Symphoria: The Orchestra of Central New York will present a benefit concert for Ukrainian refugee resettlement in Central New York on Saturday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be held at Church of the Most Holy Rosary at 111 Roberts Avenue, Syracuse.
Church choirs from Syracuse’s Ukrainian community will join Symphoria on stage in a program celebrating music written by Ukrainian composers. Symphoria’s acting concertmaster, Sonya Stith Williams, will be the featured violin soloist in “Legende” by composer Heinryk Wieniawski.
InterFaith Works of Central New York will receive all donations collected as part of this concert event to support Ukrainian refugee resettlement in CNY. Executive Director Beth Broadway stated that “CNY has been a welcoming community for refugees from all over the world for more than 40 years, and we will do the same for the Ukrainian people who are suffering so much now with this unjust attack on their country. Over 1.5 million people have already fled into neighboring countries, and many will want to be relocated here, especially to join family members who are already so much a part of the Syracuse landscape. Donations to InterFaith Works will be used to strengthen our ability to be ready to serve refugees coming out of the Ukraine, and a special fund will be established to provide for the unmet needs of the families that will come, enabling them to purchase food, a cell phone, clothing for children, supplies to start work, and many of the other things that they will need to start their lives over here. We are grateful for this opportunity to partner with Symphoria on this great humanitarian effort.”
Symphoria’s presentation of this benefit is made possible with support from Northwestern Mutual of Syracuse. Managing director, Paul Dodd shared his reason for supporting the effort: “Music is the most powerful language I know to touch the human heart and bring us all together. Right now, for most Americans, there’s nothing more on our minds and hearts than the families in Ukraine. This is a way we can all pitch in and support those wonderful people who are sacrificing so much.”
Symphoria’s board chair, Mary Ann Tyszko emphasized that “Symphoria‘s benefit concert will harness the power of music to bring our community together to celebrate the Ukrainian culture and provide a means to support the Ukrainian people as they deal with the death, destruction and displacement of their people. As a first generation Ukrainian American, the invasion of Ukraine and the atrocities and repercussions it is creating has affected me personally. I am deeply thankful to Paul Dodd for making this concert possible and to Symphoria for providing our community with a place to gather and take action in support of Ukraine.”
In-person or livestreamed tickets are free and are now available to reserve at ExperienceSymphoria.org or by calling the box office at 315-299-5598. Donations will be accepted by InterFaith Works of Central New York to support Ukrainian Refugee resettlement in the region.
