Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York was founded in 1949 with the goal "to preserve and cultivate the rich musical heritage of Ukraine",[1] both for the church and for secular occasions.
[1] Dumka celebrated their 70th anniversary at Hunter College on 6 October 2019, conducted by music director and conductor Vasyl Hrechynsky.
The program also included the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Peter Wilhousky, an American of Ukrainian origin, who created English lyrics to Leontovych's "Shchedryk" ("Carol of the Bells").
The choir sang Verdi's Va, pensiero (Fly, my thoughts [on wings of gold]) from Nabucco, written when Italian patriots tried to unify their country, free from foreign control.
[1] On 26 February 2022, two days after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York conducted by Vasyl Hrechynsky performed the Ukrainian spiritual hymn "Prayer for Ukraine" live in the cold open of the Saturday Night Live episode hosted by former show writer John Mulaney with musical guest LCD Soundsystem, standing behind a table of votive candles that were arranged to spell "Kyiv".