Kyiv Classic Accordion Duo perform at Thurso church to raise money for Ukraine war and Chernobyl victims
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Two Ukrainian musicians entertained at Thurso last week as part of a UK tour to raise money for victims of the war in their home country.
Igor Sayenko and Oleksii Kolomoiets – known as the Kyiv Classic Accordion Duo – were also fundraising for victims of the Chernobyl disaster.
The pair have been visiting Thurso for over 15 years and th event at St Peter and the Holy Rood Episcopal Church was part of their UK 2022 Tour for Peace.
Organisers said the bond between Ukraine and the UK was reflected in their repertoire – the first half of the evening consisting of music by Ukrainian composers and the second half by composers from the UK, including Edward Elgar, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Karl Jenkins and Lennon/McCartney.
The final item in the programme was an arrangement by Prof Teddy Bor entitled McMozart’s Eine Kleine Bricht Moonlicht Nicht Musik, combining Mozart’s well-known classical piece with traditional Scottish tunes and fittingly concluding with Auld Lang Syne in the classical style.
"The skill with which these classically-trained musicians play their instruments has to be seen – or heard – to be believed and makes you realise what a versatile instrument the accordion genuinely is," a spokeswoman said.
In between the performances, Igor took time to give the audience some background to the featured composers and also highlight the horrors which were now part of daily life for the Ukrainian people.
A total of £655 was raised for the Ukrainian charities.
