Valya Levchenko
— healing, community, and dialogue
Valya Levchenko is a Ukrainian vocalist, composer, and cultural leader who uses music as a tool for healing, memory, and dialogue.
Trained in psychology (MA) and shaped by a decade of HR and facilitation work, she brings together traditional Ukrainian song, improvisation, and ritual performance to support communities affected by war—from children to frontline fighters
Her artistic practice is rooted in Ukrainian polyphony and the songs of Slobozhanshchyna, which she reimagines through collaboration with musicians from Brazil, the UK, and beyond. Her albums—Zitkani (2019, Top 10 Indie Album, SLUKH Media) and Vidghomony Stepu (2024, with producer BUNHT/Ukrainian Cultural Foundation)—weave ancestral repertoire with contemporary improvisation and intercultural rhythms. Her 2023 project Kolyyskova, a single and cultural initiative about mothers fleeing war with their children, was widely shared internationally and featured in film and humanitarian contexts. SLUKH Media described her sound as "quiet and uneasy music, performed with pain and tenderness."
As a performer, Valya has appeared on stages and in residencies across Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Canada, and the US, with audiences describing her work as "transformative" and "a deeply meaningful experience." She is a member of Murmuration, an international ensemble founded by Rhiannon (USA) and Margie Gillis (Canada), and has developed solo works including Une / Одна (Artist at Risk/Galleria Continua, France) and Inre – The Intimacy of Reflection (Antonella Arto Scholarship, 2024).
Beyond the stage, Valya leads field expeditions to Ukrainian villages to record and preserve traditional songs at risk of disappearing. She facilitates vocal workshops and retreats for diverse groups—including displaced families, veterans, and professional artists—across Ukraine, Georgia, and Bulgaria, using traditional music and improvisation as tools for resilience and connection. She is co-founder of The Well, a global network of vocal improvisers, and the Forum of Contemporary Music Pedagogy in Ukraine, connecting educators committed to experiential, inclusive music learning.
Whether documenting village songs, performing on international stages, or holding space for healing in community circles, Valentyna's voice creates room for shared presence, memory, and transformation.