It is 18 months since the conflict in Ukraine escalated and millions of people are still going without essentials like electricity, warmth and water. Countless homes, schools, hospitals and important infrastructure have been destroyed. Many people will soon face their second winter living in damaged, freezing cold homes. In Ukraine, Red Cross teams are still working to provide essential aid, like food, shelter, healthcare and helping local partners repair buildings.
More than seven million people have fled Ukraine completely, leaving behind everything they have ever known, including their loved ones.
Among them is the renowned Ukrainian composer, Valentin Silvestrov (Ukrainian: Валенти́н Васи́льович Сильве́стров) who plays and writes contemporary classical music - he and his family were forced to flee to Berlin. His Prayer for the Ukraine, composed in 2014, is now seeing performances in concert halls around the world. Join us and express our continued solidarity with Ukraine as we perform this modern choral masterpiece and sing ten of our favourite Christmas Carols in aid of Ukraine.
This special candlelit concert experience includes a complimentary hot chocolate and mince pie to enhance the festive experience.
Entry is by donation - donations go towards British Red Cross - Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Please book in advance on eventbrite: https://lothiansingers.eventbrite.co.uk
PROGRAMME:
10 FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROLS (arranged for SATB Choir)
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Deck the Halls
O come, all ye faithful
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Kings of Orient
In the bleak mid-winter
Stille Nacht
Good King Wenceslas
Jingle Bells
We wish you a Merry Christmas
BERLIOZ
The Shepherd's Farewell (from L'enfance du Christ, Op.25)
SILVESTROV
Hymn for the Ukraine
Tonight's Conductor: Matthew Shiel
"Artistic Director Matthew Shiel shone" (⭐⭐⭐⭐ThisWeek Culture)
Matthew Shiel is a concert pianist and conductor based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the recipient of a scholarship to study piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he graduated with first class honours and several academic and performance prizes including: J.S. Bach Competition Prize for Piano, Harpsichord and Organ, Mary and Raymond Thomson Organ Scholarship, and Agnes Millar Prize for Outstanding Harmony and Counterpoint.
He has performed piano solo and duet recitals at venues such as St Giles' Cathedral (Edinburgh), Sage Gateshead (Newcastle) and Unitarernes Hus (Copenhagen, DK) and has been invited to be a guest speaker to the Wagner Society of Scotland and the University of Middlesex. He has performed several concertos with the Abbotsford String Orchestra, Little Biggar Orchestra and the Àirigh Orchestra. He was also entrusted to give the world première of Dr Alfredo Caponnetto's Baroque Concerto (PhD, University of Edinburgh), which the composer kindly dedicated to him.
He is conductor of the Àirigh Orchestra and the Scottish Meditation Orchestra and teaches piano at the University of Edinburgh.
https://matthewshiel.com
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