Former Director of the Veryovka Choir Takes Up Teaching After Dismissal

Zenoviy Korinets: What Comes Next

According to Главком: Zenoviy Korinets, who previously served as the general director and artistic director of the Hryhoriy Veryovka National Academic Ukrainian Folk Choir, has moved into academia following his dismissal. He now works at the Mykhailo Drahomanov National Pedagogical University, specifically within the Anatoliy Avdievsky Faculty of Arts. In 2021, after his contract ended, Korinets applied for a second term but lost the competition to Oleksandr Tarasenko, a choirmaster at the National Opera of Ukraine.

This decision sparked strong opposition from the choir members, who refused to accept Tarasenko’s appointment and launched protests. They demonstrated outside the Ministry of Culture, but after waiting half an hour without results, they moved to the President’s Office, where the matter was resolved in just ten minutes. Although Tarasenko ultimately declined the position, Korinets gained no advantage from the situation.

Conflict with New Leadership

Following these events, Ihor Kuryliv was appointed acting general director of the choir. Initially, Kuryliv allowed Korinets to remain with the group, stating:

“I’m not going to leave a person on the street who once hired me after Avdievsky’s death.”

However, tensions later escalated between them, leading to Korinets’ termination.

“The friction between Zenoviy and me began. It ended with me firing him,”

Kuryliv explained.

It should be noted that due to the ongoing martial law, no new competition for the choir’s director position has been held. This situation unfolds against the backdrop of Ukraine’s cultural landscape-for instance, on May 10, a concert titled 'Legends of Ukraine. Golden Hits' took place at the Palace of Ukraine, honoring the work of People’s Artist of Ukraine Yuriy Rybchynsky, who will celebrate his 80th birthday in 2025.

This case highlights the challenges facing Ukraine’s cultural sector under martial law, where leadership instability and changes can affect the operations and repertoire of artistic groups. The appointment of new leadership and the resulting protests underscore the need for consensus between management and ensemble members, especially during such trying times.

The recent changes within the Veryovka Choir highlight the ongoing struggles faced by its members, particularly amid the challenges posed by mobilization and unequal draft exemptions. As the choir navigates these turbulent times, the impact of these issues on male singers becomes increasingly evident, further complicating the choir's future and its leadership dynamics.