Benefit Concert for Ukraine Announced!

 


The Allentown Band performs a concert of remembrance and hope to benefit Ukraine humanitarian efforts, Sunday August 20, 2023, 3:00 PM at Allentown's Miller Symphony Hall. The concert also celebrates Ukraine Independence Day, which is August 24th.

For this special occasion, the band welcomes guest soloist Patricia Risley, mezzo soprano, guest conductor Johan De Meij, and the Bel Canto Youth Chorus of the Bethlehem Bach Choir, under the direction of Joy Kirokawa.

The program opens with Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, a tone poem depicting the resilience of a people resisting the oppression of a foreign power.

Johan de Meij conducts his own Symphony #4, Symphony of Songs with Patricia Risley and the Bel Canto Youth Chorus. This composition expresses loss and hope in six songs: 1. A Year Has Now Passed; 2. When Your Dear Mother; 3. Reunion; 4. The Hostile Brothers; 5. Early Spring; 6. Song of the Harlequin

The Bel Canto Youth Chorus follows this with Prayer of the Children by Kurt Bestor, which was written for the war in the former Yugoslavia.

Following intermission, the Allentown Band returns to perform A Tribute to Ukraine by Lawrence Kursar, exprssing support and hope for the people of Ukraine, followed by the finale from Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven, expressing Hope, Triumph and Victory.

The concert concludes with the Ukrainian National Anthem.

All net proceeds from this concert will be donated to Ukraine humanitarian efforts. If you would like to make an additional donation, please visit https://war.ukraine.ua/support-ukraine/.

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