Celebrating The Music Of Ukraine In A Bay Street Fundraiser

On Friday, April 22, at 8 p.m., Bay Street Theater will present “Concert For Ukraine,” a humanitarian relief concert celebrating the music, arts and culture of Ukraine. The concert will be hosted by Dr. Taras Filenko, a Ukrainian pianist, historian, ethnomusicologist and a noted scholar of Ukrainian music, who will present a lecture and performance examining Ukrainian national identity through a musical lens. The concert is presented in collaboration between Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and Bay Street Theater.

Ukrainian culture is currently under serious threat. In response, Dr. Filenko will explain to the Bay Street audience how this is not a new occurrence but the continuation of a historical cycle of suppression and resilience. With examples from Ukrainian composers of the 19th and 20th centuries, Dr. Filenko will demonstrate the vitality and distinctiveness of Ukrainian culture, with a prayer (or with hope) for its future.

“The Concert For Ukraine” has been organized in response to the man-made, ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. All proceeds from the concert will go to support the International Rescue Committee, which has launched an emergency appeal to help support displaced families with critical aid and work directly with local partners to bolster the crisis response of people who have already been active in the community and are experts on the local context. 
“The war in Ukraine has created over four million refugees,” says Jay Schneiderman. “These displaced children and families need basic support including food and medical care. I appreciate Bay Street opening its doors to host a community event to raise funds to help address this humanitarian crisis.”

“We felt it important to try to hear from Ukrainian artists themselves,” says Bay Street Executive Director Tracy Mitchell. “We are fortunate to have access to this incredible artist who not only is an accomplished pianist, but who also will put the situation in context from his own experience with images and music.”

Dr. Filenko is a graduate of the National Academy of Music in Kyiv and served on the faculty there, eventually as associate dean of conducting and voice. From the Academy, he was awarded a Ph.D. in historic musicology in 1989 and later earned a doctorate in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998.

For over 40 years, Dr. Filenko has worked in the fields of history of music, ethnomusicology and music performance (piano, organ, and choir directing), successfully combining his work as scholar, teacher and performer. He has presented numerous concerts throughout Europe and North America, promoting the works of contemporary Ukrainian composers. Dr. Filenko is a recipient of Fulbright and Petesh Scholarships. Together with his mother, Tamara Bulat, he authored “The World of Mykola Lysenko: Ethnic Identity, Music Culture and Politics,” (2010).

Tickets for “The Concert For Ukraine” are available with a minimum $20 donation, though guests are asked to give what they can, at baystreet.org or by calling 631-725-9500. Bay Street Theater is a fully vaccinated company. All guests must show proof of vaccination and will be required to wear a mask upon entry to the theater.