Two world acclaimed harpists are to link up at a special benefit concert to raise money for children with profound learning disabilities in war-torn Ukraine.
Veronika Lemishenko, who hails from Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, will play a number of solo pieces in the concert at Bangor University’s Powis Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday, November 21 when she will also perform some duets with concert organiser Elinor Bennett.
“It will be an opportunity to hear a world-renowned harpist play in north Wales and is not to be missed,” said Elinor who studied with the late, great harpist Osian Ellis before going on to have a stellar career as a harpist and helping to found Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (Willliam Mathias Music Centre) in Caernarfon.
Also taking part in the concert will be young musicians from Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias, the Bangor University Chamber Choir conducted by Guto Puw and Côr Cofnod from Caernarfon.
It is one of a number of charity fund-raising concerts staged across Europe during 2024 by Veronika Lemishenko under the auspices of the Veronika Lemishenko Charitable Foundation which she set-up in her homeland nearly seven years ago.
Veronika’s mother, Alla, now lives in Gwynedd and teaches young musicians locally while her brother has moved to Italy. Her grandmother lives with her father in Lviv in western Ukraine
Elinor said: “Prior to the Russian military aggression of 2022, the foundation aimed to promote harp art in Ukraine by supporting talented Ukrainian harpists and composers.
“The foundation is also collaborating with the Glowing Harp – an international harp project, which includes a competition, festival, masterclasses, recitals and other musical events.”
Since the war started Veronika launched the fundraising campaign co-organised by her charitable foundation and Glowing Harp and about £34,000 has been raised so far.
“All funds go to support Ukraine. The foundation accepts international donations and provides financial assistance to volunteer organizations, medical institutions, animal shelters, to purchase equipment.
“It is an extremely hard time for the education institutions in Kharkiv where it is impossible to have offline lessons without a fully equipped bomb shelter.
“Thanks to the Glowing Harp project 15 students aged from eight years old to 24 got a new place to continue their professional education in England, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, France and Canada,” she said.
Veronika Lemishenko is no stranger to north Wales. She has attended the Wales International Harp Festival staged at Galeri Caernarfon regularly since 2014 and has many friends in the area.
Elinor Bennett added: “Veronika says she feels very much at home in Wales. But of course since the Russian invasion life has been very hard for Ukrainians and the Lemishenko family are no exception.”
During the concert in Bangor Elinor and Veronika will perform a duet called Cambria by the Welsh harpist and composer John Thomas.
“His bardic name is Pencerdd Gwalia and he played both traditional Welsh triple harp and modern pedal harp and taught at the Royal College of music and Guildhall School of music in London when he was appointed harpist to Queen Victoria in 1872.
“Cambria is a harp duet based on several Welsh melodies including Gadlys, Y Ferch o’r Scêr and Tros y Garreg,” said Elinor.
Elinor said the other piece she will play with Veronika is Souvenir” by Ukranian composer Evgen Andreev.
“He is a composer from Kharkiv and among his works are several compositions that have been performed by the young harpists worldwide.
“Evgen has a musical family – his wife is a violinist and both their children are students of the Kharkiv state musical lyceum. Lately the lyceum resumed their work but the education is online because of the high level of danger being very close to the frontline,” said Veronika.
The concert at Bangor University’s Powis Hall starts at 7.30pm on Thursday, November 21. Admission is free but a collection will be made at the end of the concert.
