University of Alberta

Duration of Stay: February 2026 | Visiting Fellow based at Denkraum Ukraine, Landshuter Str. 4
Concert-Lecture: 14 Feb 2026, 17:00-19:00, Evangelischen Bildungswerk, Am Ölberg 2, 93047 Regensburg | Ukrainian Songs that tell History - Ukrainische Lieder, die Geschichte(n) erzählen | Українські пісні, що розповідають історію

Olga Zaitseva-Herz is a scholar, educator, composer, and artist with a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta. Her interdisciplinary expertise furthermore spans music performance, sound design
, musicology, and vocal pedagogy. She explores the intersections of music, culture, and community, with a focus on the sensory and contextual dimensions of music as a living practice. Olga’s research includes studying Ukrainian-Canadian music and sharing her insights into research creation as a methodology for exploring folklore and Ukrainian ethnography. Her work bridges academic inquiry and artistic practice, offering innovative approaches to the study of cultural heritage.

Her current research explores the historical trajectories and contemporary functions of Ukrainian music in diaspora, with a particular focus on Canada. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has transformed the role of music in Ukrainian communities worldwide. In addition to preserving heritage and identity, music now serves urgent functions: raising funds for humanitarian and military aid, fostering resilience, and strengthening solidarity across transnational networks. 

With a global perspective shaped by her academic journey across Ukraine, Germany, Canada, and the United States, Olga has taught a diverse range of subjects, including Ethnomusicology, Musicology, Ukrainian Studies, and Vocal Performance. She fosters creativity and inclusivity in her teaching, encouraging students to connect with music as both an art form and a cultural expression.

As an artist, Olga applies sound to bring historical and social narratives to life, creating immersive projects that engage audiences with cultural heritage. Her work reflects a commitment to blending academic rigor with artistic expression, enriching the understanding of music as both a cultural and creative force. One of her recent works is the contemporary music piece "Bakhmut Rhapsody" which established her contemporary opera series "When the Sirens Sing,." This work combines ethnographic research and documentary materials of Russia´s current war on Ukraine. The first act of this opera project was premiered at the Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival in New York City in March 2024 and was recently awarded a grant from Timothy Snyder’s initiative, "Documenting Ukraine," by the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.

Find out more about Olga's artistic practices here and learn more about her band and research project Zaitsa here. She will be performing a concert-lecture on 14 February, at 17:00, at the EBW in Regensburg together with Marek Herz.

Photo: Hans Lechner