Ukrainian Lights: Kharkiv Invincible

UKRAINIAN LIGHTS FESTIVAL

The hour is dark for Ukrainians around the world. russia's invasion of our homeland is nearing its second anniversary and our hearts are heavy. We turn to music to bring a sparkle of light back into our souls. "Ukrainian Lights" is a festival of classical music showcasing a mix of beloved classics and contemporary gems by Ukrainian and international composers performed by exceptional Ukrainian musicians.

KHARKIV INVINCIBLE

"Kharkiv Invincible" features two outstanding classical musicians who evacuated from Kharkiv, one of the most heavily bombarded but defiant cities in Ukraine. Guitarist and composer Denys Panchenko will perform virtuosic works by Frescobaldi, J.S. Bach, Tarrega, Piazzolla, Brouwer, Barrios and Dyens. Pianist Anna Sagalova will treat you to masterpieces by Mendelssohn and Kharkiv's own Marco Karminsky.

Ukrainian Lights is co-produced by Pickle Underground and Music Encore Concert Society with support from The Shevchenko Foundation and Tom Lee Music.

FUNDRAISING FOR UKRAINIAN DEFENDERS

We are raising money for emergency medical kits for Ukrainian defenders. This campaign is being led by volunteers working with the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in New Westminster, BC. These kits save the lives of soldiers wounded on the battlefield in Ukraine's fight for freedom. If you want to contribute, add a donation along with your ticket purchase.

FEATURED ARTISTS

ANNA SAGALOVA is a concert pianist, educator and producer granted the status of Honored Artist of Ukraine by former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko for her achievements and contributions to Ukrainian culture. She fled Kharkiv in the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion and arrived in Vancouver, BC in the summer of 2022. Sagalova is an internationally recognized artist and a laureate of a number of competitions in Italy, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Canada and Germany. She frequently plays as a soloist with symphony orchestras throughout Ukraine under the baton of conductors from Ukraine, USA, Switzerland, Great Britain, Austria, etc. She has given concerts at the state radio studio in Bern, the International Museum of the Red Cross in Geneva (Switzerland), the Bozendorfer Hall in Vienna (Austria), the House Museum of F. Liszt, the concert hall in Altenburg in Weimar (Germany), among others. She has taken part in a number of festivals, including the Days of Ukrainian Culture festival in Poznan (Poland), the International Music Festival in Lubostron (Poland), the International festival of chamber music in Shanghai (China), Kiev-Music-Fest (Ukraine), and Kharkiv Assemblies (Ukraine). Her performances have been broadcasted on radio and television. She has recorded two compact discs.

DENYS PANCHENKO is well-known guitarist, composer and teacher from Ukraine. He completed a Master degree and a postgraduate course at the Kharkiv I.P. Kotlyarevsky National University of Arts. Denys is a concert guitarist and a laureate of many international music competitions in Ukraine and Poland. He gives frequent solo recitals all over Ukraine. His repertoire includes both classical works and his own compositions written in a more modern and free manner. As a soloist he has been invited to play with different orchestras in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro and Kropyvnytskyi. Denys Panchenko is also a very popular guitar composer in Ukraine, and a laureate of international competitions for composers. His music is performed in Ukraine and abroad. His pieces can often be heard at guitar festivals and competitions in different countries. Denys has more than 20 years of teaching experience at the Kharkiv Professional Music College, and has trained many talented students who became laureates of more than 100 national and international competitions. He arrived in Canada in the summer of 2023.

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