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22 OUR LIFE • July-August 2023 Sarasota Concert Raises Funds for UNWLA Dr. Taras Filenko’s visit to Florida in May turned into a major cul - tural event as the noted pianist and musicologist from Pittsburgh performed charity concerts in Sarasota and Boynton Beach, to the great delight of the Ukrainian community, its friends, and many others who are familiar with and enjoy Ukrainian music. Nadia Kachalenko , Member-at-Large, South-East Florida Dr. Filenko is both a scholar and a performer of Ukrainian music. A graduate of the National Acad - emy of Music in Kyiv, he went on to serve as a member of the faculty and eventually as Asso - ciate Dean of Conducting and Voice. He received a PhD in His - toric Musicology from the Acad - emy in 1989 and in 1998 earned a doctorate in Ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh. Since russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, Dr. Filenko has given numerous lectures and concerts to raise funds for humanitarian relief for the Ukrainian people. Focusing on performances of works by Ukrainian composers and, when possible, including talks about the history of Ukrain - ian musical culture, these events have been highly popular, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charities. In the past Dr. Taras Filenko year, Dr. Filenko has performed in Pittsburgh, New York City, Sag Harbor, Chapel Hill, and San Die - go, among other locations. At the concert in Sarasota on May 20, Dr. Filenko performed with prominent young Ukraini - an Floridian pop singer Nataliya Bratash, a student of the famous Ukrainian singer Oksana Bilozir. Nataliya is a singer with a gener - ous heart. She takes every oppor - tunity to participate in benefit concerts and Ukrainian cultural events in South Florida. She has raised thousands of dollars for humanitarian aid and was award - ed a Certificate of Recognition for her volunteer work in support of the 184th Training Center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Music is a powerful way to advo - cate for Ukrainian culture. Char - ity concerts to benefit Ukraine are also a great way to unite people in making a difference. The concert hall in Sarasota was generously provided by the Faith Lutheran Church, which has many supporters of Ukraine. Pastor Eric Olsen opened the event with a passionate speech calling for unconditional support At the Faith Lutheran Church in Sar - asota (l-r): Nataliya Bratash, Elena Pederson, Pastor Eric Olsen, UNWLA MAL Nadia Kachalenko, Elsa Lim- bach, Alex Galatic, Dr. Taras Filenko. of Ukraine and prayers to save Ukrainian civilians and children, and to stop the loss of life and human suffering. The concert was called “Ukraine: War, Culture, and Music” to re - flect the incredible resilience of Ukrainian culture and to show how Ukrainian cultural values provide strength for the nation during its darkest times. The program included harpsi - chord, piano, and organ compo - sitions performed by Dr. Filenko, and folk and contemporary songs by Nataliya Bratash. Among the most memorable moments were Dr. Filenko’s organ improvisation based on several folk songs, in - cluding “Ridna Maty Moya,” and Nataliya Bratash singing her own arrangement of “Syzokryli.” And of course, it was very uplifting when everybody joined the per - formers in singing “Chervona Kalyna.” Donations collected during the concert will provide humanitar - ian and military support through the UNWLA, Brother’s Brother Foundation, and Revived Sol - diers of Ukraine. The concert was organized by Nadia Kacha - lenko, Dr. Filenko’s impresario Elsa Limbach, and the Faith Lu - theran Church. Nataliya Bratash performing.
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