“Mariia Petrovska is a charismatic bandura player and singer, and one of the rising stars of Ukrainian music. She combines a complete mastery of the bandura with a pure, emotive voice, making Ukrainian traditional music sound utterly fresh and contemporary, as well as penning her own new songs. Her mesmerising live solo performances frequently draw standing ovations, and it is Mariia’s belief that this ancient traditional instrument can find a new audience far beyond its Ukrainian home.

In her native Ukraine, she was a many times winner of all-Ukrainian and international bandurist competitions. After the Russian invasion, she left Ukraine to live in the UK and is currently studying songwriting and performance at British Irish Modern Music University (Manchester). But she continues to use her music as a voice for Ukraine. She leads the volunteer organization ‘People’s Territory of Happiness’ and is a major contributor to the Cultural Forces programme. In summer 2023, she went to the east of Ukraine, close to the war zone where she performed for Ukrainian defenders, and also in a powerful fundraising video which went viral on YouTube. In May 2023, she played on the stage of the Eurovision Village in Liverpool. In August 2023 she recorded a song for a BBC team to accompany a news broadcast about Ukraine, and in summer 2024 performed to great acclaim in London’s Finborough Theatre.” John Farndon

“Mariia Petrovska gave a..rapturous recital…remarkable harmonic shifts and subtle quiet modulations” Simon Jenner, ‘Fringe Review’

“Mariia Petrovska stunned…with her angelic vocals… Everyone was in awe of her incredible talent.”.. I Love Manchester