Biography

The Ave Maria Chamber Choir was established in the Rivne City Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren in 1968 by Volodymyr Ostrovsky under the name Rivne Bells at the initiative of Hryhoriy Mykytovych, the head of the Karpenko City Department of Education.
Since 1976, the choir has been led by Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine Maria Goncharova. Since 1993, the choir called “Ave Maria” has been working at the music school №2 in Rivne, and since September 2008 – at the Rivne City Palace of Children and Youth.
Since 2018, the People’s Art Ensemble of the Ave Maria Chamber Choir has been conducted by Valeria Studinska-Yukhnich, a pupil of the ensemble and a graduate of the Rivne City Palace of Children and Youth Choir Studio.
Having received the title of “Exemplary”, winning the title of Laureate of the II Prize of the All-Ukrainian competition. M.D. Leontovych (1988, Kyiv) the team worthily presents its activities in Ukraine and abroad.
The repertoire of the Ave Maria choir consists of Ukrainian and world classics, arrangements of folk songs, sacred music, folk Ukrainian songs in modern arrangements, modern works with elements of jazz. For 50 years of existence the choir became the Laureate of the First prizes, the diploma winner and won the Grand Prix of the International competitions of children’s choirs: its fans in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic.
The choir is a participant and organizer of 3 international art projects: “Dogora” (2010, Saint-Nazaire, France), “Tchikidan” – musical suites for the choir of French composer Etienne Perusho for soloists and symphony orchestra (2012, Saint-Nazaire, France) on the basis of the Artek Children’s Youth Center (2013). The participants of this project were: the Ave Maria Choir, the Jean Moulin College Symphony Orchestra (France), the soloists of the Ave Maria Choir and the vocal sextet from Savoy (France).
120,000 km – this is the way to the top of choral art, 1,000 graduates who became musicians, teachers, doctors, engineers. 18 graduates graduated from the conservatory, 35 – became professional musicians.
Famous musicians and bands from Rivne and Ukraine cooperate with the choir. The Ave Maria Chamber Choir is included in the encyclopedia Art Collectives of Ukraine.

“People’s Art Group” chamber choir “Ave Maria” participated in projects and festivals, namely:
– 2011 – Laureate of the XXIX International Choral Art Competition (Greece), winning 3 diplomas “For the best performance of a wind work” and “For the best choir management”;
– 2012 – Grand Prix at the VIII International Festival-Competition “Slavic Wreath” (Bulgaria), II prize at the X All-Ukrainian Choral Art Competition “Spring Voices” (Tysmenytsia).
– 2015 – Mayor’s Award for Vocal Ensemble within the competition-festival “Musical Intrigues” (Bydgoszcz, Poland);
– in October-November 2015 the choir took part in the project “Children of Ukraine Sing” (France, Saint-Nazaire, Saint-Michel);
– 2017 – participation in the 6 th Costa Brava Music Festival (Lloret De Mar, Spain);
– 2018 – participation in the 10 th Toscana Music Festival (Montecattini Terme, Italy);
– 2019 – participation in the 9 th Istra Music Fastival (Porec, Croatia, artistic director Studinska-Yukhnich VV).
– 2019 – organization of the Jubilee concert on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the band as part of the charity marathon “With faith in the future”
– 2020 – winner of the 2nd degree of the XXVI International Festival of Carols and Christmas Carols. Kazimir Schwarlik
– 2020 – winner of the 2nd degree of the All-Ukrainian singing show “Battle of Choirs”
– 2020 – winner of the 1st degree of the Remote International Multi-Genre Festival-Competition “Viva stars of Arts”
– 2020 – participation in the charity event “Good for Christmas” (Rivne, Pdm)
– 2020 – participation in the project “Rozkolyada” (Rivne, PDM)
– 2020 – participation in the musical and choral action “Seasons of Classics”