Hudson Hall came alive with joyful, mesmerizing music as the Pearl of the Black Sea, Kommuna Lux, a band from Odesa, Ukraine, performed at Willamette University on Oct. 23. A blend of musical genres including Balkan and Ukrainian folk filled the hall with an energetic, cheerful and lyrical sound, sparking the atmosphere of the old and cozy streets of Odesa. Of course, the band’s journey began long before its evening at Willamette, and its current mission is far more global in nature.
In 2023, Kommuna Lux went on its first charity tour in the United States, performing mainly on the East Coast. This year, beginning in June, the band expanded its geography to the West Coast, where it is currently playing shows. Next up, the band will head to Canada, with plans to finish its tour in Europe. Part of the money goes to Rotary International, a global humanitarian organization with which the band cooperates. The Kommuna Lux band also has a non-profit organization; it aims to support the Ukrainian nation by donating money and goods to agencies and people affected by Russian aggression.
Kommuna Lux consists of six talented musicians: clarinetist Volodymyr Gitin, accordionist Oleg Vasyanovych, trumpeter Serhii Zhuravel, trombonist Yaroslav Besh, drummer Serhii Poltorak, and frontman Bagrat Tsurkan. Though each band member comes from a different city in Ukraine, they all met while studying at the Odesa National Music Academy. There, they discovered a shared passion for music and decided to form a band.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many musicians wondered if they could still perform as they once had. Clarinetist Volodymyr Gitin shared, “In the first period, everyone was trying to figure out how to live in this new situation.” Emotions were unstable, and stress was high. But, as Gitin noted, people in Ukraine, especially in Odesa, needed the comfort of live shows. The performances helped them feel stronger and braver, offering a boost to their moods during difficult times.
In Ukraine, Kommuna Lux brought their music not only to civilians but also to soldiers, lifting their mood in a challenging time. For the band, seeing the soldiers’ joyful reactions was a powerful reminder of music's impact. The band’s performances highlighted how music can inspire resilience and bring moments of relief, even amid hardship.
Willamette’s students joined Kommuna Lux’s performance and were thrilled. “It was extremely fun because I grew up with Klezmer music in a Jewish family, so I already have a deep love for it,” said Ava Saidi Litvak (’27). Litvak explained that the band knows it’s doing well “when people in the crowd start to dance or look like they want to dance.” Although the concert was set up as a sit-down venue, she and her friends couldn’t resist getting up anyway. “There was a little bit of space on the floor, so we just went down,” she shared. “It was genuinely so exciting and heartwarming that so many people got up to dance with us. It was just such a fun event!”
Kommuna Lux’s performance brought to Willamette University a piece of Ukrainian resilience, culture, and community. The band's unique blend of Klezmer, Balkan, and Ukrainian folk music fascinated the audience, bringing a joyful energy that united everyone in the room. As they continue their tour across North America and Europe, Kommuna Lux carries with them a message of hope and strength, showing that music has the power to uplift even in the most challenging times. Willamette students left Hudson Hall with smiles, memories and inspiration from the energizing performance.
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