Touring the Americas

During 1922-24 the Chorus toured North and South America, performing throughout the US and Canada, as well as in Mexico and Argentina. 

View of audience, concert of the Ukrainian National Chorus

Postcard photograph of an audience or greeting party in Mexico.

The Chorus perfomed numerous shows in Mexico, including several packed performances at the main arena in Mexico City.

Pages 6-7 from Fr. Joseph Zelechiwski (Zhelekhivs'kyi) Scrapbook

Scrapbook of Fr. Josheph Zelechiwski. Article from the Kansas City Journal of January 30, 1923.

The Chorus made it at least as far west as Kansas City, KS, as can be seen in these newspaper clippings. The article is both amusing and disconcerting in its patronizing tone. The author refers to the "troop of fifty-eight little Russians", all "tempermental and highly excited artists" who "chatter[ed] in a dozen different tongues", carried "weird looking bags", and complained about Mexican coffee.

Warren G. Harding Memorial Program

Warren G. Harding Memorial Program, Buenos Aires, 1923.

While touring South America, the Chorus gave an unusual performance at the "Memorial Exercises in honor of the late Warren G. Harding" that was put on by American ex-pats in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Chorus is listed as having sung the American hymn tune "Lead Kindly Light". In addition, they sang two works from their regular repertoire: "Funeral Hymn" was probably some setting of "Memory Eternal", while the work by "Demitzky" (perhaps a misspelling of Porfirii Demuts'kyi) is harder to identify.