Ukrainian violinist stranded in Lampasas
Ukrainian Victor Voloschuk arrived in the United States on Sept. 16, 2021, to learn more about the ties between his country’s Hutsul sound and American country music.
What he didn’t foresee was the Russian invasion of his native homeland.
With war raging in his country, Voloschuk remains separated from his wife, three children and grandchildren.
No matter where he is, he still has his music, he said. “Music is always pleasant,” Voloschuk said. “It is the one thing that gives me the opportunity to distract myself and not think about the fact that I am in a foreign country. It's music.”
Voloschuk is from the city of Kolomyia, located more than 400 miles southwest of the capital Kyiv. Kolomyia is known for having the largest pysanka (Easter egg) in the world at its Pysanka Museum. Over 12,000 Easter egg designs from all over the world are featured at the museum.
The city is home to about 62,000 residents and is located in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. It is here where Voloschuk became infatuated with music.
“From the age of 5, my parents sent me to a music school,” he said.
Voloschuk is proficient on the violin, but he also can play a variety of instruments including the piano, guitar, flute and others.
Hutsul music is a Ukrainian folk sound that originates from the Hutsul region, located in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine. It combines complex rhythms, lively melodies and the use of various traditional musical instruments. Hutsul music is often performed during festive occasions like weddings and harvest celebrations.
“Ukrainian music has a lot of its own identity,” Voloschuk said. “Very famous composers have come from Ukraine like Leontovych and Skoryk. Hutsul music is respected all over the world, with our musicians going to festivals in Canada and different countries. Everyone is very fascinated by our music!”
What today is Ukraine previously was part of the Soviet Union. Voloschuck said much has changed since the days of the hammer and sickle.
“It has changed a lot,” he said. “Ukrainians are able to go to different countries. The culture has changed, and Moscow, Russia has always had an advantage over Ukraine. They want it to become their own colony where they can push their identity.”
At the age of 18, Voloschuk started his mandatory, two-year service in the Soviet army. He served at the intelligence school before shifting to the ensemble, where he toured across the Soviet Union to perform.
After his time in the military, Voloschuk worked in various roles with music. Whether it be teaching or performing, music has surrounded him every step of the way, Voloschuk has performed in Canada, Germany, Italy, Turkey and recently in Lampasas at the Lampasas County Museum.
“Perhaps the most memorable memory is from Poland,” the violinist said. “We took first place at a festival and were on the front pages of all newspapers on the internet.”
Voloschuk ventured to the U.S. in 2021 to help his family financially. He has bounced around from Seattle to teaching at a Ukrainian school in Chicago. Now, he resides in Lampasas with his Ukrainian friend Myla Kuhne, who arrived in the U.S. in 1999.
“Ukrainians help their [fellow] Ukrainians a lot,” Voloschuk said.
He said he has enjoyed his time in Lampasas so far, praising the kindness of its people. Voloschuk said he was familiar with Texas before his arrival here.
“I liked watching western movies, and especially movies with a Christian theme,” Voloschuk said. “When I searched for films I liked on the internet, everything was about Texas.”
Although he is enjoying his time in Lampasas, Voloschuk said he misses his family who still remains in the war-ravaged Ukraine.
“I call back every day,” he said. “I miss my grandson. Today [March 22], I just congratulated him for turning 7 years old.”
Voloschuk’s son-in-law has garnered attention for his innovation in fighting the Russians. The Ukrainians have been attaching explosives to drones that they can release from a higher altitude — doing anything they can in their cause for freedom.
Voloschuk believes the threat of a Russian invasion was imminent for a long time.
“This aggression has always felt like this,” he said. “My parents and grandparents told me how Russia has always had an influence on Ukraine. This has been felt for many years since 2014, when my son went to fight in the Donbas. We already had such worries about what could be a full-scale invasion.”
Voloschuk plans to return to Ukraine once the war has ended. He hopes his family will be able to join him in the U.S. until the conclusion of the fighting. In the meantime, his limited free time consists of reading or watching documentaries. Voloschuk has been able to make his way around the Texas Hill Country and recently performed in Marble Falls.
While there is much to worry over, at least he still has music.