Music education in the diaspora: history andachievements of the Ukrainian music institute in the USA
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2640.2026.162.2
Keywords:
Ukrainian Music Institute in the USA, Higher Music Institute in Lviv, music education in the diaspora, concert activitiesAbstract
Relevance. Introduction. Relevance. The need to understand the history of Ukraine, including the part of it shaped by Ukrainians in exile, and the need to integrate all the achievements of the Ukrainian diaspora into the common treasury of Ukrainian cultural heritage, makes the study of Ukrainian musical education in the diaspora a topical issue, particularly the activities of the Ukrainian Music Institute (UMI) in the USA as an important educational and cultural centre. The Institute’s experience and achievements are valuable and important for understanding and promoting in Ukraine, as they form an integral part of Ukrainian musical education and culture.
The aim and objectives of this article are to analyse the history of the establishment and activities of the UMI in the USA (1952–2026), to examine the specific features of the founding of this specialised educational institution and its branches, and to outline the role and significance of the UMI as a factor in the continuity of Ukrainian music education and the growth of Ukrainian musical culture worldwide. To highlight the achievements of the UMI in the development of Ukrainian music education and concert life, as well as its publishing activities; to examine the UMI’s staff during its first five years of operation, the academic workload and organisation of the teaching process, the number of students and their academic performance.
Methods. The study of the history, activities and achievements of the UMI was made possible by the principles of historicism, objectivity and systematic approach. Methods of analysis, synthesis and generalisation were employed to draw the conclusions of this article and to formulate certain recommendations based on these findings.
Results. The paper analyses and summarises the characteristics of the establishment, activities and significance of the UMI for a more comprehensive understanding of Ukrainian music education outside Ukraine, and of the musical culture of the diaspora as an integral part of Ukrainian cultural heritage and history. It identifies valuable practices in music education, the achievements of the UMI, and the dissemination of this music school’s experience worldwide.
Conclusions. The activities of the UMI over more than seven decades bear witness to the continuous development of Ukrainian national education in general and music education in particular. The role and significance of the UMI in the USA are exceptional in terms of training musical personnel and promoting Ukraine and its people as a promising social force which, even under the unfavourable conditions of emigration and without state support, finds opportunities to develop education and culture, and ensures the training of young generations of Ukrainians devoted to national musical art.
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