Left: “Popular seminary guitarists” in the 1930s Right: "Popular bandura players of the Lviv Theological Academy”: Bohdan Hanushevskyi, Dmytro Honchar and Yurii Svistel, from 1937 to 1938 Left: The choir of theologians during a soiree on 4 November 1934, conducted by Volodymyr Zholkevych Right: The student orchestra of the Theological Academy, conducted by Artemii Tsehelskyi, in 1938 Left: The choir of seminarians of the Archeparchial Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv Right: The choir of the Lviv Theological Academy “Stritennia” (“Presentation”) Prof. Zymak teaches a physical education class in the seminary garden in the 1930s Left: The soccer team of Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv Right: Citius, altius, fortius!…

	Musical Life at the Theological Academy in the 1920s and 1930s

Primary attention in the musical life of Holy Spirit Seminary and the Theological Academy was focused on choral singing. The seminary choir possessed a singing repertoire unsurpassed in Lviv and the whole region. The choir owed its highly professional artistic level to proficient conductors Stepan Koroliuk (1926), Mykola Zubal (1928), Yevhen Bobovnyk (1929), Vasyl Yakubiak (1939), Bohdan Hanushevskii (1941/42), and Volodymyr Dorosh (1943).

The LTA choir, consisting on average of 60 to 80 voices, had both religious and secular songs in its repertoire. It performed during church services as well as on great secular holidays and festive religious occasions.

The music section at the Athenaeum offered courses in music theory and solfeggio for conductors and organized lectures on correct singing techniques.

The academy orchestra of 24 musicians was revived in 1933, B. Bilynskyi being its conductor. The Higher Musical Institute provided substantial support for the orchestra, lending instruments and sheet music, until the latter could afford “to buy its own things.”

In addition to the orchestra and quartets, there were also bandura players, who performed on various festive occasions and at concerts. The most prominent were Bohdan Hanushevskyi, Dmytro Honchar and Yurii Svistel, to mention but a few. The orchestra, the quartet, bandura players or violin soloists performed at all events held by the Theological Academy as well as at musical and literary soirees.

Having renewed their activities, the seminary and the academy concentrate considerable attention on the development of musical life. The recently created choirs, ensembles and bands perform at various events organized by the academy, and do their best to popularize Ukrainian songs as well as church singing.

• brass band of Holy Spirit Seminary. Conducted by P. Myts
  
• Holy Spirit Seminary concert band “Oranta” (The Praying One)
  
• Holy Spirit Seminary a cappella octet
  
• Holy Spirit Seminary quintet
  
• Holy Spirit Seminary choir. Conducted by Yaroslav Melekh
  
• LTA choir “Stritennia” [“Presentation”]. Conducted by Volodymyr Ben

The academy sports section organized various types of contests, including round robin and play-off competitions. Prof. Pavlo Zymak conducted physical education classes.

The seminary has a soccer team, “Brotherhood of the Kicked Ball,” and a fitness gym, where students can work out, relax after studies and gather their strength for further mental activities.