A singular vocal repertoire from the Ukrainian countryside opens up for discovery — polyphonic songs that echo the soul of a community deeply rooted in its land and traditions. This workshop offers participants the chance to explore an authentic oral tradition, as collected in the field by ethnomusicologists, close to those who have preserved it.

Learning takes place without the use of musical notation, following the modes of transmission used in village settings: songs are taught orally, from mouth to ear, in keeping with local practice. The lyrics are provided in phonetic transcription, allowing participants to gradually absorb the sound and rhythm of the Ukrainian language, through step-by-step guidance.

Vocal work also includes an embodied approach — focusing on posture, breathing, and sound production. Participants are invited to engage a direct, grounded voice, nourished by an organic vocal technique often unfamiliar to those trained in choral singing. This approach encourages the emergence of a collective timbre and vocal energy characteristic of rural traditions.

Singing in multiple voices, refining mutual listening, seeking the right tuning, feeling the shared resonance of sound — the workshop offers a deep immersion in village polyphony as a relational experience, one that goes beyond harmonic structure.

Open to anyone curious to discover a living tradition, with no prior musical training required, this workshop invites participants to sing together in a spirit of attentiveness and sharing.

The teaching is led by two soloists from the ensemble Korabel, Antonina Mitrakhova and Isabella Stasiuk Armaganian.
Singer, choir conductor, and songwriter, Antonina Mitrakhova trained at the National Music Academy of Kyiv, then at the Sorbonne, where she recently completed a program in musicology and choral conducting. Her approach combines methodological precision with heartfelt artistic commitment.

Initially trained in visual arts, Isabella Stasiuk Armaganian has been an active figure in the revival of traditional Ukrainian singing. A recognized soloist, she stands out for her nuanced interpretation, rich in melismas, carried by a warm and deeply personal voice.