God’s Voice Through Music

by Yuri Polakiwsky (English version)

God speaks in history. His message is one of love. It is a message of caring that illustrates His compassion for His children. Inherent within this message is the ‘good news’ for all that is found in the sacrifice of His Son.

It is a proclamation that His created are not forgotten. It is a word that speaks of the opportunity for the potential of peace.

To express this message, He relies on His chosen to be the voice of this message. In Ukraine, one of those voices is the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

A choir is a literal blend of choral voices that when combined produce one voice. In this way, a choir is one corporate voice. And in this sense, KSOC has become a singular and unique voice in Ukraine. It is a voice of witness, of proclamation, of praise of God.

It is a voice of hope and of the potential of God’s blessing in a culture that lacks a sense of purpose, feels forgotten, and is under tremendous psychological duress in a time of war.

As believers who express their faith through various confessions, the members of the choir, to a person, believe that they have been commissioned to proclaim the Father’s message in the world, that is, to be a voice in “the order of society”.  More specifically, the choir believes and takes as its primary mission to be, to enter the culture of Ukrainian society and proclaim the “good news” of the Gospel.

In their words, shared at dinner tables, in casual conversation and on trains traveling across the country, they share what it is that inspires them to use their God-given musical gifts and talents at this traumatic time in their country’s history.

“We are proclaiming God’s word through song”.

“When we sing, we want to convey that we care for the people. In certain places, especially those places mostly effected by the war, we want them to know that they are not forgotten”.

“In the use of our voice, we are, in a way, conveying God’s voice to the people, our society, and our country”.

When asked to explain the mission of the choir, their response is clear, “We are here in the choir to convey a higher sense of the meaning of life. We are unified in that purpose. Everyone in the choir feels this way”.

“When we sing or play, we establish an emotional bond with our audience. We can see and feel how they respond to the music. It encourages us as much as the music, encourages them”.

To a person, they believe that the voice of the choir is God’s voice. A voice that expresses care and concern, proclaims God’s love for each life, expresses concern for those who are suffering and of the opportunity for each person to know and experience God’s joy.

“For many of us, to be able to sing songs that are inspired by God’s word, is an opportunity to express a voice that teaches and instructs individuals in God’s way”.

“We are singing God’s word”.

“We provide our audiences with a gift of hope”.

“Our aim is to provide people with spiritual rest, a feeling of relaxation through the world of music”.

“As we sing, we see their reaction, they always experience positive emotion”.

When asked, what they feel when they see the effects of their ministry of song, they respond with joy and pride. “We are oftentimes overwhelmed when people respond so positively to the gift that we bring them”.  

“In one way, we are ambassadors of peace. We sometimes feel that we get better results than some diplomats”.

What is the reaction of the people when they talk to you after one of your concerts, they are asked?

“You have given us hope”, many say simply.

“You have given us wings”, others say. “You inspire us”.

In response to these comments, choir members say, “We know that the ministry of the choir changes people. Because of the work of the choir, many are led to God”.

“The choir creates an example of good intentions. We make friends wherever we go and keep in contact with those who have heard us through social media. They always want us to come back and sing for them again”.

“We know the Lord speaks through us because all of the words we sing are inspired by the Scripture. We know that the Lord “fellowships” with the audience through us and the music that we sing”.

In Ukraine, the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus is unique. There is no other choir like it. Its established reputation as the leading interpreter of sacred music in the country is unmatched.

Whether performing in leading cultural venues in the capitol of Kyiv, in various cities throughout the country, like Dnipro, in small towns directly affected by the war such as Dryhivka, to audiences made up of Ambassadors, political leaders, to the suffering and displaced, the widowed and orphaned, or to the country’s protectors in the military, the KSOC unabashedly proclaims the Gospel, acting as God’s voice and witness in a country that yearns for peace and hope.