Stephaniya DOVHAN: Kyiv-Baltimore-Kyiv
Those coming to the Lysenko Hall of Columns to the concert dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the Bureau of the Commercial Counselor of the Austrian Embassy, have got a surprise; in fact, more than one.
First, the meeting with the Luhansk Oblast State Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra guided by Austrian conductor and composer Kurt Schmidt, which is now in its heyday, appeared unexpectedly agreeable. Second, many in the audience discovered for themselves talented young singer Stephaniya Dovhan, a former Kyivan and now Ukrainian-American, who appeared for the first time before a Kyiv audience. The charming debutante who is not even 25 bewitched the public not only with her beautifully mellow voice, uncommonly light and flexible, but also with her pensive approach to executing even most popular pieces like Rosina’s aria from The Barber of Seville, the Kyiv Waltz, or duets from Mozart’s operas. The latter Stephaniya sang together with student of the National Musical Academy of Ukraine and German Musical Academy Andriy Maslakov. Those listening the “Radio Muz” show on the Third Channel of the National Radio Company could have listened to opera and chamber music dating from the eighteenth to twentieth century — from Handel to Barber — recorded at the concert Stephaniya gave in America and appreciate the young singer’s ability to captivate the audience’s attention and keep them enthralled with her charm.
To discover the sources of Stephaniya’s musical gift for enrapturing both experienced and ordinary listeners, one should recall that she comes from a creative family. Her grandmother Margarita is a journalist, grandfather Borys — a sculptor, and mother Kateryna an artist. There was always music playing in their house. The whole family would often visit an apartment on Khreshchatyk where Borys Hmyria used to live to listen to the outstanding singer’s records. Little Stephanka played the piano, bandura, and reed pipe. She sang at the Kyiv Conservatory Choir since she was five. At the age of four the future singer made her first public appearance at the Mykola Lysenko Museum, singing the part of Sister Fox. She used to go to sleep listening to Verdi and Rossini’s arias. When Stephaniya was sixteen her mother married a Ukrainian-American and moved to Baltimore, Maryland. In a week after moving across the ocean, Stephaniya sat for her entrance examination at the Baltimore Arts School playing Mozart and Chopin and singing Ukrainian songs. The admissions committee asked the gifted girl what faculty she wants to enter and she said after a ten-second pause, “Vocal.” Stephaniya and her mother admire the US system of raising talents where they do everything so that the gifted person did not leave his or her native country or even hometown. After graduating from the Baltimore School of the Arts, Stephaniya has received a grant as valedictorian, which made it possible for her to get higher education on the condition that she remains in Maryland. After entering the university, she received another scholarship from its administration, and a third one from Maryland state authorities. However, every year she has to confirm her right to free education with excellent grades. In 2000, Stephaniya won first prize at the prestigious Rosa Ponselle Young Classical Singers’ Competition.
One of Ms. Dovhan’s latest achievements is her conquest of the International Musical Foundation Contest in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Since experienced opera singers take part in this competition, Stephaniya never dreamed of getting to the third round, the more so because it was the first time she had sung with an orchestra. In the end, she received a bronze medal and invitation to give a concert in Washington.
In the summer of 2002 our talented compatriot was among the few chosen to study in Salzburg. After finishing her studies and passing a final test, she received the title, Contest Favorite, and gave a solo concert at the Salzburg’s Leopoldschloss for the refined audience coming to the Salzburg Mozart Festival from Germany, France, etc.
Recently Stephaniya has joined the group of probation soloists at the National Opera of Ukraine. She takes lessons from People’s Artiste of Ukraine Oleksandr Diachenko and is rehearsing the role of Violetta from Verdi’s La Traviata. This is a pleasure for Kyiv music fans, for now we have another bright star to admire in the operatic sky.
