22 June 2022

Musicians to join to raise funds for Ukrainian music students

Musicians from Aberdeenshire will once again join those from the city and across the north-east for a concert to raise funds for Ukrainians arriving in Scotland.

Several members of staff from Aberdeenshire Council’s Instrumental Music Service will join Sistema Scotland/Torry Big Noise and others for the concert at 3pm on Sunday, July 3, at Midstocket Church, Aberdeen.

This is the second concert to raise money under the umbrella banner Musicians for Ukraine. The first took place in May at Fraserburgh South Church and raised more than £4,200.

A number of music students have fled Ukraine to continue their studies abroad in order to escape the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. Money raised from the concert will help fund the living expenses of those applying to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the new academic year.

Helping organise the concert is Ukrainian Nataliia Naismith, a violinist with the Aberdeenshire Instrumental Music Service. Her mother lives in a town not far from the capital Kyiv and she has relations in the Ukrainian fire service and territorial defence. 

Nataliia said: “I was really humbled by the response to the last concert, so when I heard about a need to raise funds for young musicians from Ukraine to meet their living costs, I thought holding another concert would be a great way to provide support. It is also a fantastic way of raising awareness of music and its power to transform lives.”

The concert is taking as part of ‘Music at Midstocket’ from 3pm on Sunday, July 3, at Midstocket Church, Harcourt Road, Aberdeen, AB15 5NZ. Tickets cost £10 for adults and entry is free for children up to the age of 18. Tickets are available only on the door.

The concert will be directed by Gareth John, conductor of the Aberdeen City Orchestra, and will feature solo piano performances by Sofia Shokhina and Huang Jing.

Gareth said: “It's a privilege to be able to help any young musician. For those fleeing from conflict, it is doubly important that we support young musicians who are the future building blocks of creativity out of the chaos of war.

“We’re looking forward to an afternoon of good music and community spirit and I would like to say thanks in advance to all the musicians who will be participating and to Midstocket Church for hosting the event.”

For those unable to attend the concert but who still wish to donate, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will accept donations over the phone. Please call Development Assistant Amanda McLachlan on 07990 118023.

A spokesperson for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland said: “We look forward to welcoming a number of young artists from Ukraine who will be starting or continuing their studies with us in Scotland in the new academic year.

“We’re really grateful to all the kind-hearted people and communities who are supporting them by raising funds and in a range of other ways and demonstrating they are warmly welcome here.”

More information about ways to offer assistance to those affected by the situation in Ukraine is available on the Aberdeenshire Council website at https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communities-and-events/ukraine-support/ 

Donations can also be made to the National Bank of Ukraine’s Humanitarian Appeal by visiting https://bank.gov.ua/en/about/humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine and the Ukrainian Army by visiting https://bank.gov.ua/en/about/support-the-armed-forces