On Saturday, 13 June 2026, at 8:00 p.m., the Cathedral of St. Anastasia in Zadar hosted a concert by the National Academic Male Choir “DUDARYK” from Lviv, one of the most distinguished choral ensembles in Ukraine and Europe. Held on the feast day of St. Anthony, the performance attracted numerous lovers of sacred and choral music and once again confirmed Zadar’s importance as a meeting place for outstanding international artistic events.

From a Boys’ Choir to a National Institution

The National Academic Male Choir “DUDARYK” from Lviv is one of the most important and recognizable ensembles of Ukrainian musical culture. Founded in 1971 as a boys’ choir, it has grown over more than five decades of artistic activity into a leading professional male choir that today holds a prominent position on the European and international choral scene.

A pivotal moment in its development came in 1989, when the ensemble was awarded the Taras Shevchenko National Prize, the highest state award for culture and the arts in Ukraine. In the same year, at the initiative of Mykola and Liubov Katsal, the first choral school in the country was established, marking the beginning of a new era of systematic musical education and artistic development for “DUDARYK”.

More Than Three Thousand Concerts Worldwide

Over the decades, the choir has built an exceptionally rich repertoire, produced an extensive discography, participated in numerous radio and television productions, and performed nearly three thousand concerts throughout Ukraine and around the world. Together with its boys’ choir, it regularly appears in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and sacred venues, including St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, and Carnegie Hall. Its international tours have taken the ensemble to numerous European and overseas countries, confirming “DUDARYK’s” status as a true cultural ambassador of Ukraine.

A Musical Heritage Spanning Five Centuries

At the heart of the choir’s artistic identity lies Ukrainian sacred music, encompassing nearly five centuries of tradition. Its repertoire ranges from early monodic chants of the sixteenth century and the partesny concertos of Mykola Dyletsky, through the works of eighteenth-century Baroque composers such as Dmytro Bortniansky and Maksym Berezovsky, to nineteenth- and twentieth-century composers including Mykola Lysenko, Mykhailo Verbytsky, Mykola Leontovych and Oleksandr Koshyts, as well as contemporary authors. A special place within the repertoire is occupied by Ukrainian liturgies and sacred music, through which the choir has preserved and promoted the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the Ukrainian people for decades.

Zadar as a New Musical Destination

The performance in Zadar formed part of the choir’s international activities, which for decades have connected some of Europe’s most important cultural and spiritual centres. The concert in the Cathedral of St. Anastasia represented a unique encounter between the Ukrainian choral tradition and Zadar’s sacred heritage, leaving a profound impression on the audience. Today, “DUDARYK” rightfully belongs among the world’s leading choral ensembles, combining artistic excellence, tradition, and a strong spiritual identity.

Cultural Cooperation Between Croatia and Ukraine

The concert carried particular symbolic significance as a testament to the long-standing cultural cooperation and friendly relations between Croatia and Ukraine.

Sincere gratitude was extended to the Department of Culture, Nationalities and Religions of the Lviv Regional Administration, Ms. Iryna Havrylyuk, Ms. Marta Pyrih, President of the Volodymyr Patyk Foundation, the association “Bila Hrvatska”, and its president Marin Lerga for their initiative, support, cooperation, and dedicated efforts in bringing this programme to fruition. In cooperation with these partners, the programme was made possible and supported by the City of Zadar, Zadar County, the Archdiocese of Zadar, and the Ars Organi Association, whose commitment ensured the successful realization of this valuable cultural event in the historic setting of Zadar’s cathedral.

The prolonged applause that concluded the evening was the finest confirmation that music transcends borders, connects people and cultures, and remains a lasting symbol of friendship between the Croatian and Ukrainian peoples.