In partnership with the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York, the Ukrainian Institute of America is delighted to present an evening with Nicole Zuraitis, the two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Lithuanian-American jazz vocalist, pianist, and songwriter.

A celebration of music and the enduring friendship between Ukraine and Lithuania, this special concert brings together two nations united by shared values, cultural ties, and a steadfast commitment to freedom. Through the expressive power of jazz, we celebrate the spirit of creativity and solidarity that connects our communities.

A reception will follow the concert. Advance registration is requested.

Nicole Zuraitis is a two-time GRAMMY® Award winner and six-time GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer-songwriter, as well as an active supporter of Ukraine. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice” (Jazz Police), she is a trailblazing artist redefining vocal jazz and contemporary songwriting. Recognized by BroadwayWorld as one of the most prolific songwriters to watch, she is a leading voice in jazz and beyond.

Her critically acclaimed album How Love Begins, co-produced with legendary bassist Christian McBride, won the 2024 GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. She made history as the first artist to win in that category with an album consisting entirely of her own compositions and arrangements.

Proud of her Lithuanian heritage and a committed supporter of Ukraine, Zuraitis embodies the spirit of friendship and solidarity at the heart of this special evening. Through her music and advocacy, she celebrates the power of culture to bring people together across borders.

The Ukrainian Institute of America has been at the forefront of promoting Ukrainian culture and democratic values to the world for almost 80 years. Through its vibrant programs, the Institute serves as a bridge between Ukraine and the American people, fostering cultural interaction, mutual understanding, and appreciation of shared values and goals. Located on Museum Mile in the heart of New York City in a National Historic Landmark building, the Institute is Where the World Meets Ukraine.

Music at the Institute (MATI) presents a concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Fedir Yakymenko (1876–1945), a distinguished Ukrainian composer, pianist, and educator whose remarkable musical legacy was nearly lost to history. In recognition of his contributions to Ukrainian culture, Ukraine has designated 2026 as the Year of Fedir Yakymenko.

The MATI program is a ticketed event and advance registration is requested. A reception will follow the concert.

$40 General Admission
$35 UIA Annual Friends, Seniors, and Students
$30 UIA Members

PROGRAM

Fedir Yakymenko (1876–1945)
Sonata No. 1 in D minor for violin and piano, Op. 32
Sonata No. 2 in G major for violin and piano, Op. 38b
String Trio in C minor, Op. 7

PERFORMED BY

Solomiya Ivakhiv, violin
Lara St John, violin
Christine Grossman, viola
Laura Metcalf, cello
Melvin Chen, piano
Pavlo Gintov, piano

This concert brings together six distinguished musicians to celebrate Yakymenko’s chamber music and restore his voice to the concert stage. It also continues MATI’s commitment to rediscovering, performing, and recording lesser-known masterpieces of Ukrainian classical music.

In 2024, MATI presented the North American premiere of Yakymenko’s String Trio, introducing audiences to this remarkable and rarely heard work. As part of MATI’s ongoing recording initiative, violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv and pianist Melvin Chen recorded Yakymenko’s Violin Sonata No. 2 and Three Pieces for Violin and Piano, contributing to the preservation and wider recognition of his chamber repertoire.

About the Composer

Fedir Yakymenko was born in the village of Pisky near Kharkiv, Ukraine, and demonstrated exceptional musical talent from an early age. He became a highly respected composer, pianist, and educator, contributing significantly to musical life in Ukraine and beyond.

Following the Bolshevik Revolution, Yakymenko fled Soviet rule, eventually settling in Paris. His music was suppressed in the Soviet Union, and his achievements gradually disappeared from public memory. Despite his distinguished career, Yakymenko spent his final years in severe poverty, without adequate financial support. Weakened by hunger and illness, he died in Paris in 1945.

Decades later, Ukrainian conductor Kyrylo Karabits rediscovered Yakymenko’s forgotten scores while exploring music collections in a Paris library, helping spark renewed international interest in the composer’s extraordinary legacy. The composer’s music, blending late Romantic lyricism, French Impressionism, and a deeply poetic sensibility, is gradually reclaiming its rightful place in the classical repertoire.

