Ukrainian refugee finds home in B.C. orchestra | Globalnews.ca

0

When Alina Herasymenko fled from her home in Ukraine last year with only her cello, her computer and a small amount of food, little did she know that she’d soon be playing in an orchestra in Vancouver.

Herasymenko was born in the Donetsk region where she experienced first-hand the savagery of open conflict and its impacts. She said in 2014, shells rained down on her community for weeks, prompting a move to Western Ukraine with her family. They lived there for nine years.

Fast forward to 2022: Herasymenko was living near the Ivano-Frankivsk airport when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Bombs were dropped right outside of her apartment, which led to her fleeing the country.


Click to play video: 'This is BC: Ukraine refugees graduate from VanArts'


This is BC: Ukraine refugees graduate from VanArts


She then arrived alone in Canada as a refugee. She was welcomed with open arms by a host family, who introduced her to Suzanne de Montigny’s composition, Volodymyr’s Plea, a piece of music dedicated to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Story continues below advertisement

A few short months later, the gifted cellist was invited to perform the cello for this specific composition with the Ukrainian Folk Orchestra in Vancouver.

“Performing this piece feels like destiny,” she said.

“From the moment heard it, I felt a deep connection. It was as if the music had been waiting for me. I knew it was meant to be.”


Click to play video: 'Afghan refugee reunites with dog in B.C.'


Afghan refugee reunites with dog in B.C.


Herasymenko said she continues to play the piece to remind both Canadians and Ukrainians of the raging war in her home country.

The composer, B.C. woman Suzanne de Montigny, was inspired by Zelenskyy’s pleas to Canada’s parliament after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“I was impressed by Volodymyr’s passionate plea and by his resilience, and my greatest wish is that the piece reaches President Zelenskyy himself so he knows we support him,” Montigny said.

Story continues below advertisement

Volodymyr’s Plea was performed on Saturday at The Orpheum as part of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Day of Music with guest violinist, Kai Chow.

Herasymenko said some of her family remains in Western Ukraine and some are still in the Donetsk region.

She used to be a web designer, IT manager and cultural manager in Ukraine. She said she is hopeful to find similar work in Vancouver as she rebuilds her life.

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our  Twitter, & Facebook

We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.

For all the latest World News Click Here 

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! Rapidtelecast.com is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
Leave a comment