Trio to Perform Rare Ukrainian Folk Songs From the Chornobyl Region

A PSU concert this weekend commemorates the 40th anniversary of the nuclear disaster.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:20am by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract close-up photograph of a weathered, textured wooden surface in warm brown and charcoal tones, capturing the aged, rustic beauty of the Chornobyl region's cultural heritage.The haunting, powerful folk music of Ukraine's Chornobyl region reflects the resilience of a culture that has endured unimaginable hardship.Portland Today

Nearly 40 years after the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, a trio of Ukrainian folk musicians will perform rare songs from the contaminated Polissia region at a special concert at Portland State University. The free event, titled 'Chornobyl: A Song Never Silenced,' will feature powerful and haunting melodies that have been preserved by musicologist Inna Kovtun, who fled Ukraine after the 2022 Russian invasion. The concert aims to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster while also celebrating the resilience of Ukrainian culture.

Why it matters

The music of the Polissia region, which was heavily impacted by the Chornobyl disaster, represents a unique and endangered cultural tradition. By performing these rare folk songs, the concert helps to preserve this heritage and raise awareness of the ongoing impact of the nuclear accident. In the midst of the current war in Ukraine, the event also serves as a symbol of Ukrainian identity and resistance.

The details

The concert will feature vocalist-folklorists Hanna Tishchenko and Nadia Tarnawsky, accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Michael Caruso and bandura player Valentyn Lysenko. Inna Kovtun, a leading authority on Ukrainian folk music, will perform and provide historical context for the songs, many of which predate the Soviet era and have rarely been heard outside of Europe. The music of Polissia is known for its unique polyphonic harmonies and themes of love, death, family, and the changing of the seasons.

  • The Chornobyl nuclear disaster occurred in 1986.
  • The concert at Portland State University will take place on April 17, 2026, marking the 40th anniversary of the disaster.
  • Inna Kovtun and her 7-year-old daughter fled Kyiv, Ukraine in February 2022 after the Russian invasion began.

The players

Inna Kovtun

A leading authority on Ukrainian folk music, Kovtun was the artistic director for Kalyna, the Ukrainian state folklore assembly, prior to the 2022 Russian invasion. She has collected and cataloged over 1,000 songs of Ukrainian and Baltic origin through numerous research trips, including to the Polissia region.

Hanna Tishchenko

A vocalist-folklorist who will perform alongside Kovtun and Tarnawsky at the concert.

Nadia Tarnawsky

A vocalist-folklorist who will perform alongside Kovtun and Tishchenko at the concert.

Michael Caruso

A multi-instrumentalist who will accompany the vocalists at the concert.

Valentyn Lysenko

A bravura bandura player who will lend his expertise to the performance. Lysenko is a piano tuner by day.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a special sound. Chornobyl is an area with a lot of forest, and so it's loud. But it's a beautiful sound. It's powerful. You need to sound powerful to sing through the trees.”

— Inna Kovtun, Vocalist and Musicologist

“She's the queen of Ukrainian folklore. And I mean it. If not for her, many of these songs would not be heard today.”

— Yulia Brockdorf, President of DAWN

“It's a profession, to be a folklorist. But this is not about money. This is about soul: my soul. It's about the songs that our ancestors gave to us. And now it's especially important because Russia tried to kill not only our country and our beautiful cities and villages. They tried to kill our identity.”

— Inna Kovtun, Vocalist and Musicologist

What’s next

The concert at Portland State University on April 17, 2026 will be followed by a free singing workshop led by Inna Kovtun the next day.

The takeaway

This concert serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and importance of Ukrainian cultural traditions, even in the face of devastating events like the Chornobyl disaster and the ongoing Russian invasion. By preserving and sharing these rare folk songs, the performers are keeping the spirit of the Polissia region alive and honoring the legacy of those who came before.