The sad voice of the bandura does not leave indifferent pedestrians in the Kyiv underground crossings nearby underground. An inspired young man with a stubble and in the same embroidered shirt puts his whole soul into the performance. We involuntarily stop and listen. In your imagination they collapse stories about wandering kobzars who united Ukraine and raised the Cossack spirit, the film «Guide» with a sad story of destruction Ukrainian kobzarism and, of course, Shevchenko …Having got acquainted with the modern kobzar, you are surprised, because he comes from Berdychiv. Oleh Makarchuk, who chose the nickname Zayets, travels across Ukraine, bringing people sacred knowledge about Ukrainian song about a bandura, about life values

«I was born and raised in Berdychiv, I graduated Berdychiv Pedagogical College in the class of accordion and piano, then studied at NPU Drahomanov. However, I felt that this was not enough and joined the music courses to the House of Art Groups of Ukraine, and it is in the vocal and choral studio at the national choir named after Hryhoriy Veryovka, where I studied vocals, choral singing and piano. In the dormitory met a guy, Anton Zhikulin, who engaged in the studio at the bandura band. Once he invited me to listen to some recordings bandura and put the song «Oh, the wind blows in the field» performed by Honored Artists of Ukraine bandura players Taras Lazurkevich and Oleh Sozansky. From that moment, I remember, the bandura forever captured my heart. Therefore I entered and graduated in 2017 from Studio training of actors at the National bandura band of Ukraine named after G. I. Mayboroda for specialty «Bandura, solo singing»

«Listening to the course of the history of kobzar art, which inspired by Yaroslav Chornoguz, many learned about the life and destiny of Ukrainian traveling singers. I was especially impressed by how it was treated Soviet power to Ukrainian kobzars, as destroyed, banned and sought to minimize the role of the Ukrainian song, because there were essentially kobzars leveled to entertaining clowns humorous songs of the working people. In fact, and during the Soviet era, kobzars continued theirs big deal: sought to revive the national spirit, singing songs about a free Ukraine, making fun of the power of the councils and telling the truth. This knowledge is truly inspired me that I decided to try to revive traveling kobzarism in Ukraine. I have been traveling with bandura, playing and singing for people»

«So far, the geography of my performances is small, after all I have been traveling since 2016. Visited Zaporizzha, on Khortytsia Islands – shrines of the Cossacks, Uman, Zhytomyr, Odessa, visited the Arabat Arrow. I remember I got on the Arabat arrow thanks to a friend, Zasulsky Alexander, in whose family I lived for some time, it was his father Andrew who inspired me playing for people on the flute. It was one of my most memorable performances. Now, of course, I often sing in Kyiv. My favorite place is Andrew’s Descent, near the monument to Bulgakov»

«Maybe one day I will join the chapel bandura players, and while – I grind skill on self-indulgence, playing for people.
My dream is to visit all the big cities of Ukraine and the world and play near the monuments to Taras Shevchenko. I feel a special honor for this folk genius. Actually, my first performance on the street took place on the eve of Kobzar’s birthday in Kyiv. I remember then I became very ill with inflammation lungs and all the money raised was spent on treatment, however at the same time I realized that the bandura is my mission»

«Bandura is a force of the Ukrainian people as long as the Ukrainian song lives – there is Ukraine. My bandura is my soul. It instilled in me patience, wisdom, tolerance and self-confidence. Above all I want for Ukrainians to remember kobzars, to know that admired the bandura, sought to teach their own history»

«I play for three or four hours in a row. Then it’s hard straighten your back, but do not while doing so you feel it because you enjoy the game, emotionally you get annoyed. When I understand what I lift people mood, it becomes easy and fun. I am convinced that live music is pleasant memories, positive thoughts and pleasure! …»

«The repertoire is mostly Cossack and insurgent songs, songs based on Shevchenko’s poems and, of course, modern music. My favorite song is «Let her live free Ukraine». And people like, for example, the hits of the 80’s years. And I play them, promoting the bandura as modern tool. Although often come and ask to flirt something Ukrainian is impossible for me then stop»

«My most grateful listeners are children. They stop, let their parents down, interested listen, ask questions. Once when I played on University metro station, approached me a woman who offered to take part in the photo exhibition organized by her husband Andrew Pavlyuk. She liked my image, because I played in embroidered clothes and on at that time he already had chuprina (herring). Yes, once I was a model»

«Next to me I see a girl who will perceive and understand my lifestyle that will be next. Perhaps, it’s a dream, but I believe in it. Unfortunately, so far I did not meet such a girl. But she lives somewhere …»