Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivan Prodanyk.
Hi Ivan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We are U4U BAND, created in Cleveland. Each member of the team was forced to come to the USA due to the outbreak of war in their hometowns in different parts of Ukraine. Our music team’s idea is to develop and promote modern world music and Ukrainian culture.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For each member of the band, music is a savior and consolation that helps us survive a difficult time for everyone – loss of home, separation from friends, relatives, familiar and everyday life, which the war took away from everyone. Therefore, the most difficult thing was probably to find each other people with common views and the same feelings about everything that is happening around. To adapt on another continent and to find like-minded people who would help show people very rich, modern Ukrainian music.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Ivan Prodanyk – a year ago, before the war in Ukraine, I was a practicing lawyer, but the war forced me to change everything around me. My family and I moved to Cleveland. I started working at USCRI-Cleveland as a case manager. Every day, our agency helps Ukrainians and other nationalities adapt to life in the United States and achieve self-sufficiency. Agency`s website – refugge.org
What were you like growing up?
Band members: Voice – Ivan Prodanyk (performing with pseudonym – Voice of Lawyer) – participant of the Ukrainian television project’s “CHANCE” and “Voice of the Country.” Professional lawyer in Ukraine. Ph.D. in Law in Ukraine. Now, a student at the College of Law CSU.
Piano – Olena Alekseeva – professional Ukrainian pianist, laureate of all-Ukrainian and international competitions, teacher, and concertmaster of the Mariupol School of Culture and Arts.
Guitar – Darren Hamm – director field office USCRI – Cleveland, author, and composer of songs.
Violin – Yaryna Tsarynska – professional Ukrainian violinist, laureate of all-Ukrainian and international competitions, leading violinist of the Lviv National Opera, Catskill Symphony Orchestra, Fenimore Chamber Orchestra, participant in projects of the Lviv National Philharmonic and the Lviv Virtuosi Orchestra, concertmaster in Poland – Ukrainian Orchestra and 2 concertmasters in Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.
Clarinet – Yuriy Nakonechny – professional Ukrainian clarinetist, laureate of all-Ukrainian and international competitions. Clarinet of the Orchestra of the Lviv National Academy named after V. Slipak, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/voiceoflawyer?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@4UBandMusic/
- Other: https://instagram.com/u4u_band?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
