Shevchenko's Word in Our Hearts

     For the past two hundred years Ukraine commemorates Taras Shevchenko – one of the greatest Ukrainian poets and Ukrainian sons. His poems are strikingly precise; therefore he is called Titan, Prometheus, and Prophet. On March 5, 2014 an artistic evening “The radiance of Taras’ word” took place at National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine.
     The poet’s word always reaches the hearts not only of those who care about troubles of ordinary people, but also of those who are almost indifferent. This time, everyone present felt the majesty of Shevchenko’s words: the audience (mostly the students of the University) was once again surprised and fascinated by the beauty and power of the lyrical and patriotic songs on poems by Shevchenko performed by the choral group of Kolos Folk Song and Dance Ensemble under the direction of Honoured Worker of Culture of Ukraine, Stanislav Semenovskyy, and accompanist Volodymyr Yakymchuk and of Oktava Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Nina Melikova. The whole room listened to Shevchenko’s poems recited by the students of different departments.
     The audience was particularly impressed by the speech of the graduate student of Taras Shevchenko Republican Art School and Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, Associate Professor of the Department of Cultural Studies, Yaryna Puzyrenko, who outlined the biography of the poet and drew close attention to the memories of his contemporaries.
      Everyone was deeply moved by the performance of the People's Artist of Ukraine, Professor of the Department of Cultural Studies, Vadym Kryschenko and by the performances of the golden voices of NULES of Ukraine Iryna Gorgo, Dmytro Andriets, Yaroslav Mykhailovych, Roman Rudyy, Oksana Drobotenko.
Everyone present was convinced that Taras Shevchenko is a contemporary in every epoch.
In addition, university students laid flowers at the monument to Taras Shevchenko in sign of eternal memory of the Prophet.
     Once a prominent Georgian poet Akaki Tsereteli, who only once in his life met Taras Shevchenko, said: “With such poet as Shevchenko Ukrainian people do not need anyone's favour. I confess, when I heard his words, for the first time in my life I realised how one should love the Motherland and his people.”
     The Education and Research Centre of Culture and Education and the Department of Cultural Studies express their gratitude to those who joined the event and together with other participants performed the great works of Kobzar.
     The art evening can be viewed at video.nubip.edu.ua