Let The Soul Soar! A concert to remember in support of Ukraine

In collaboration with St George’s Cathedral, State Makers 2024 is presenting Let The Soul Soar – a winter classical music fundraising extravaganza in aid of the Ukraine Crisis Appeal for urgent medical needs.

St George’s Cathedral. Credit Diana Teplyj

The concert has been initiated by the indefatigable Diana Teplyj, who has Ukrainian heritage. It’s the largest and most ambitious of the five concerts now that she has organised to help the people of Ukraine. Fremantle people will recall in particular the wonderful concert at Fremantle Town Hall on 20 November 2022, which Fremantle Shipping News reported on at the time.

Diana Teplyj. Credit Bohdan Warchomij

Diana explained to Fremantle Shipping News her motivations in putting together this fifth fundraiser for Ukraine: “We are surrounded by so much negative news and I wanted to initiate a concert in a beautiful space that would bring joy and peace to all the audience as well as for a good cause. I feel honored by the amazing collaborative support I have received to make this possible.”

Diana has assembled a truly stellar line-up of world-class musicians and brilliant rising stars who will present, as Diana puts it, “a mesmerisingly beautiful evening of music that will resound in the magnificent St George’s Cathedral”.

Paul O’Neill

Sara Macliver

Stewart Smith

Paul Wright

Emma Matthews, Paul O’Neill, Sara Macliver, Marilyn Phillips, Stewart Smith and Paul Wright headline the event.

Ruth Burke

benjamin del borrello bachelor of music classical

Devon Lake

Lydia Lai

The Giovanni Consort

And they are supported by the fabulous Fremantle Chamber Orchestra under Hans Hug with Michael Howell and William Nichols, and rising stars Ruth Burke, Benjamin Del Borrello, Devon Lake, Lydia Lai, and the Giovanni Consort.

The audience will be treated to an extravaganza of uplifting melodies from the classical repertoire – from Bach, Bernstein to Bellini, from Handel, Dvořák to Puccini, with a touch of French charm, Italian passion, riveting folk melodies, operetta and musical theatre.

Highlights will also feature the works of Ukrainian composers Lysenko, Skoryk and Silvestrov – two works will be Australian premieres.

The music will let your soul soar for sure – it’s a concert not to be missed!

We asked Diana about the resolve of Ukraine in the currently difficult circumstances and how the funds raised through the concert will be expended.

Diana said Ukrainians continue to defiantly demonstrate to the entire world, not only to Europe, that a nation’s freedom, borders, internationally recognised sovereignty and way of life can never be taken for granted. She added that Ukrainians have made a conscious choice to bravely defend these values and what is rightly theirs, albeit at a colossal cost.

Diana also tells us that some 1468 medical facilities have been damaged in Ukraine by targeted and indiscriminate attacks on Ukraine’s health care system (including maternity/children’s hospitals), and another 193 have been completely destroyed since 24 February 2022, and so she hopes the funds raised can meet the cost of at least one ambulance (but hopefully more!) at $19,000 AUD plus another $7,000 AUD for life saving equipment.

For those who cannot attend the concert, but would like to support the fundraising event by making a (tax-deductible) donation: go to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal’s homepage and put ‘SGC14JUNEMED’ in the description.

For TICKETS, concert information and special offers, go straight here.

As if the concert is not enough, ticketholders can head down to Petition in the State Buildings for a pre-concert meal at 5.30 pm and enjoy a free glass of wine with their main course. Reservations are required and you’ll need to show your ticket.

And finally … COMO The Treasury is offering 20% off the Best Available Rates for the night of 14 June as well as complimentary valet parking.

So, why not make a night of it?

By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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