University of Miami’s music school performs Ukraine benefit concert. Here’s how to help
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The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music presents United for Ukraine, a benefit concert to support Ukrainian citizens who remain under attack since the February invasion by Russia.
The renowned music school’s faculty, students, alumni and guest artists, in partnership with Nova Ukraine, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine, pledged that all donations will go to support relief efforts.
“The Frost School of Music is hosting this benefit concert to show our support for citizens of Ukraine under brutal attack, and to be in solidarity with our students from Ukraine,” Frost’s Dean Shelton “Shelly” Berg said in a statement for the Miami Herald. “This performance will not only raise funds to aide victims, but will use the power of music to highlight the tragedy while providing inspiration and hope.”
Who will you see?
The United for Ukraine concert’s lead organizer is student Dmytro Gnativ who hails from Ukraine. The program will include performances by the following:
▪ Ukrainian performers Oleksii Ivanchenko, a faculty pianist, and Frost piano alumna Marina Radiushina.
▪ Frost voice students Nickolas Skotzko and Minghao Liu, who lived and studied in Ukraine.
The program features Ukrainian composers and other chamber music repertoire. Highlights include:
▪ The Ukrainian National Anthem and Valentin Silvestrov’s “Prayer for Ukraine,” performed by the Frost Choir.
▪ A performance of songwriter Julie Gold’s “From a Distance.” The song is best known as a Top 10 single by Bette Midler in 1990. Her version gained resonance that year as it served as an anthem for the Gulf War. “From a Distance” was also recorded in 1990 by Judy Collins and Cliff Richard. Nanci Griffith was the first to record the ballad in 1987.
At UM, “From a Distance” will be performed by Shelly Berg on piano and Metropolitan Opera baritone Kim Josephson on vocals.
▪ Jason Robert Brown’s “Hope,” performed by Berg, with Katie Oberholtzer on vocals.
If you go
What: United for Ukraine concert
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: UM’s Gusman Concert Hall on the University of Miami campus at 1314 Miller Dr., Coral Gables.
Tickets: There is no cost, but donations are requested and registering for a ticket is required at https://events.miami.edu/event/united_for_ukraine/. You can also donate via the registration link.
