On 21 April, Sumy National Agrarian University hosted the inter-university choral competition “Voice Vibe 2026” for modern, folk and popular music, organised by the “Romantika” Youth Centre.
Igor KOVALENKO, Rector of Sumy National Agrarian University in his speech at the opening of the event said:
‘Supporting young people in all their endeavours is our shared responsibility and a strategic priority. It is the younger generation that shapes the country’s future, its cultural and creative potential. We are truly impressed by the level of preparation, energy and talent of all participants in today event. The young people of Sumy are a real gem, of whom we are proud and whom we must support in every way.”
As part of the competition, participants from institutions of higher education in Sumy presented three musical pieces each: a Ukrainian hit, an a cappella piece (without musical accompaniment) and a modern European hit.
The performances were judged by a panel comprising leading figures from the city cultural and artistic spheres: Svitlana YURCHENKO, Director of the ‘Romantika’ Cultural Centre; Viktoria VERBYTSKA, Head of the Youth Policy Department at Sumy City Council; Maryna VELITCHENKO, Director of the ‘Soloway’ vocal studio; and Volodymyr NIANKIN, co-founder of the family theatre “Niankiny”, and Yelizaveta LEVCHENKO, Choirmaster at the Sumy National Theatre named after M. Shchepkin and Founder and Director of the “Ridni” amateur chamber choir. The professional experience of the jury members ensured an objective and expert assessment of the competition performances.
The SNAU choir demonstrated a high level of performance skill, stage presence and emotional expressiveness. Their performances were characterised by their dynamism, a harmonious blend of vocals and stage movement, as well as a variety of musical styles.
The group competition programme included pieces notable for their genre and emotional diversity: a polyphonic rendition of the Ukrainian folk song ‘Oi na Ivana, oi na Kupala’, the modern composition ‘Po-za nochi’, and the energetic hit ‘Song 2’ by Blur.
Following the results of the competition, the SNAU ensemble emerged victorious and was recognised in the ‘Crazy Energy’ category.
We warmly congratulate the participants on their well-deserved victory and wish them continued creative success and new achievements!
