26/12/2025
On Christmas Day 2025, members of the Songs for Ukraine Chorus were delighted to perform for millions of people across the UK and the Commonwealth, singing the carol at the conclusion of His Majesty The King’s annual Christmas Day Broadcast – an address that remains one of the most-watched programmes of the festive period in Britain.
Recorded in the magnificent Westminster Abbey and broadcast on BBC One, the Chorus performed a new arrangement of Carol of the Bells by Simon Haw. This beloved song is based on Shchedryk, originally created by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych.
Olha Terletska and Arina Koroletska featured as soloists, alongside members of the Royal Opera Chorus, the Royal Harpist Mared Pugh-Evans, and the military musicians from the RAF Regiment, the Royal Marines and the Household Division.
"It has been a great honour for our choir to be part of The King's Christmas Broadcast", said Bohdan Parashchak, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Songs for Ukraine Chorus. "Our chorus remains a powerful voice for the Ukrainian community in the UK, many of whom have been forced from their homes by war.
We express our deep gratitude to Britain for all its support, especially at Christmas, a time of kindness, compassion, and hope. As Ukraine approaches the end of a fourth year of full-scale war, with peace still elusive, moments like this help ensure that Ukraine is not forgotten, and that the bonds between the UK and Ukraine remain strong.
Through the beauty of Ukrainian music, we are reminded that even in the darkest times, light can shine, bringing hope, resilience, and joy at Christmas.”
Catch up on BBC iPlayer, and BBC and The Royal Family YouTube channels.
