A social project charged with the super-power of music
initiated by Ukrainian and Slovenian youth orchestras
Socialni projekt, nabit s supermočjo glasbe
pobuda ukrajinskega in slovenskega mladinskega orkestra
This is a social project
To je socialni projekt
During the first days of the Russian–Ukrainian war, the Slovenian National Youth Orchestra (SMO), the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (YsOU) and ART BSA established an urgent collaboration to evacuate young musicians and their relatives from all over Ukraine to Slovenia.
Our goal was to move them to a safe environment where they could continue both their general and musical education. We assisted with the evacuation, provided first humanitarian aid, accommodation, music lessons, masterclasses and concerts — and support for a longer family stay. Evacuation became integration. Out of it grew an orchestra, ensembles and a children’s choir that played across Europe.
V prvih dneh rusko-ukrajinske vojne so Slovenski nacionalni mladinski orkester (SMO), Mladinski simfonični orkester Ukrajine (YsOU) in ART BSA vzpostavili nujno sodelovanje za evakuacijo mladih glasbenikov in njihovih svojcev iz vse Ukrajine v Slovenijo.
Naš cilj je bil, da jih preselimo v varno okolje, kjer lahko nadaljujejo splošno in glasbeno izobraževanje. Pomagali smo pri evakuaciji, zagotovili prvo humanitarno pomoč, nastanitev, glasbeni pouk, mojstrske tečaje in koncerte — ter podporo za daljše bivanje družin. Evakuacija je postala integracija. Iz nje so zrasli orkester, zasedbe in otroški zbor, ki so igrali po Evropi.
Music · numbers · 2022
Glasba · številke · 2022
Music for the Future on BBC News
Music for the Future na BBC News
The founders
Ustanovitelji
The music project underwent a daily transformation from a social, humanitarian aid project and back into a music project whenever possible; like one giant wave in high and low tide. We have upgraded the evacuation to an integration process. For musicians, this was all a part of the resistance. They raised their (musical) voices and fought with their instruments.
Živa Ploj PeršuhFounder of the project & conductor · SMOThe first SMS message arrived. A phone call followed quickly, and a morning talk with the Ukrainian Youth Symphony Orchestra producer. Then, following one email to the mayor of Ljubljana, we were able to organise an evacuation of the first 100 people in two or three days. We restrained from using the refugee title — we wanted the newcomers to be treated as people who have a chance to continue their lives and their music with us.
Tomo PeršuhFounder of the project · director of SMO and ART BSACreating a safe creative environment for young people, in which they could do their favourite thing from day one, became our top priority. A space of mutual help and mutual understanding was created. This talented youth will save Ukrainian culture, develop its traditions, and promote it to the entire world.
Oksana LynivFounder of the project & conductorThe very first idea of the project was born from our anti-war appeal to the world community and the response from the Slovenian Youth Orchestra. This project implemented a great social mission: to preserve a generation of young Ukrainian musicians, preserve their music and support their creative pursuits. Our music camp became a vital shelter and a place of rehabilitation.
Alexandra ZaitsevaFounder of the project & director · YsOUVoices
Glasovi
For me, the project became an expression of the inexhaustible power of life, devotion, humanity and love. It is what gives hope and strength to everyone. I watched courageous women fighting for their children every day. I watched talented children making their first steps in music.
Myroslava BundziakManagerWe managed to bring more than 142 people from Ukraine to the music project, and it was their salvation both psychologically and physically, because the most valuable thing that the children had were their musical instruments. We practiced for 9 hours every day without a day off.
Olga KhomaEducational programmes & conductorTo be in an environment that is filled with people, life, concerts and interesting experiences, gave us a new sense of reality. We thank all the people involved in the Music for the Future project. You are incredible!
Oksana ImametdynovaKharkivIn Slovenia, I met kind and cool people, including people from the project. I am very grateful to the project for the opportunity to play in the orchestra and perform at concerts. I managed to distract myself from the fears of the war.
Yevhen BeznosiukKrasylivThe most important thing is that my children and my old father — for whom this is the second evacuation in his life — can live and feel safe, continue their education, and my son can do his favourite things: play the violin, participate in masterclasses and perform.
Oleksandra ShaleykoKyivI would like to express special words of thanks to our guardian angels – Myroslava and Olga. They managed to organise an orchestra, organise the families, and provide everything necessary for our large team.
Natalia AndreievaDniproI don’t have enough words to express how grateful I am to Slovenia that they really, literally pulled my children, all of us, out of that hell. Thank you for sincerely caring for our children.
Antonina SheikoKharkivThe first experience in a symphony orchestra, the first tours — not only within the borders of Slovenia, but beyond its borders — is something incredible and definitely unforgettable. You will forever be in my memory.
Mykhailo Horiainov17 · DonetskThe project created an inspiring and uplifting story about Music and Unity in times of darkness, when the future of European cultural and democratic values was under threat.
Polina VelichkoProducerI love the Music for the Future orchestra as a whole and each young musician individually: they are now all my children too.
Anna KravchenkoArt directorAll children and young people deserve the opportunity to develop their full potential. As they pursue their mission, they help build a better future for everyone.
Tomaž BergočExecutive director, UNICEF SloveniaIt was a great pleasure to hear that donations from our country helped make this unique and important project a reality.
Sönke LentzDirector, National Youth Orchestra of Germany2022 highlights
Vrhunci 2022
First symphony concert of the Music for the Future Orchestra — Loboda’s Requiem, Silvestrov, Schumann and Dvořák’s 8th. Donations collected with UNICEF Slovenia; President Borut Pahor was honorary patron.
Prvi simfonični koncert orkestra Music for the Future — Lobodov Rekviem, Silvestrov, Schumann in Dvořákova 8. Zbiranje donacij z UNICEF Slovenija; častni pokrovitelj predsednik Borut Pahor.
“Music connects. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, young people from two nations have been making music together for their and all our futures.” — Staatsoper Stuttgart. Almost €3,000 raised.
»Glasba povezuje. Od začetka vojne v Ukrajini mladi iz dveh narodov skupaj ustvarjajo glasbo za svojo in našo prihodnost.« — Staatsoper Stuttgart. Zbranih skoraj 3.000 €.
The Ukrainian–Slovenian youth string orchestra opened the forum. For the first time, “Ode to Joy” — the EU anthem — was sung in Ukrainian, before addresses by Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukrajinsko-slovenski mladinski godalni orkester je odprl forum. Oda radosti — himna EU — je prvič zazvenela v ukrajinščini, pred nagovoroma Ursule von der Leyen in Volodimirja Zelenskega.
The journey continues
Pot se nadaljuje
Annual booklet
Letno poročilo
Transparency
Preglednost
479.404 €
Total budget of the project in 2022 — plus 1,000 kg of meat donated by Perutnina Ptuj. The largest expense was accommodation for the families (299,823 €), followed by food (44,874 €) and the team (64,000 €).
Skupni proračun projekta v letu 2022 — in 1.000 kg mesa, ki ga je podarila Perutnina Ptuj. Največji strošek je bila nastanitev družin (299.823 €), sledita ekipa (64.000 €) in hrana (44.874 €).
We couldn’t have done it without you
Brez vas nam ne bi uspelo
Slovenian National Youth OrchestraSlovenski nacionalni mladinski orkester
Youth Symphony Orchestra of UkraineMladinski simfonični orkester Ukrajine
Cultural institutionKulturno društvo
