Helen Karpenko (stage name - Solomia ) is a singer, composer, poet, writer and social activist. Musical work She writes music in various styles (Jazz, Blues, Rock, Pop, Adult Contemporary, Classics and World). By giving concerts in different countries, she performs her mission of culture diplomacy. Among her featured events were: the solo concert as a part of the official reception devoted to the 20th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Independence, performed at the invitation of the Head of the European Council (Strasbourg, France, 2011); charity tour and fundraising for Ukrainian orphans of the Russian-Ukrainian war (USA, 2016); signature song of the Ukrainian show at the New York Fashion Week (2015) etc. Solomia studied opera singing at the vocal faculty of the National Academy of Music (Ukraine, 2003-2007). She is a winner and a laureate of a number of national, international and worldwide competitions on vocals and composition: Billboard World Song Contest (USA, 2007-2009); Song of the Year (USA, 2007); Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards (Canada, 2007); Your Talents, Ukraine (1996), just to name a few. Solo albums: Solomia (2007); Rondo (2011); Birthday (2011). Literature work Olena’s poetry and prosaic pieces were published in newspapers, magazines, almanacs and books of modern literature in Ukraine and abroad, being translated into several languages. She is an author of five books: “Touch”, poetry (1998); “Necklace”, poetry (2005); “Dialogues with a Silence”, poetry (2014); “Trojan Horses of TV Advertisement. Language Manipulations”, investigation on mind manipulation (2007); “Angel’s Schoolbook”, ironic novel (2016, 2017). For “Angel’s Schoolbook” Olena was awarded with a Grant of Kyiv Mayor (2016) and a diploma from the “Dnipro Book Festival” (2018). She became a laureate of the “Smoloskyp” literature contest for two investigations (2004 and 2006). One of them – “Trojan Horses of TV Advertisement. Language Manipulations” (2007) – was published by the “Smoloskyp” publishing house and became a best-seller. It was included into studying plans for journalists, philologists and psychologists in many Universities of Ukraine. Helen Karpenko received her BA in Art Studies (2002) and MA in Journalism (2005) from the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, Ukraine. She is a member of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine (since 2013), National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (since 2014) and a jury member of the “Coronation of the Word” International literature contest (since 2015). Web: www.solomia.net YouTube: www.youtube.com/solomiamusic
