Albany Uniting Church to host classical concert to raise money for Ukraine

Albany Uniting Church will hold two concerts this weekend with all funds raised benefiting Ukraine. This Friday at 7.30pm and Saturday at 2.30pm, a range of Albany classical musicians will take to the stage for the Uniting for Ukraine concert at Wesley Albany on Duke Street. Some of the musicians include violinists Mike Hyder and Freya Swarbrick, cellist Julie Parish, flute player Frances Ullrich, pianist Adam James Cook, and pianist and organist Patrick Elms. The Albany String Quartet will also perform. The concert will feature works by Schumann, Arvo Part and Maurice Ravel, as well as music by Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko. The president of the Ukrainian Association of WA, Mykola Mowczan, will be the guest speaker and will talk about the Ukraine crisis, as well as his recent role in welcoming Ukrainian refugees to Perth. Attendees will be taught the chorus of the Ukrainian national anthem which will be performed during the concert. Concert organiser and pianist Sebastian Harris said Wesley Church members wanted to hold the concert to show their support for Ukraine. “We are feeling the vicarious pain of people on the other side of the world suffering like they are in Ukraine, and the frustration of not being able to do more,” Mr Harris said. “This is just something we feel we can do. “In my church it’s a belief of our mission that we do things to help others.” All proceeds raised from the concert will go to Rotary Australia’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Tickets are $34 for adults, $26 for concession and $9 for under 16s, and are available at Stamms Emporium or at the door. To donate online, visit ukrainecrisisappeal.org.