Statement on SNL Performance

Credit: Will Heath

Statement from Leah Batstone, UCMF Creative Director:

Yesterday at about 12:30pm, I received a message through our social media. A producer from Saturday Night Live was looking for a way to reach Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York in the hopes that they might open the show with a song.

Dumka sang at our inaugural festival in 2020 and director Vasyl Hrechynsky is someone I know well, so I jumped at the opportunity, which for a child of the 90s growing up in the US, seemed absolutely immense.

In recent years, SNL has consistently drawn more than six million live viewers per episode. They have 12.7 million subscribers on YouTube. It is an institution that has launched the careers of countless American comedy legends. That they were interested in acknowledging the devastating events in Ukraine and doing so through Ukrainian music seemed almost too good to be true.

Following a flurry of phone calls to Mr. Hrechynsky and members of the choir, we had a piece selected (Боже великий єдиний, the spiritual hymn of Ukraine), vyshyvanky were pressed and packed, and 18 choir members were on their way to Rockefeller Center.

The first thing that struck me upon our arrival was how many times the fantastic staff of SNL thanked us! They were almost more excited about the performance than many of the choir members.

As an ensemble made up largely of singers who came from Ukraine as teenagers and young adults, many of Dumka’s members were not familiar with SNL. While they were no doubt honoured to have the chance to sing on television, it was truly special as the only American-born person in the group to watch as the importance of this cultural institution dawned on Dumka’s members. And with it the realization that people around the world cared about Ukraine.

As we went down to the dress rehearsal, I noticed props of sunflowers lining the hallways. I thought maybe it was a nice coincidence. I had not imagined that they had been selected for this broadcast as a tribute to Ukraine. When we entered to see the table of candles spelling out “KYIV”, the correct Ukrainian transliteration of the capital city, I felt the swell of tears behind my eyes.

Following Dumka’s magical and moving live performance, we exited the set through a hallway lined with cast and crew. Everyone applauded. A crew member stopped a singer in front of me to say, “that was beautiful. We are with you. We see Ukraine.”

Mr. Hrechynsky told me later that Kenan Thompson, who was also standing in the hallway, shocked him by saying “duzhe dyakuyu” as he passed. He turned and asked, “do you know Ukrainian?” Kenan answered, “I just know that.”

I’ve watched Kenan since he was a kid on Nickelodeon. He’s been a symbol of American comedy for my generation since Kenan and Kel were welcoming us to Good Burger. The idea that he would know how to say “thank you” in Ukrainian both stunned me and filled me with indescribable hope.

SNL gifted the sunflowers to the choir and members each took an armful home. On the way out of the building, carrying their bouquets, we walked past fans waiting on the sidewalk. I heard a girl explain to her friend that Ukraine was the world’s number one grower of sunflowers. How did she know that, I wondered. I’m glad she did.

I cannot put into words the gratitude I feel to SNL and their incredible – seriously incredible – team.

Дуже дякую друзі України і Слава Україні!

Watch the performance here.