A Choir That Sings in the World’s Most Prestigious Sanctuaries Comes to Zadar!

The National Academic Male Choir “DUDARYK” will perform at the Cathedral of St. Anastasia in Zadar on the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, June 13 at 8:00 PM. Audiences will have the opportunity to hear an ensemble that has performed in some of the world’s most renowned sacred venues—from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and Notre-Dame de Paris to major European concert halls. Now, this distinguished choir brings a part of its extraordinary musical tradition to Zadar.

From Boys’ Choir to National Institution

The National Academic Male Choir “DUDARYK” of Lviv is one of the most important and recognizable ensembles in Ukrainian musical culture. Founded in 1971 as a boys’ choir, it has evolved over more than five decades of continuous artistic activity into a leading professional male choir, occupying a prominent place on the European and international choral scene. A milestone in its development came in 1989 when the ensemble was awarded the Taras Shevchenko National Prize, Ukraine’s highest state honor in the fields of culture and the arts. That same year, through the initiative of Mykola and Liubov Katsal, the first choral school in Ukraine was established, marking the beginning of a new era of systematic musical education and artistic advancement for “DUDARYK.”

More Than 3,000 Concerts Worldwide

Over the decades, the choir has built an extensive repertoire, produced a rich discography, participated in numerous radio and television productions, and given nearly 3,000 concerts throughout Ukraine and abroad. Together with its affiliated boys’ choir, it regularly performs in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and sacred spaces, including St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Notre-Dame de Paris, and Carnegie Hall. Its international tours have taken the ensemble to numerous countries across Europe and beyond—from Germany, Austria, and Italy to Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, as well as Canada and North America—confirming “DUDARYK’s” role as a cultural ambassador of Ukraine.

Five Centuries of Musical Heritage

At the heart of the choir’s artistic identity lies Ukrainian sacred music, encompassing nearly five centuries of tradition: from the monodic chants of the 16th century and the partesny concerts of Mykola Diletsky, through the great Baroque composers of the 18th century such as Dmytro Bortniansky and Maksym Berezovsky, to the works of Mykola Lysenko, Mykhailo Verbytsky, Mykola Leontovych, Oleksandr Koshyts, and contemporary composers including Hanna Havrylets and Dmytro Katsal. The choir’s repertoire also includes fourteen Ukrainian liturgies, allowing it to continuously bridge historical tradition and contemporary musical expression. For more than 35 years, the ensemble has been dedicated to preserving and promoting Ukraine’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

Zadar as a New Musical Destination

The performance in Zadar forms part of the choir’s ongoing international mission, which for decades has connected some of Europe’s most important cultural and spiritual centers. The concert at the Cathedral of St. Anastasia on the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua will offer a unique encounter between the rich tradition of Ukrainian choral music and the sacred heritage of Zadar.

Today, “DUDARYK” rightfully belongs among the world’s leading choral ensembles, combining artistic excellence, centuries-old tradition, and a profound spiritual identity.