Looking Back
Thank-You Concert
Ukraine Fundraiser
On Friday, November 3, Ukrainian musicians performed for an audience in Culemborg on the instruments they had been donated. The Musical Instrument Fund organized this concert to thank all donors, contributors, and others involved in the emergency relief effort. Since March 2022, the fund has been collecting instruments for musicians who were forced to flee their country without their instruments.
Charming
It can be a bit confusing when a small town has three Barbara Churches. Just like some of the guests, the grand piano was also at the wrong church in Culemborg that morning. Nevertheless, the atmospheric concert was able to begin at 3:00 p.m. last Friday afternoon. The Musical Instrument Fund was delighted with the large turnout and the enthusiasm. Together, we took a moment to reflect on the emergency relief effort for refugee musicians while enjoying beautiful music.
Violin, guitar, viola
Project leader Ben Cartens knows better than anyone how to convey these moving stories. After all, he has often picked up the instruments himself from a donor and delivered them to a musician. Music followed each story; before the intermission, violinist Renata Dzihasova, young guitarist Zachar Ovchinnikov, violist Nataliia Lozova, and mandolinist Amaliia Houri performed. Piano accompaniment was provided by musician Pau Hernández Aleña, who has a Bösendorfer grand piano from the collection of Het Muziekinstrumentenfonds at home. Before the concert and during the intermission, the three-member choir “De Zonnebloemen” performed Ukrainian songs.
It is with great sadness that we received the news that Renata recently passed away.
A mandoline for Amaliia
Amaliia Houri played (accompanied by pianist Pau Hernández Aleña) on the mandolin, which was built by Lorenzo Lippi in Milan thanks to a donation. The short film about the instrument’s construction was shown on the screens. You can, of course, watch it at your leisure on this page.
Musical Family
Pianist Anna Fedorova, the driving force behind this project, was also in attendance. Without Anna, this event would not have happened! Together with her parents, Borys Fedorov and Tatiana Abayeva, she performed an impressive “grande finale” featuring Rachmaninoff (six hands), Debussy and Dvořák (four hands), and Chopin and De Falla (solo).
It was a special afternoon filled with moving stories and beautiful music. View more photos here, taken by photographer Veerle Bastiaanssen.
Emergency Relief Campaign “Keep Playing”
The war currently raging in Ukraine is creating thousands of refugees, including those fleeing to the Netherlands. Among them are professional musicians and music students. They often had to leave their instruments behind. By providing them with an instrument, the Musical Instrument Fund aims to offer them an incredibly important source of support.
We are very grateful to everyone for the enormous number of instruments we have received. It turns out to be no easy task to reach the refugee musicians and make them aware of this opportunity; a roof over their heads, food, medical care, education for the children, the chance to quietly get their bearings in their new surroundings, and regaining peace and a sense of routine after a hectic flight—these are the top priorities. Nevertheless, we’ve now made over 65 matches. And our work isn’t done yet.
Support our mission
The Musical Instrument Fund is a nonprofit organization that relies on private donors, donations, and bequests. Would you like to become a donor or make an (additional) contribution? You can do so by clicking the button below. Thank you very much!
The emergency relief effort is supported by Het Cultuurfonds.
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