Let there be light – support concert for Ukraine on April 6, 2024, at 7 PM
Helsinki Music Centre, Concert Hall (Mannerheimintie 13 A, 00100 Helsinki)
Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra & Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
Dalia Stasevska, conductor
Elina Vähälä, violin
Frolyak – Sibelius – Skoryk – Klami
Conducted by Dalia Stasevska, the support concert builds the future of art in Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine is at a critical juncture globally. The concert, born from Stasevska’s idea, is a concrete action in support of the future of Ukrainian music education which is heavily affected by the war. The concert will be held at the Music Centre on April 6, 2024. Media representatives have the opportunity to meet Stasevska and observe rehearsals on April 3, 2024.
In the “Let There Be Light” concert, 35 Ukrainian music students will perform alongside the Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra at Musiikkitalo (Helsinki Music Centre). They have either been forced to leave Ukraine due to the war, continue their studies elsewhere in Europe, or they come directly from the midst of conflict.
The concert will feature the work Let There Be Light by Ukrainian composer Bohdana Frolyak, Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto with Elina Vähälä as the soloist, Myroslav Skorykin’s Melodia, and Uuno Klami’s Kalevala Suite. Melodia is to Ukrainians very much like what Finlandia is to Finns.
The funds received from the concert will directly support Ukrainian music education. The European Association of Conservatories, AEC (Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen), organises the support as part of the AEC for Ukraine campaign.
From inspiration to action – music creates hope for rebuilding
Stasevska, a graduate of the Sibelius Academy in 2012, was selected as the alumna of the year by the University of the Arts Helsinki in 2022. The concert is her contribution as an alumna to the University of the Arts Helsinki. Stasevska has visited Ukraine several times since the start of the war and has been impressed by the power of art and music in a country at war.
Through collaboration, Stasevska aims to support young Ukrainian music students in the prolonged conflict and to establish connections for the country’s reconstruction. By performing Ukrainian music, she aims to promote the culture and identity of a country long oppressed.
“With the Russian invasion in 2014, Ukraine has become a matter close to my heart. In my career, I find myself in a position where I can genuinely help and do things for the country’s benefit. As an artist, I want to use the opportunity given to me to help Ukrainians and promote Ukrainian music. Ukrainians are fighting for the preservation of their culture, and I feel that one of the most important forms of support is to play Ukrainian music and show that we care,” says Stasevska.
Music and culture support the “Ukrainian miracle”
Music education in Ukraine continues persistently under difficult circumstances. The Ukrainian Youth Orchestra (YsOU) launched an evacuation project for young Ukrainian musicians in collaboration with the Slovenian Youth Orchestra following the outbreak of the war. The University of the Arts Helsinki, as part of the European IN.TUNE University Alliance is committed to supporting Ukrainian music schools in reconstruction efforts. Relationships forged with Ukrainian colleagues are crucial during the crisis and will endure into the post-war period.
“At the beginning of the 20th century, music played an important role in building Finland’s independence and national identity. Ukrainians are now in a similar situation. Experiencing music and listening together helps audiences and students come together for an important cause and supports resilience. It is also important for the students of the Sibelius Academy to be able to act positively and constructively in this global situation,” says Emilie Gardberg, Dean of the Sibelius Academy.
The main organiser of the concert is the University of the Arts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy. It is carried out in close collaboration with the Helsinki Music Centre, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tapiola Sinfonietta. Finnish professional orchestral musicians mentor the joint orchestra during rehearsals.
The concert is supported by the Konstsamfundet, the Sibelius Academy Support Foundation, and the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.
Purchase tickets for the concert: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/siba-let-there-be-light-tukikonsertti-ukrainalle-lippuja/337659?utm_source=uniarts&utm_medium=tickets&utm_campaign=tukikonsertti
