Last night, members of Somerville College and the wider university gathered to hear a concert of Music for Ukraine in Somerville’s Hall.
Organised at the last-minute through the tireless energy of second year Music student Mar Umbert Kimura (2020, Music) and friends, the evening featured a range of music from classical and funk to traditional Ukrainian songs.
Marysia Elizabeth and Cynthia Liu perform the Ukrainian folk song ‘Marigolds’
Amy Moynihan and Mar Umberto perform Myroslav Skoryk’s ‘Melody’
Martha Davis and Gerda Krivaite performing songs including ‘Raudoni Vakarai’ (red Evenings)
Funk bund Garfunkel performed uplifting takes on favourite songs such as The Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’
Introducing the event, Mar noted, “Music is a collaborative act. It becomes full and complete when it’s shared. Tonight, the combination of music with the cause we have all come here to support make this concert powerful, meaningful and essential.”
All proceeds of the evening will go to the Red Cross to support Ukrainian citizens affected by the war. Donations have already reached £950 – but further donations are welcome at the following link (simply click ‘More Details’ from the landing page and then ‘Details’ on the subsequent page in order to make a General Donation).
Somerville’s Tutor in Economics, Dr Margaryta Klymak spoke briefly at the event, telling listeners how, as children, she and her schoolfriends were taught about the wars and numerous attacks on Ukrainian land, language and cultural heritage over the centuries. “We always hoped the worst days were behind us,’ Dr Klymak said. ‘But unfortunately the worst has happened again.”
Of the resistance shown by the people of Kyiv and other hard-hit Ukrainian cities, Dr Klymak added, “Like many others, I find myself experiencing a mixture of pride for their resistance, sorrow for the sacrifice it entails and hope that, while the worst may still lie ahead, peace is within reach through these efforts and the support of the international community.”
She ended by thanking the Somerville community for its support and Somerville’s Principal, Jan Royall, in particular, for her leadership during this period.
You can enjoy a selection of audio clips from the event below, including Marysia Elizabeth singing the traditional Ukrainian folk song ‘Marigolds’, accompanied by Cynthia Liu, and Amy Moynihan and Mar Umbert Kimura performing ‘Melody’ by the Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk.
Donate to Somerville’s ‘Music for Ukraine’ event
