Christmas with Bandura in Los Angeles, CA
Experience the magic of a Ukrainian Christmas
On December 14, 2025, BandurArts presented its Christmas with Bandura charity concert in Los Angeles as part of the BandurArts Christmas charity tour. For the first time in the city, the concert became a warm and memorable gathering celebrating Ukrainian Christmas traditions through music.
The event took place at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Church and highlighted the beauty of Ukrainian carols, the rich sound of the bandura, and a spirit of unity. For many guests, it was their first opportunity to experience Christmas carols performed by bandurists in such a grand and immersive format.
The Christmas with Bandura charity tour invites audiences to feel the warmth and magic of Ukrainian Christmas through the bandura — Ukraine’s national instrument. We are proud to share the bandura as a unique voice of Ukrainian culture, resonating across centuries and continuing to unite Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine around the world.
In Los Angeles, caroling was performed by Ostap Stakhiw, Ola Herasymenko, Solomia Stahiv, Lilia Tretyak, Sofia Ishchuk, Roman Ritachka, Olesia Ritachka, Marko Ritachka, Vasyl Stahiv and Bohdana Stahiv. The church choir, under the direction of Olga Rabba, also joined the concert with moving performances of traditional carols. More information about the bandurists is available at BandurArts.org.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Father Vasile Sauciur, and the Ukrainian community of Los Angeles for their generous support and for creating such a warm, sincere, and inspiring Christmas gathering. We look forward to returning to share bandura music and artistry with you again.
BandurArts is a non-profit organization which actively promotes bandura music through cultural initiatives, concerts, performances, and artistic collaborations. Proceeds from our concerts support Ukrainian educational, humanitarian, and artistic projects.
Check out our concert video on BandurArts YouTube channel @BandurArts
Happy and Peaceful Holidays!
Performers / виконавці
Ostap Stakhiw | Остап Стахів
Ola Herasymenko | Ольга Герасименко
Ola Herasymenko | Ольга Герасименко
Ostap Stakhiw is a renowned Ukrainian bandurist and a National’s Artist of Ukraine. He began his professional career in the Lviv Philharmonic and the “Vatra” ensemble, and later as a founder and leader of the “Folklore Theater of Ostap Stakhiw.” Ostap Stakhiw is a respected educator and accomplished bandura and vocal performer. He creat
Ostap Stakhiw is a renowned Ukrainian bandurist and a National’s Artist of Ukraine. He began his professional career in the Lviv Philharmonic and the “Vatra” ensemble, and later as a founder and leader of the “Folklore Theater of Ostap Stakhiw.” Ostap Stakhiw is a respected educator and accomplished bandura and vocal performer. He created and presented original theatrical concert programs and toured widely across Ukraine, the United States, Canada and globally. His work has been featured in numerous films and video productions. Dedicated to preserving the art of the bandura and served as a jury member for festivals and competitions. Ostap Stakhiw is a medalist at the 2001 World Championship of Performing Arts and the founder of BandurArts.
Ola Herasymenko | Ольга Герасименко
Ola Herasymenko | Ольга Герасименко
Ola Herasymenko | Ольга Герасименко
Ola Herasymenko is renowned Ukrainian bandurist and a Merited Artist of Ukraine. The daughter of Vasyl Herasymenko, she graduated of the Lviv Conservatory, she performed as a member of a bandurist trio, creating several dozen arrangements later published in three collections in the United States. She worked as a senior lecturer and accomp
Ola Herasymenko is renowned Ukrainian bandurist and a Merited Artist of Ukraine. The daughter of Vasyl Herasymenko, she graduated of the Lviv Conservatory, she performed as a member of a bandurist trio, creating several dozen arrangements later published in three collections in the United States. She worked as a senior lecturer and accompanist for the folk instrument orchestra at the Lviv Conservatory and has continued her artistic work in the United States. In Northern California, she and her husband lead the Ukrainian Heritage Preservation Society, host a program on the Society’s Ukrainian Community Radio, founded a bandurist ensemble at the Ukrainian School in Sacramento, and directs the Ukrainian music ensemble “Elegiya.” Recorded several CDs and served as the editor-in-chief of the journal Bandura.
Solomia Stahiv | Соломія Стахів
Ola Herasymenko | Ольга Герасименко
Solomia Stahiv | Соломія Стахів
Solomia Stahiv is a Ukrainian musician and accomplished bandura player. She graduated from a bandura and piano program in Lviv, Ukraine and played in the National Bandura Ensemble “Zoryanytsia” under Honored Artist of Ukraine Zinovia Sychak. Now based in North America, she performs as a solo bandura artist throughout the United States an
Solomia Stahiv is a Ukrainian musician and accomplished bandura player. She graduated from a bandura and piano program in Lviv, Ukraine and played in the National Bandura Ensemble “Zoryanytsia” under Honored Artist of Ukraine Zinovia Sychak. Now based in North America, she performs as a solo bandura artist throughout the United States and Canada and is part of the Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America (WBENA), sharing and promoting bandura music and Ukrainian culture. She is also an active member of BandurArts.
