Kobzarskyi Tsekh

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Kobzarskyi Tsekh (Ukrainian: Кобзарський Цех, Kobzars'kyi Tsekh) is a guild of kobzars.

In the 19th century, earlier blind musicians, known as kobzars and lirnyks, organized themselves into guilds along the same lines as professional craftsmen such as potters, masons and others in Ukraine.

These professional intinerant musicians would gather at regular meeting spots on particular dates to celebrate religious feasts, administer examinations for the induction of novices and masters, and collect money for placement of votive candles under icons of patron saints and to also discuss the business of the guild.

In the 1990's, the Kobzars'kyi Tsekh was reorganised by followers and students of traditional bandurist Heorhy Tkachenko - Mykola Budnyk and Mykhailo Khai. The idea of the formation of the Kobzars'kyi Tsekh was in order to resurrect and reestablish forgotten traditions and to deal with the needs of those bandurists who were interested in performing the traditional music of the kobzars. The highly regulated government institutions of the time were openly hostile to these bandurists, and as a result the Kobzars'kyi Tsekh was formed initially in opposition to the various formal music schools and conservatoria, because these formal structures had agendas which did not focus on traditional folk music.

The Kobzar'kyi Tsekh has grown into a significant movement and force in contemporary Ukrainian musical life. Currently there are over 200 members and associates, with chapters in Kiev, Kharkiv and Poltava.