---
title: "Vadym Yatsenko on his new post: 'I will make history' and the 'creepy' atmosphere in the Verevka Choir"
description: "Vadym Yatsenko responds to criticism after his appointment to the Verevka Choir: he called the atmosphere in the building 'creepy' due to the cult of his predecessor and promised not to repeat the mistakes of the past. The conductor acknowledged the Soviet origins of the ensemble but insists on its value for Ukrainian culture. 🎼🇺🇦"
date: 2026-07-02T15:22:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/vadim-yatsenko-responds-to-criticism-new-appointment-in-verevka-choir
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Vadym Yatsenko on his new post: 'I will make history' and the 'creepy' atmosphere in the Verevka Choir

![Vadym Yatsenko on his new post: 'I will make history' and the 'creepy' atmosphere in the Verevka Choir](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/02/vadim-yatsenko-otvechaet-na-kritiku-novoe-naznachenie-v-hore-verevki/vadim-yatsenko-otvechaet-na-kritiku-novoe-naznachenie-v-hore-verevki-1.webp)

Merited Artist of Ukraine and conductor Vadym Yatsenko has responded to the wave of criticism that followed his appointment as Artistic Director of the National Choir named after Hryhoriy Verevka. In his blog, the artist detailed his first days working with the legendary ensemble, explained his motivations, and addressed accusations regarding the institution's 'Soviet past.'

### Response to critics and defense of history

Following the news of the leadership change in the choir, an active discussion erupted on social media. Vadym Yatsenko admitted to seeing numerous critical posts where people expressed disagreement with his appointment. In one comment, a man even asked for forgiveness from the founder of the ensemble — Hryhoriy Verevka, who can no longer respond.

The conductor insists that the history of the choir cannot be judged superficially. He acknowledges that the ensemble was created during the Soviet era but is convinced that this does not diminish its merits in preserving the Ukrainian musical tradition.

"Is the choir a product of the Soviet system? Yes. Is the ensemble to blame for this? No. Were the outstanding leaders of this choir part of that system? Yes. Are they valuable to Ukrainian culture? Absolutely, yes," Yatsenko wrote.

Responding to claims regarding Hryhoriy Verevka's biography, the new director noted that there are no facts of dissent or resistance to the system in it. However, according to the conductor, Verevka's activities played a key role in preserving the Ukrainian tradition at a time when the cultures of all the peoples of the Union were striving to be unified under the "big wing" of Russian culture.

### "Creepy" atmosphere and the cult of the predecessor

Vadym Yatsenko paid special attention to the figure of Anatoliy Avdiyevsky, who led the choral ensemble for five decades. The conductor highly rated Avdiyevsky's contribution to the development of the choir but expressed concern about the atmosphere reigning in the building on Shevchenko Boulevard.

"The cult of Avdiyevsky is felt immediately upon crossing the threshold of the building, even ten years after his departure. On the third floor stands a bust of Verevka. Next to it is a photo of Avdiyevsky, and all of this was decorated with bouquets of artificial flowers until today. It's a bit creepy," the new director shared his impressions.

### First days and new challenges

Work in the choir began with some difficulties. Yatsenko admitted that in the first two days he had to face misunderstandings and conflicts. He noted that he had quarrels with people who believed they could make decisions without his knowledge.

Nevertheless, the conductor has already launched work on the first major project. He emphasized that the path will be difficult, but he does not intend to follow the well-trodden roads of the past.

"Will I follow the path that was already trodden before? Oh no," Vadym declared.

### Choice between family and history

At the end of his address, Yatsenko touched upon the personal aspect of his decision. He admitted that he could have "lived a better life" and spent more time with his family, but he chose to create history.

"History, in which there are now two wonderful ensembles that everyone will fight over. You have probably heard somewhere that I will never let anyone insult mine. And we will definitely succeed," he assured his followers.

Recall that earlier Vadym Yatsenko announced his resignation from the Lviv Opera, where he worked for eight years. After that, news of his appointment to the Verevka Choir became known. At the same time, the conductor emphasized that he continues his work with the "Homyn" choir.