Some South Coast residents decided they want to do something to help children impacted by the war in Ukrainian.
The residents are a group of about a dozen musicians. So, they’ve decided they way they can help is by using their musical talents.
They’ve planned a series of four free chamber music concerts in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and are hoping the people who come will donate money to help relief efforts.
Caitlin Boruch organized the concert series. "The idea came to me after a recital where we played the Ukrainian national anthem...the reaction was so heartfelt," said Boruch. "I thought we could do more. I contacted some of my favorite colleagues and friends, and the reaction was yes...yes...yes."
"One concert turned to four concerts, with sponsorships, and silent auctions," said Boruch.
"We all feel powerless, and we all feel like something we can do personally, " said Heidi Vass, a singer and music teacher who is a part of the concert series. "Music is the one thing is that when there is tragedy...when there is pain and suffering in the world...music is the balm."
The money raised will benefit UNICEF's relief efforts.
Details: Music for Ukraine: Benefit Concert Series for Humanitarian Aid
Saturday, May 7 – St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Thousand Oaks
The Music for Ukraine concert series begins with a performance of vocal and instrumental chamber music on Saturday, May 7 at 2pm, held at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 1 Church Rd in Thousand Oaks. The concert will showcase the new, all-female vocal quartet Seraphour.
This concert will feature works including:
Preludes, by Eric Kinsley
Eric Kinsley, piano
Cantata BWV 82, Ich habe genug, by J.S. Bach
Heidi Vass, soprano
Caitlin Boruch, flute
Eric Johnson-Tamai, bassoon
Eric Kinsley, harpsichord
Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt
Frederic Beerstein, oboe
Tomiko Taylor, piano
Alleluia by Randall Thompson
Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjielo
Seraphour
Emma Roche, Heidi Vass, Dana Rouse, Melissa Birch
Trio Sonata No. 2 by Jan Dismas Zelenka
Frederic Beerstein, oboe
Julian Amberg, oboe
Tomiko Taylor, piano
Ukrainian Folk Song Goodbye, Ridnesenke Village
Прощай, Село Ріднесеньке, Op. 81 by Vidas Pinkevicius
Sara Frey Edwards, organ
May 15 – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Ventura
The second Music for Ukraine concert features a program of vocal and instrumental chamber music on May 15,
Performers include Ventura College faculty pianist Dr. Felix Eisenhauer and vocalist Tara Eisenhauer, California Lutheran University faculty pianist Dr. Eric Kinsley, bassoonist Eric Johnson-Tamai, and oboist Frederic Beerstein.
May 21 – Deane Chapel, Westmont College, Montecito
The third concert will be held on Saturday, May 21 at 3pm at Deane Chapel, on the Westmont College campus in Montecito.
This concert will feature instrumental chamber works by Villa-Lobos, Saint-Saëns, and Ukrainian composer Valentyn Silvestrov will be performed by flutist Caitlin Boruch, clarinetist and pianist Helen Park, and pianist Dr. Eric Kinsley.
May 29 - Hillcrest Center for the Arts, Thousand Oaks.
The final concert in the Music for Ukraine benefit concert series will be include striking performance by musicians Gulia Gurevich, violin; Alexander Gurevich, viola; Caitlin Boruch, flute; and Eric Kinsley, piano. New music by composers Lowell Liebermann and Eric Kinsley himself compliment iconic works by Donizetti, Beethoven, and more.
