Marko Farion
Marko Farion (
Early life and education
Farion studied bandura and voice under Hryhory Kytasty (1907-1984), the legendary bandurist, composer and Musical Director and Conductor of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. Farion attended Case Western Reserve University where he completed a BA in Chemistry with a minor in Music with voice being his principal instrument. His vocal teacher was Gretchen Garnett. He also studied voice at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Reuben Caplin and the Cleveland Music Settlement with Robert Page. Later Farion attended the Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry and achieved his Doctorate of Dental Surgery. He is a dentist practicing in Michigan and New Mexico.
Career
Farion became a member of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus at age 15 and became a bass soloist at 17.[1] He has also been featured as a bass soloist with the University Circle Chorale, Detroit Concert Choir, Detroit Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Livonia Symphony.[2] and the Dnipro Chorus in their 1988 World Premier performance of Kouzan's "Neophytes" in Edmonton. He has also been a soloist at several Society of Ukrainian Bandurist events, including a tour of South America. He has been a featured soloist and cantor in many church choirs. He was a member of Volodymyr Kolesnyk's Millenium Choir which released the 35 Sacred Choral Concertos of
Recordings
Marko Farion has taken part in 10 recordings of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus being featured as a soloist on 3 of them. He has taken part in 12 recordings of the Detroit Concert Choir being featured as a soloist on 7 of them. Farion also has multiple digital singles released thru CDbaby and available on all platforms. In 2021 came a full length release titled "Quarantune Kobzar" which is a compilation of the online performances recorded during the 2020 shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A CD and digital release called "Bandura Songs of Hope & Freedom" featurinfo some contemporary songs of freedom but mostly historic songs from World War 1 & 2 - Striletsky and Povstansky songs with his bandura was released in June of 2023 - a year and a half into Russia's all out invasion of Ukraine. This was immediately followed by an instrumental only release titled "Bandura Instrumentals" in July 2023.
TV & Film
In 2017 Farion's bandura is heard throughout the Milwaukee PBS "The Arts Page" feature "Pysanka - Ukrainian Easter Egg". His music is also featured in the 2018 award winning documentary "Baba Babee Skazala" (dir. by Matej Silecky) about the Ukrainian refuge children of post World War 2 Europe.[10] He has an uncredited appearance as a member of the Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus in the Detroit PBS feature "Curtain Call to Cyrano" in 2007, a documentary short about the preparation for the World Premiere of the David DiChiera opera "Cyrano".
References
- ^ Smindak, Helen. "DATELINE NEW YORK: Musically speaking" (PDF). The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Livonia Symphony achieves unique status in Michigan and among Ukrainians (10/11/98)". The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "The Ukrainian Bandurist..." (PDF). The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Bandurist Chorus elects new board" (PDF). The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ Lyash-Farion, Chrystia. "Bandura camp returns to Pennsy's Ukrainian Orthodox camp" (PDF). The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "TENTH EMLENTON BANDURA CAMP" (PDF). The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ Lys, Maxim. "Pennsylvania bandura camp continues tradition of training talented musicians" (PDF). The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Livonia Symphony achieves unique status in Michigan and among Ukrainians(10/11/98)". The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ Melnyk, Christine M. "Bandura family reunion draws young musicians to Bobriwka" (PDF). The Ukrainian Weekly. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukrainians-uprooted-as-children-by-world-war-ii-recall-their-journeys-of-survival.html (Retrieved 15 Feb. 2022).