Celebrating Unity at Ukraine’s DrumIsland Fest 2025

Drumming News

By David Levine

I had just finished my presentation on “The Greatest Change In Drumming”. As I invited the audience to ask questions, a young girl raised her hand and asked if I was afraid to come to Ukraine. I told her I had been going to drum festivals all over the world for many years, that I wasn’t about to stop now and that I couldn’t be prouder than to be among my brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

However, I do have to admit that hearing missiles explode and spending part of the night in a bomb shelter 3 floors beneath the Radisson Blu Hotel in the center of Kyiv, did make what was one of the more memorable drum festivals I have ever attended a bit more so.

The third annual DrumIsland Fest was held in Kyiv, Ukraine from April 4-6. Each day included a performance-based competition (drumset, percussion ensemble and concert snare drum and mallets) in the mornings and afternoons and clinics and concerts in the evenings. Supported by their teachers, families and friends, more than 200 drummers participated in the festivities over the 3 days. Drumset contestants had a choice of performing on acoustic or electronic kits.

The venue, across the Dienper river from downtown, was ideal: a 500-seat mainstage theater with a separate exhibition area and second stage plus a well-stocked snack bar. In addition to several Ukrainian drummers, the featured clinicians were Christin Neddens from Germany and Alirio José Torrealba from Venezuela. International artists Evelyn Glennie and Walfredo Reyes, Jr. sent video messages of support. Exhibitors/Sponsors included Tama, Meinl, Rohema, Vancore, Sela and others. 

(Images by Victoria Pushka – Instagram)

DrumIsland Fest 2025 was organized by local drummer/teacher and DrumIsland founder Dmytro Khoroshun, his talented wife Oksana and local drumming advocates Julia K. and Alex Marko. The event drew participants from throughout Ukraine. One aspect of the event that really stood out to me was the tremendous comradery, unity and generosity of everyone in attendance. Despite the dangerous and stressful conditions outside, the people inside were upbeat, friendly and joyful. And, I was quite happy to observe that the ratio of boys to girls was about 50:50 both in the contestants and award recipients. 

I was impressed by many of the drummers I saw and the teachers I met. The teachers, whether participating as judges or supporting their students, were among the country’s top players, university professors and private instructors. These men and women are obviously patient and proficient because the ages of the drummers ranged from 5 to adult and the overall levels of drumming and musicianship were extremely high. The drummers played like pros and, in my opinion, some of the youngest players had the deepest, most solid grooves. 

For me, Volodymyr Pihenko, Kyrylo Kushchenko and Isay Chornobryvets stood out as three of the best representatives of the spirit of the festival and the drumming community in Ukraine. 8-year old Isay and 9-year old Kyrylo were awarded a Grand Prize for their outstanding performances and positive attitudes while Volodymyr brought a bus-load of his students and also led drum circles during the event. Isay came from Poltava, Kyrylo from Mariupol and Volodymyr traveled from Varva, which are 3 of the many Ukrainian cities that have been affected by the war.

(Photos by Yuri Gryaznov – Instagram)

As the festival continues to grow, the Ukrainian drumming community gains more recognition and the political situation is resolved, there is no doubt in my mind that DrumIsland Fest will become a major event that’s worthy of greater industry support as well as alignment with the Percussive Arts Society and other international drumming organizations.

While not everyone who participated went home with an award, the organizers did make it a priority that everyone felt like a winner. As I left on the 12-hour, overnight train from Kyiv to Warsaw for the 12-hour flight back to Los Angeles, I certainly felt that way— having made many new friends and discovering that the future is bright for drummers and drumming in this beautiful but war-torn country. I wasn’t worried about traveling to Kyiv but I certainly had mixed emotions when it was time for me to leave. 

Download list of 2025 winners below

For more, visit @drumislandfest.

Photo caption:

Top row (from left to right): Isay Chornobryvets (winner Grand Prix), Anastasiya Nikolaychuk (contestant), Alirio José Torrealba (artist), Volodymyr Pihenko (instructor)

Bottom row (from left to right): Christin Neddens (artist), Yevgen Seleznov (artist), visitor, Luka Tykhomyrov (contestant).

Closing The Festival

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