One is not likely to truly appreciate the value of a professional union until one works outside of a union. In Ukrainian orchestras, there are rarely days off, and you can forget about resting your chops. There have been times when I have played 4 or 5 different concerts in the same week, but there is never a shortage of classical music in Ukraine. In fact, in Lviv alone—a city of just over 700,00 people—there are six full-time orchestras. My name is Linnie Hostetler, and I’m the principal hornist of the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine. I want to tell you about my beloved Ukraine through my musical and cultural experiences over the past 5 years.
I will never forget the night I arrived in Ukraine. It was the first day of January—not hard to forget! Of course, they were having a cold spell that week, so high the temperature was around -7°F. But Ukraine is not a frozen, Siberian-like tundra (contrary to popular belief). Its climate is like that of the American northeast. Think New York. I didn’t know a single word in Ukrainian or how to read the Cyrillic alphabet when I arrived. While I learned the language very quickly, I can honestly say that there was no shortage of failures along the way. My first meal in Ukraine was pasta with ketchup because I couldn’t read the product labels and just chose a jar with tomatoes on it, assuming it was tomato sauce. I quickly developed the personal motto, “Never assume in Ukraine!” Learning from mistakes is the fastest way to learn (as we all know), but it’s not always enjoyable.
Musically, Lviv has been a dream for me. Fresh out of college—after years and years of practicing orchestral excerpts—I crossed off almost all the major symphonic works on my bucket list in a five-year period. I have played all the Beethoven symphonies, all of Brahms’ symphonic works, almost all of Richard Strauss’ tone poems, four Bruckner symphonies, many ballets (including Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Stravinsky’s ballets), and Shostakovich’s 5th symphony, among many others. Basically, I have played through The Thompson Edition but in real life! I’ve also toured with the orchestra to ten European countries and to China. It has truly been the experience of a lifetime.
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| Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra Horn Section: (left to right, back row) Anya Zhovtobryuk, Oleg Bezushkevych, Andriy Mamorskiy, Zoltan Bodnar (left to right, front row) Roman Savin, Vasyl Havryliv, Ruslan Litvinchuk, Linnie Hostetler |
Ukraine has many thriving cities where music and art fill the streets. Many well-known composers have deep ties to Ukraine, including Gershwin, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and Prokofiev. These composers (or their ancestors) and others were born in the nation of Ukraine—and many of them studied in Russia. Each region of the country claims to have the best coffee in Ukraine, and coffee drinking is an essential part of the culture. The food is unbelievable and has richer flavors than anything I’d ever tasted in the United States. Ukrainians are excellent cooks, and I’m always amazed at their ability to make something дуже смачне—“really tasty”—out of what seems to be nothing. Ukraine’s geography is very diverse, with the Carpathian Mountain range in the west, plains and farmland in the center, and the Azov and Black Seas to the south. One popular question related to vacationing in Ukraine is, “Mountains or sea, which do you prefer?” But more than any of Ukraine’s assets, the people, above all, have won my heart. My friends and colleagues in Lviv are the most generous, sincere, and proud people I have ever encountered. They love their country, and their nationalistic pride is awe-inspiring. They are proud of their heritage and their culture, and they are also very proud of how much they have overcome to be where they are now. I’ve always been a little envious of Ukrainian culture. It’s hard, as an American, to imagine having traditions, recipes, and family land all over 1,000 years old. My friends often ask me, “What is American culture like?” or “How would you describe American food?” It’s not easy for me to answer them considering their history.
One way Ukraine differs noticeably from other cultures is their “we’re-all-in-this-together” mentality—as opposed to an individualistic mentality. They never leave anyone behind; they share all the resources they possess to help each other, and family is more important than anything. Ukraine has influenced the way I think about the future, because now the question in my mind is “What can I do for us?” instead of “What can I do for me?”
Coming from a privileged nation and having all one could ever want or need, I can assure you that many of us take things for granted. Ukrainians always give the best of what they have to their guests, even if it’s their own bed. (Pro-tip: Never go to someone’s house empty-handed because you will not leave empty-handed!) Ukrainian people are very straight-forward. They will tell you exactly what they think, right to your face. At first, it was a little off-putting, but then I realized how refreshing it is not to hide your emotions or put on a front. I think this honesty is one of the reasons Ukrainians have deep, real relationships, and their unity is long-standing proof that together they can overcome anything.
As we all know by now, Ukraine is experiencing an injustice that is shocking the world. Many of us feel helpless, not knowing what to do or how to help as we watch these events unfold on our television sets from the comfort of our homes. There are plenty of ways to give to support Ukraine. Their greatest needs right now are food, water, sanitary products, and body armor for the civilians who are joining the fight for freedom. Most of all, keep praying for Ukraine, for the safety of its citizens and the strength of its army. I can’t wait to return to the country that I love, to make music with my colleagues, and to hug my dear friends. They’ve overcome so much already, and I’m confident that their victory lies ahead.
Слава Україні! Героям слава!
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!
(Editor’s Note: Linnie has created a fund-raiser from which she immediately sends funds to families in need and charities on the ground. If you might wish to contribute through a member of our generous horn community who knows and loves this nation, the link is: https://www.facebook.com/donate/326625235948824/?fundraiser_source=external_url)
