A group of young Ukrainians living in the UK called it “insane”, to perform with the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine.
The concert held on Tuesday at Birmingham Symphony Hall was aimed at sharing Ukrainian culture and music across the West Midlands.
Nik, a musician, said that he was “first-time” performing at the concert. He felt more excited than worried before the concert.
The Ukrainian refugees are members of a music collective called Vinochok, which was established in January to use music as a tool to help children cope with trauma and identity.
Birmingham for Ukraine’s support team said that playing music would help to retain culture.
As the concert began, many welcomed the musicians onto the stage including
Theodore Kuchar, the orchestra’s principal conductor, said: “If these two to three minutes can help and connect them to the life they left then I feel that I and the orchestra have done our Christian duties to support this”.
Olena, one of the young musicians who took part, was a fan of music and dance at school in Ukraine.
She said she “really misses” her friends in the UK, but that she has made new ones.
The young musicians who played in the concert described their range of emotions, from joy to nervousness.
“It is very exciting, because we are performing in a very special ensemble,” said one musician.
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