The Accolade trio has united the ardent enthusiasts of the unique instrument in the world - the Ukrainian Bandura, of singing and playing the traditional Ukrainian wind instruments - flute, Pan flute, ocarina, double flute, tylynka, etc. The combination of these instruments, as well as their solo presentations, renders the unforgettable flavour of Ukrainian melodiousness, meditation and playfulness. The Accolade musicians seek to envelop their audience in the tuneful beauty of both folk and classical music, as well as authored pieces. They share a passionate adoration for the art of music and an aspiration to acquaint the widestest audiences with the extremely rich Ukrainian and international musical heritage, to show the high virtuoso possibilities of their instruments, to communicate to their listeners the beauty and richness of Ukrainian vocal and instrumental performing art.
The vocal-instrumental trio Accolade comprises well-known professional musicians, winners of national and international competitions, soloists of the Lviv Philharmonic Society - Lesia Stefanko (Bandura, vocal), Iryna Plakhtiy (Bandura, vocal) and Ihor Matseliukh (flute, Pan Flute, ocarina, doubleflute, etc.). All the trio members have graduated from the Lysenko Lviv State Conservatory; they are competent professionals, artful experts in their field, charismatic and ingenuous musicians who actively perform both as soloists with chamber and symphony orchestras, and as a vocal-instrumental trio Accolade.
The repertoire of the trio embraces composers’ arrangements of folk songs, choral works a capella, authored instrumental compositions and medleys of folk melodies. The Accolade trio also performs their own arrangements of classical music, popular variety hits and spiritual vocal works.
Every concert of Accolade is a unique opportunity to immerse into the inexhaustible spring of folk melodies, to relish the inherent sound of Ukrainian musical instruments in their most natural combinations. Having the Pan flute in their repertoire adds a very attractive feature to this group. The timbre of this ancient musical instrument combines the power of wind and the tenderness and longning of the reed pipes, into which, according to an ancient Greek legend, transfigurated the nymph Syrinx, fleeing from the god Pan.
The Accolade trio takes part in professional and folk festivals, in theatrical performances and national holidays; the trio often tours with concerts in European countries such as Germany, France, Britain, Poland, and others. In their first concert tour of Finland Accolade presents to their listeners an exclusive collection of Ukrainian folk and authored songs, of the masterpieces of world musical heritage and spiritual works.