Ambassador of France to Ukraine Jacques Faure presented Oleh Skrypka with the honorary Ordre des Palmes Academiques which was founded by Emperor Napoleon I in 1808. This order is given to educators as well as to those who have made major contributions to education and to the expansion of French culture in the rest of the world. The list of those who receive this order is approved by the prime minister of France.
It has to be mentioned that Oleh Skrypka lived and worked in France for six years at some point. During that time the VV band musician took part in two performances as part of his cooperation with the Philippe Decoufle’s choreographic company. In one of the performances, Music Box, he worked as an assistant director and staged music episodes. The French Women Choir, which also participated in the project, got involved in work on the recording the famous VV song “Horila Sosna” (The Pine Tree Was Buring) from the album Muzika.
The story of cooperation between VV with the French band Les VRP is quite interesting. The musicians had three joint tours in France and two in Ukraine. They recorded one song called “Bartek” and filmed a video together. While in France, Skrypka began to introduce some ethnic elements to VV’s music, which further defined the band’s music style. The musician has organized Ukrainian Vechornytsi throughout Europe, including Paris. Cooperation with the French Cultural Center has continued after Skrypka returned to Ukraine. “During the Week of Frankophonie, Skrypka held the honorary position of the French representative,” reports the press service of the French Center.
“To receive this order is a great honor for me, and I am truly proud of it, because France has become another homeland for me, and I am glad that my connection with it is becoming stronger,” stressed Skrypka. He assured the mass media representatives that he will wear the order on the French National holiday on July 14 — Bastille Day.
