A benefit concert in support of humanitarian relief for Ukrainians was held at the Ukrainian Institute of America on April 8, 2022. Artists of many nationalities, united by the universal bonds of music, stood together to show the world that the human spirit can triumph over aggression and that light can overcome darkness as savage brutality is being unleashed on the Ukrainian people.
Tickets sale proceeds went to the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee humanitarian assistance programs for Ukrainians. Serhyij Kyslytsya, Ukraine Ambassador to the UN, together with other European diplomats, joined the event.
The concert was simulcast at YouTube.com/UIANYC.
Fifteen musicians performed: Ain Anger, bass, Alexander Bedenko, clarinet, Ettore Causa, violin, Yves Dhar, cello, Julie Eskar, violin, Franz Hackl, trumpet, Slau Halatyn, piano/vocals, Solomiya Ivakhiv, violin, José Ramón Mendez, piano, Pavel Šporcl, violin, Kalle Toivio, piano, Jan Vogler, cello, and Andrius Žlabys, piano. Poland was represented by Adam Golka, piano, and Kaya Bryla-Weiss, viola.
The program consisted of the works of Isaac Albeniz, J.S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, Fryderyk Chopin, Viktor Kosenko, Bela Kovacs, Jules Massenet, Serhiy Prokofiev, Jan Sibelius, Pavel Šprocl, and Richard Strauss.
An exhibition of antiwar posters by Polish artist Jacek Staniszewski accompanied the concert. Jacek Staniszewski as a PhD professor currently runs The Social Propaganda Studio which is a part of the Faculty of Graphic Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. He has designed over 500 posters for exhibitions, theater plays and concerts, as well as visual identities of numerous covers of music albums.
The majestic Harry F. Sinclair House, home of the Ukrainian Institute of America, was the venue for this exceptional event featuring an esteemed group of accomplished musicians.