Vychodna Dolina

Vychodna Dolina, the female folk singing group of St Nicholas Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in the East Village, is raising money to fund a trip abroad and is looking for support.

The group will perform on 25 August at the 4th Annual Recognize and Preserve the Traditions of Your Ancestors Festival in Jarabina, Slovakia. The group is made up of 13 Rusyn singers from the New York City area, and is a mix of both American-born and immigrants from the Rusyn villages of Jarabina, Litmanova, Kamienka, and Velky Lipnik, Slovakia. Vychodna Dolina was founded in the late 1980s at St. Nicholas Church.

The invitation to perform at the festival follows the group’s 2001 pilgrimage to their ancestral villages, today located in Slovakia but still populated mainly by members of Slovakia’s Rusyn minority. While in Slovakia, the women met the Jarabina folk ensemble Polana and quickly formed a bond. Last summer, Vychodna Dolina and St. Nicholas parish helped Polana come to New York City to perform for Rusyns and others living here. Now, Polana has invited Vychodna Dolina to perform in Slovakia.

Anyone interested in contributing to the cause can send a check made out to the Carpatho-Rusyn Society with “Vychodna Dolina Donation” in the memo section to the following address: Carpatho-Rusyn Society, Vychodna Dolina Donation, 125 Westland Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15217-2538.

Another way to help out is to buy tickets for the Majales Zabava (May Dance) at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (288 East 10th Street at Avenue A) that is being held on Saturday, 12 May, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. The party is sponsored by Vychodna Dolina, but music will be provided by VoxEthnika. They’re asking for a $20.00 donation in advance (before 6 May) and $25.00 at the door. Ticket price includes admission, cake and coffee and more food and drinks will be available for purchase.

To get tickets or more information, call Monika (Kanova) Kormanik at 646-644-6714, Magda Matlak at 718-373-2279 or Stephanie Salony at 908-284-0561.