About Music at the Institute (MATI)

In its 38th season, MATI presents world-class musicians from Ukraine, Europe and the US, performing in the unique setting of the Concert Hall in the Ukrainian Institute of America’s historic, landmark building. Currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Solomiya Ivakhiv, the MATI series presents audiences with a selection of familiar chamber music repertoire and introduces lesser-known as well as established works by Ukrainian composers. Over its history, MATI has commissioned compositions by emerging and recognized Ukrainian composers, in celebration or commemoration of milestones in Ukrainian and the Institute’s history. 

Join us this holiday season at Yalynka, our cherished annual celebration. We look forward to gathering with friends for an evening of community and warmth. Enjoy a buffet dinner, full premium open bar, the vibrant sounds of Orchestra Hrim, and our lively raffle, all in the uniquely welcoming atmosphere of the Institute’s landmark home. 

Festive Ukrainian attire is encouraged. Guests are welcome to join for the entire evening or arrive after dinner from 10 PM. Please register by Wednesday, December 9.

Come celebrate the holiday season with us at Yalynka!

$100/person
$85 UIA Annual Friend
$75 UIA Member
$60 After 10PM
$125/at the Door

The Ukrainian Institute of America is delighted to host an evening with Ukrainian-American chef, cookbook author and storyteller Anna Voloshyna, who will discuss her latest publication, UKRAÏNE, a captivating culinary travelogue exploring the flavors, traditions, and stories of Ukraine.

Chef Anna will be in conversation with Tanya Sichynsky, Senior Staff Editor for the Food and Cooking sections at The New York Times and author of recently-released Veg Everything. 

Together, they will explore how recipes preserve memory, how culinary traditions evolve, and how food connects people across generations and borders—offering a fresh perspective on Ukraine’s rich and diverse culinary identity.

A reception offering a taste of UKRAÏNE, with food and refreshments inspired by Anna’s recipes, will follow the program. Books by each author will be available for purchase and signing. Advance registration is requested.

$40 General Admission
$35 UIA Annual Friend
$30 UIA Member 

About Anna Voloshyna

Born and raised in a small village near Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Anna Voloshyna moved to the United States in 2011 and has since become a passionate advocate for Ukrainian cuisine. Through her culinary work and storytelling, she has introduced new audiences to the flavors and traditions of her homeland. Her award-winning, bestselling debut cookbook, Budmo! (2022), was featured at the Ukrainian Institute of America in 2023, when she joined Francis Lam, host of The Splendid Table, for a lively conversation about Ukrainian food and culture. We are delighted to welcome Anna back with her latest publication, UKRAÏNE (2026).

Part travelogue and part culinary tribute, UKRAÏNE takes readers on a journey across Ukraine, from Kyiv and the Black Sea coast to historic root cellars and front-line kitchens. Featuring 100 traditional and contemporary recipes, evocative photography, and compelling personal stories, the book celebrates the people, places, and regional traditions that define Ukrainian food culture, preserving its rich culinary heritage for new generations.

About Tanya Sichynsky

Tanya Sichynsky is a Senior Staff Editor at The New York Times, where she writes The Veggie, a newsletter devoted to vegetable-forward cooking. She is also the author of Veg Everything, a bestselling cookbook featuring 101 recipes from NYT Cooking. With Ukrainian and Cuban family roots, Tanya brings both her professional expertise and a personal connection to Ukrainian heritage to the conversation.

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Title: UKRAÏNE: Recipes and Stories from Kyiv to the Black Sea
Author: Anna Voloshyna
Photography: Jason Perry
Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 13, 2026)
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1797238692

Title: Veg Everything: Recipes for Weeknights, Parties and the Bites in Between
Authors: Tanya Sichynsky and New York Times Cooking
Publisher: Ten Speed Press (September 15, 2026)
Hardcover: 240 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0593836620

The Ukrainian Institute of America is delighted to welcome the acclaimed Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America for a holiday concert celebrating the beauty, depth, and enduring traditions of Ukrainian music, shaped by centuries of history, storytelling, and cultural expression. 

A reception will follow the program. Advance registration is requested. 

$45 General Admission
$40 UIA Annual Friends, Seniors, Students
$35 UIA Members
Under 22 – Free

The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America (UBC) is a distinguished musical ensemble dedicated to preserving and sharing Ukrainian culture, language, and history through music and education. For over a century, the Chorus has championed the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian string instrument, through performance, innovative arrangements, and educational outreach. Recognized with Ukraine’s prestigious Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian State Prize, the UBC continues to inspire future generations, strengthen Ukrainian cultural identity, and share the beauty and spirit of Ukraine with audiences around the world.