The folk art group orchestra of folk instruments of the Kharkiv Regional Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity is the leading youth amateur instrumental group in Ukraine. The ensemble is unique in its longevity and scale, as well as creative achievements.
The orchestra was formed in 1935, simultaneously with the opening of the first Palace of Pioneers in the Soviet Union in Kharkiv. The organizer of the orchestra and its leader for many years was a famous music and social figure, educator, teacher and conductor Vladimir Komarenko (1935-1966).
During this period, the orchestra was part of the pioneering ensemble of song and dance, organized and artistic director was P.L. Slonim. As part of the ensemble, the orchestra accompanied choral singing, dancing, performing instrumental works. The ensemble of song and dance regularly performed at various concert venues in Kharkiv, visited many cities of the Soviet Union, in particular, repeatedly toured in Moscow, Kiev, performed at the All-Union Pioneer Camp “Artek”.
In 1966 the orchestra was led by a young musician Valeriy Horodovenko, who for 56 years was behind the conductor’s console. Under his leadership, the orchestra became an independent large concert ensemble with a large and diverse repertoire. The number of participants reaches 60 – 70 people, the orchestra forms a studio for novice orchestrators for all musical instruments that make up the orchestra.
The material base of the orchestra is replenished and updated, the timbre palette is expanded by introducing new musical instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, timbre harmonicas, xylophone, bells, timpani, etc.).
The repertoire is formed from original works of the folk instrumental genre, translations of classical and modern music, accompaniments to soloists – vocalists and instrumentalists. The works of Kharkiv composers M. Karminsky, I. Kovach, V. Pidgorny, O. Haydenko, M. Stetsyun, G. Tsytsalyuk occupy a special place.
The orchestra actively performs in Kharkiv, districts of Kharkiv region in front of a wide audience. The geography of the orchestra’s touring tours is expanding: Kyiv, Moscow, Luhansk, Kursk, Orel, Chernihiv, Gomel, Tallinn, Vilnius, Dnipropetrovsk, Leningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Simferopol, Sevastopol, and others.
Since 1986, the orchestra has held the honorary title of “Exemplary artistic team.”
In July 2001, the orchestra took part in the XXIV International Music Festival in Bydgoszcz (Poland), where it won the Silver String Prize and a number of special prizes.
Many hundreds of students of the orchestra became harmoniously developed, spiritually rich people, for whom music became an integral part of their lives. Despite the fact that the orchestra does not set itself the task of training professional musicians, many of its students have dedicated their lives to music. Among them are many famous musicians who work in different cities of Ukraine and other countries.
Today the exemplary orchestra of folk instruments is one of the most numerous creative groups of the Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity. He is well acquainted with folk-instrumental music lovers not only in Kharkiv region, but also far beyond Ukraine.
The orchestra is a multiple participant in television and radio programs, performances at the most prestigious concert venues in the city. The creative activity of the orchestra is constantly in the field of view of the media.
Toward the Centenary: Heritage in the Digital Age
As the People’s Folk Instruments Orchestra enters its 90th anniversary year in 2025-2026, we are not just looking back at nearly a century of success — we are actively re-imagining our future. Despite the immense challenges of recent years, our rehearsals in the heart of Kharkiv have never stopped. This resilience has become the foundation for our next major evolution: Digital Transformation.
Today, we are moving beyond the traditional stage to create the Music & Digital Hub: “Re-Tuning the Tradition” . This initiative aims to bridge our historical legacy with modern innovation. By digitizing a century’s worth of unique musical archives, integrating AI tools for educational excellence, and utilizing 3D technologies, we are ensuring that the spirit of Ukrainian folk music remains vibrant and accessible to a global audience in the 21st century. Our history is a living, breathing entity, and we are proud to write its digital chapter today.