Lilia Tretyak | Лілія Третяк
Olesia Ritachka | Олеся Рiтачка
Roman Ritachka | Роман Рiтачка
Liliia Tretiak arrived in Sacramento in 2024 from the city of Chernivtsi. A top-category specialist and methodologist-instructor, she chaired the folk-instrument department committee and served as a jury member for numerous music competitions. She directed a bandurist ensemble, which represented bandura art in France as part of a delegat
Liliia Tretiak arrived in Sacramento in 2024 from the city of Chernivtsi. A top-category specialist and methodologist-instructor, she chaired the folk-instrument department committee and served as a jury member for numerous music competitions. She directed a bandurist ensemble, which represented bandura art in France as part of a delegation of young artists and educators. She is a co-author of music collections and a compiler of educational-methodical manuals. She has been honored by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the National Kobzar Association of Ukraine, and is a laureate of the Kateryna Malyk Prize.
Roman Ritachka | Роман Рiтачка
Olesia Ritachka | Олеся Рiтачка
Roman Ritachka | Роман Рiтачка
Roman Ritachka was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and began playing the violin at the age of six. Among his teachers was Yaroslav Barnych, the composer of the well-known song Hutsulka Ksenia. Later, after moving to San Diego, he began studying bandura with Victor Kytasty and other bandura instructors.
Roman went on to serve as an instructor at
Roman Ritachka was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and began playing the violin at the age of six. Among his teachers was Yaroslav Barnych, the composer of the well-known song Hutsulka Ksenia. Later, after moving to San Diego, he began studying bandura with Victor Kytasty and other bandura instructors.
Roman went on to serve as an instructor at bandura camps in the United States and taught both private and group bandura lessons. He was also a member of the Ukrainian Bandurist Capella, with whom he toured throughout the United States and Canada. In 1988, he released his solo album Coloration of the Soul – Reflections on the Bandura.
Olesia Ritachka | Олеся Рiтачка
Olesia Ritachka | Олеся Рiтачка
Olesia Ritachka | Олеся Рiтачка
Olesia Ritachka was born in Lviv, where she completed seven years of study at Music School No. 1 with a focus on bandura. From a young age, she performed in school productions and bandura concerts, and later toured Germany with youth music groups. While studying pharmacy at the Medical University, she continued to play in the National ba
Olesia Ritachka was born in Lviv, where she completed seven years of study at Music School No. 1 with a focus on bandura. From a young age, she performed in school productions and bandura concerts, and later toured Germany with youth music groups. While studying pharmacy at the Medical University, she continued to play in the National bandura ensemble Zoryanytsia at Lviv University, touring with the group throughout various European cities.
During one of the ensemble’s rehearsals, she met Roman Ritachka, and the two have been performing together with bandura across the United States ever since. They now live in Weaverville, California, and proudly advance bandura music in the community.
Marko Ritachka | Марко Рiтачка
Sofia Ishchuk | Софія Іщук
Sofia Ishchuk | Софія Іщук
Born in San Diego and raised in Weaverville, Marko Ritachka began playing the bandura at a young age, learning from his parents, Roman and Olesia. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, he performed at Ukrainian cultural events across the West Coast and beyond, as well as at local festivals and community venues. Now based in San Fran
Born in San Diego and raised in Weaverville, Marko Ritachka began playing the bandura at a young age, learning from his parents, Roman and Olesia. Throughout his childhood and teenage years, he performed at Ukrainian cultural events across the West Coast and beyond, as well as at local festivals and community venues. Now based in San Francisco, he continues to share Ukrainian music and dances with the Zolotiy Maky ensemble. Outside of music, Marko works as a software engineer. He is grateful for the chance to keep the bandura central in his life and to introduce its sound to new audiences.
Sofia Ishchuk | Софія Іщук
Sofia Ishchuk | Софія Іщук
Sofia Ishchuk | Софія Іщук
Sofiya Ishchuk, originally from Kyiv, is a student at American River College. She is a graduate of both a music school and an art school. A talented bandura player, she passionately shares and promotes Ukrainian music throughout America
Partners | Партнери
BANDURARTS
We are BandurArts! Bandura is a unique Ukrainian musical instrument that is the heart of Ukrainian culture, heritage and its traditions. We advance bandura music and art through performance, composition, learning and advocacy, as well as empowerment of bandura players locally and abroad. BandurArts is a U.S.- based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for tax and donation purposes.
Cathedral of Saint Volodymyr in Los Angeles
The Cathedral of Saint Vladimir, founded in the 1920s, is the first Ukrainian and one of the earliest Orthodox parishes in California. Its architecture reflects the distinctive national style and traditions of Ukrainian church design.
The parishioners continue to uphold and celebrate both Ukrainian heritage and Orthodox faith, preserving these traditions for future generations.
stvladimirla@gmail.com www.st-volodymyr.com