United 4 Peace

Four years to the day Russia invaded Ukraine, my husband and l will be attending a very special concert on Friday, February 24th at Bath Abbey.

The concert not only marks the start of the country’s heroic fight-back but is also to raise funds for the Ukrainian city of Oleksandriya.

It will also be a powerful tribute to resilience, a celebration of Ukrainian culture, and a moving act of solidarity with those who continue to live through the consequences of war.

Every day, Russia’s unrelenting assaults continue to devastate civilian lives and critical infrastructure, leaving destruction and displacement in their wake. Four years into the war, humanitarian support remains critical.

The concert is being organised by a charitable association  called The Friends of Oleksandriya. The programme includes an original String Nonet by acclaimed Ukrainian composer Illia Bondarenko and audiovisual work A Woman’s War by composer Kornélia Nemcová and artist Natália Štojková.

On 24 February 2022, Illia Bondarenko spent the night in the basement of his house with his grandmother. He turned to music as a form of cultural healing and resistance, publishing his recent recording of Ysaÿe’s Melancholia from Violin Sonata No. 2 and his own String Quartet No. 2 in the days that followed.

His composition attracted the attention of world-renowned violinist Kerenza Peacock (concertmaster for Adele, released solo albums with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), who reached out to arrange a virtual musical flashmob to raise money for Ukraine.

The video went viral, and was later streamed at ITV’s televised fundraiser, Concert for Ukraine, accompanied by a live solo from globally acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti.

Four years after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Illia Bondarenko and Kerenza Peacock will finally unite in person for this historic concert in Bath Abbey.

Together with seven instrumentalists including violist Steven Doman and Tom Beer (London Symphony Orchestra), cellist Wallis Power (BBC Symphony Orchestra), Yeva Volkava (Royal College of Music), Michael Trainor (Sinfonia of London Orchestra), Anoukia Nistor (Guidhall School of Music & Drama) and Benjamin Russell (Broadway instrumentalist), they will perform Bondarenko’s original String Nonet.

Composed in 2022, the Nonet is Illia’s personal tribute to Ukraine: a country that continues to fight bravely for its future. All four movements convey Illia’s experience during this first year of war and show everything that Ukraine went through and, unfortunately, is still going through.

Audiovisual production A Woman’s War likewise focuses on the personal experience of Ukrainians, paying tribute to the strength and resilience of Ukrainian women. The effects of war are rarely communicated from female perspectives, and the impact on people outside of the front line is often overlooked.

Kornélia Nemcová and artist Natália Štojková conducted 12 detailed interviews with Ukrainian women, aged 19 to over 60.

Artistically, “A Woman’s War” takes inspiration from many traditions including Ukrainian folk and choral music and combines it with immersive sound design. The performance premiered at Blackheath Halls in 2024 and has since been developed into a film, screening in festivals worldwide and publicly premiering at Bath’s Widcombe Social Club.

Join us to discover Bondarenko’s beautiful instrumental composition and a new version of “A Woman’s War”, uniting with vocal trio The Ruffians, Bath’s Argyle String Orchestra, and a host of volunteer vocalists in the stunning setting of Bath Abbey, the latter will mainly consist of the members of Courage Choir let by their dedicated conductor and manager Felicity Courage.

During the event, a fantastic canvas print of Banksy’s graffiti art in destroyed Borodyanka will be auctioned. Purchased by one of our dedicated volunteers for this purpose, it was printed in Finland and has travelled widely around Europe before reaching Bath. There are only 10 copies printed, and you can become the lucky owner of one!

All profits from the event will be used to provide humanitarian aid to the city of Oleksandriya. The Rotary Club of Bath is collecting funds on behalf of Friends of Oleksandriya, ensuring that all donations are used to purchase humanitarian aid for the city.

The concert begins at 7.30. Get your tickets via bathboxoffice.org.uk