Ukrainian Republic Capella

The Ukrainian Republic Capella (later known as the Ukrainian National Chorus) was a musical company during and after World War I which toured Europe and North America with the intent to promote Ukrainian culture abroad. The main sponsor of the Capella was Symon Petlura.

During World War I, many events shook Eastern Europe. In Ukraine, a new chance to create an independent state presented itself. One of the key figures in this period was Symon Petlura. Petlura thought that many people may want to contribute to the promotion of Ukrainian culture, and realized that not everybody would be a good soldier. In order to include the greatest number of people into the process of statehood, Petlura organized a series of cultural programs, funded by the central Directorate of Ukraine, to actively promote Ukrainian culture abroad. One such initiative was the Ukrainian Republic Capella.

In January 1919, Petlura held a meeting with Oleksander Koshetz and Kyrylo Stetsenko and presented the idea. Soon after this meeting, Oleksa Prykhodko also joined the Capella as assistant director.

The situation of the Capella was difficult in that the political situation in Kiev was unstable. Although Koshetz and Stetsenko began work almost immediately, on January 26, 1919, Koshetz was forced to leave Kiev before it was overrun by the bolsheviks.

The Capella eventually reunited in Kamyanets-Podilsky, where the final preparations were made.

The first tour of the Ukrainian Republic Capella started on April 26, 1919 in Czechoslovakia. The first concert was performed on May 20, 1919.

The tour continued from Czechoslovakia to Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and England.

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