Ukrainian choir pre-game performance local spotlight on distant conflict

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This article was published 27/02/2022 (1034 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The booming bass, baritones, and tenors of Hoosli Ukrainian Male Chorus will soon command the crowd at Canada Life Centre with a one-two punch of patriotism.

The local group will sing O Canada and the Ukrainian national anthem before Tuesday’s Winnipeg Jets home game in a show of support for the embattled eastern European nation.

“We are extremely pleased and extremely humbled to be given this opportunity by the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL to share the Ukrainian anthem with the audience,” Christopher Sklepowich, Hoosli chairman and second tenor, said Monday.

Team and arena owner True North Sports & Entertainment Ltd. reached out to Hoosli late Feb. 25, inviting it to sing the Canadian anthem at the upcoming game.

The troupe accepted and immediately suggested it perform the Ukrainian anthem as well. True North approved the proposal, announcing the addition Monday evening.

“Hoosli is always a fan favourite at Winnipeg Jets games and True North and our fans are always excited to welcome their powerful voices and talents to Canada Life Centre. We know their performance on Tuesday will be especially meaningful, as the thoughts of our community are with everyone who is impacted by the devastation in the Ukraine,” True North wrote in an email to the Free Press.

Sklepowich was pleased with the decision, but said whether the group would sing the Ukrainian anthem or not had little bearing on the significance of the message.

He stressed Tuesday’s performance at Canada Life Centre is bigger than both Hoosli and the Jets/Montreal Canadiens game.

“This really is about keeping the public attention on the situation in Ukraine. Continuing to pressure political leaders to send as much humanitarian and military support as possible to Ukraine,” Sklepowich said.

“We don’t want this to be something that gets forgotten about in a couple of days… The global implications of what’s going on over there far exceed anything that we can possibly imagine.”

Several members of Hoosli’s 34-man ensemble have relatives in Ukraine, including Sklepowich and second tenor Greg Udod.

“I have a dear second cousin who lives east of Kharkiv… I haven’t heard from him for almost three days, and I’m very concerned,” Udod said Monday, his voice trembling. “(He was) living in trepidation the last few times that we communicated and asking the world to please help out.”

Russian rocket salvos have battered Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities since the invasion began last week.

Sklepowich and Udod said public support of Ukraine, both domestic and abroad, has bolstered the resolve of their loved ones. Tuesday’s performance is another opportunity to demonstrate Ukraine is not alone, they said.

It will mark the eighth time Hoosli has sung prior to a Jets home game. The men will wear traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirts instead of the team jerseys worn during past performances.

The singers said they have repeatedly been taken aback by the resounding roar of the arena crowd; they anticipate this performance will be even more mighty.

“It’s going to be a very emotional moment because as much as we’re there to support the Jets and to sing the national anthem… (we’re) there as a visual show of support to the people of Ukraine in such a devastating time,” Sklepowich said.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca