioned being a part of the choir gave them the chance to share their tradition with Scottish individuals.
She mentioned being a part of the pageant was a “big opportunity” and that they felt they had been “doing something important”.
She added: “We can show Ukrainian culture to guests who come here and want to see something interesting and special, like a little bit different from Scottish culture.”
Senia Urquhart, Louisa Tymkewycz and Maria Shliemukova have been in Edinburgh longer than Ms Singh.
Ms Urquhart and Ms Tymkewycz had been born in Scotland after their fathers arrived right here following the Second World War.
They mentioned being a part of Oberih was “very important” in making them really feel related to Ukrainian tradition.
Ms Urquhart mentioned: “It’s very important. We danced, we sang and we went to Ukrainian school here.”
Ms Shliemukova mentioned she didn’t realise how a lot singing was a part of Ukrainian tradition till becoming a member of the choir. She has lived within the UK for round 20 years.
She mentioned: “I didn’t realise until I started just how much singing has been a part of my life growing up.
“It’s something that connects you to being a child and your family in a way that I don’t think anything else really does.”
Ms Tymkewycz mentioned it was “an absolute privilege” to be showing on the pageant.
She mentioned: “It’s lovely, it’s an absolute privilege to be all singing together. It’s going to be wonderful.”
Oberih shall be showing on the Ross Band Stand in Princes Street Garden between 12-4pm on Saturday.