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Laurie Niles
Violinists Across 29 Countries Play to Support Ukraine
March 9, 2022, 11:46 AM · Violinists across the world have joined together to perform the Ukrainian folk song 'Verbovaya Doschechka' in support of Ukraine.
It started with Illia Bondarenko, who filmed himself playing in a basement shelter in Kyiv, at the request of Kerenza Peacock, a British violinist who lives in Los Angeles. Then it grew to 94 violinist from 29 countries.
'I befriended some young violinists in Ukraine via Instagram and discovered some were in basement shelters but had their violins. So I asked colleagues across the world to accompany them in harmony,' wrote Peacock, who put together the video, along with Ryan Dilmore and Jake Jackson. She wrote about the process here. She said that Bondarenko 'had to film in between explosions because he could not hear himself play.'
'Nine other young violinists sheltering in Ukraine join in unison, and are accompanied in harmony by players from London Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, the Hollywood Studios, and top violinists from all over the world including Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium, Georgia, Poland, South Korea, South Africa, Moldova, Denmark, India, and the entire violin section of the Munich Chamber Orchestra,' Peacock said.
Soloist Daniel Hope also joined the effort - 'By sheer coincidence, I had met and coached Illia Bondarenko a few months back when he attended my Academy at Schloss Neuhardenberg, Germany,' Hope wrote on his Facebook page. 'My thoughts are with him and his family, as they are with the people of Ukraine.'
The video also includes well-known violinists from different violin traditions such as Indian, Scottish, bluegrass, including Mark O'Connor, Brittany Haas, Sara Watkins and Gabe Witcher.
'Ukrainian violinist, Mariia Klymenko, 23, told me that as she was recording this, her brothers were defending their country,' Peacock wrote. 'She said more Ukrainians wanted to join us but they now have guns in their hands instead of violins. The violin has traditionally been an instrument through which to express grief. Watching each video as it arrived in my inbox was very emotional. It seems like everyone is praying with their violins.'
If you wish to make a recording, click here for the sheet music. 'We encourage you to download the full score, and create your own recording, playing along with our video,' Peacock said. 'Post your video to social media using the #ViolinistsSupportUkraine hashtag.'
She also created a @ViolinistsSupportUkraine list of organizations to support Ukraine.
Violinists in the video include: Amy Hershberger of the United States; Anastasiia Mordak of Ukraine; Anders Melhus of Norway; Ann Matviienko of Ukraine; Archie McAllister of Scotland; Arve Moen Bergset of Norway; Barbara Lamb of the United States; Ben Baker of New Zealand; Brittany Haas of the United States; Carly Frey of Canada; Carmine Lauri of Malta; Carrie Kennedy of the United States; Chandra Meibalane of the United States; Charlie Bisharat of the United States; Chris Stout of Scotland; Clare Duckworth of the UK; Clio Gould of the UK; Daniel Bhattacharya of Canada; Daniel Hope of Ireland; Darragh Morgan of Ireland; Dorette Nolte of South Africa; Elisabete Gomes of Portugal; Erika Walczak of the United States; Gabe Witcher of the United States; Gemma White of the UK; Hanna Helgegren of Sweden; Illia Bondarenko of Ukraine; Jen Simone of the United States; Joe Harrop of New Zealand; Joel Pargman of the United States; Jonathan Morton of Belgium; Julian Gil Rodriguez of Columbia; Kathleen Robertson of the United States; Ken Aiso of Japan; Kerenza Peacock of the UK; Larisa Morgulis of Ukraine; Leah Andonov of Norway; Leah Zeger of the United States; Lynda O Connor of Ireland; Manas Kumar of India; Marc Sazer of the United States; Maria Borud of Norway; Mariam Maghradze of Norway; Mariia Klymenko of Ukraine; Marije Ploemacher Netherlands; Magnus Johnston of the UK; Mark O Connor of the United States; Maggie O Connor of the United States; Maxine Kwok of the UK; Maya Magub of the UK; Melissa Drake of the UK; Mette Tjaerby Korneliusen of Denmark; Michelle Shin of South Korea; Mio Kobayashi of Japan; Molly Rogers of the United States; Naomi Rump of the UK; Natalia Lomeiko of the UK; Niels Aschehoug of Norway; Nina Evtuhov of the United States; Oleksii Pshenychnikov of Ukraine; Olena Romaniuk of Ukraine; Paul Cartwright of the United States; Phillip Levy of Israel; Philip Nolte of South Africa; Raja Halder of Wales; Robert Taylor of the United States; Rofusnda Panfili of Moldovai; Sandip Halder of India; Sara Watkins of the United States; Sarah Quinn of Ireland; Sarah Sexton of Ireland; Tania Aliekseeva of Ukraine; Tatia Gvantseladze of Germany; Tatmar Ebralidze of Georgia; Temo Jaiani of Georgia; Tristan Thery of France; Valentyn Yembryk of Ukraine; Varvara Vasylieva of Ukraine; Violins of the Munich Chamber Orchestra of Germany; Vitaliia Hrytsak of Ukraine; Yoshiyuki Asami of Japan; Yuko Kawami of Japan; and Yun-jin Cho of South Korea.
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SOURCE: THE VIOLINIST