Lecture Demonstration: Bandura & Minstrels

Join Ukrainian virtuoso of the bandura, Maryna Krut, as she shares her journey as a powerful and authentic artist reviving Ukrainian folk traditions, in combination with jazz and other influences. Participants will learn more about the 64-string Ukrainian lute-zither, with its ethereal, harp-like sound, that Maryna has played since childhood. This demonstration also includes a conversation with Bill Bragin, The Arts Center’s Executive Artistic Director.

Maryna Krut

Maryna Krut uses her powerful voice and Ukrainian bandura to infuse her country's traditional music with jazz and other influences. The war in Ukraine transformed Maryna Krut from being a performer updating a beautiful tradition of music to being a witness testifying to people around the world about the devastating conflict in her homeland. These days, the 28-year-old musician leads a double life. From her temporary home in the west of Ukraine, she travels to the front lines to perform for soldiers. And she also travels abroad to perform, relating what she has seen—and thanking audiences for their support of the Ukrainian people.

Maryna plays the bandura, a Ukrainian string instrument that looks like a cross between a lute and a zither. Steeped as a child in her country’s traditional music, she now incorporates some non-traditional elements into her playing, principally jazz, using it both as a solo instrument and to accompany her powerful singing. In Ukraine, she gained a national following after appearances on that country’s versions of The X Factor and The Voice as well as placing in Eurovision. Now she is expanding her audience as she brings the story and culture of Ukraine to the world.