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About Us [about.html] Support Programs Materials FAQ Links Events óêð The Kherson Civic Orchestra Humanitarian Aid Project Shortly after our May concert/fundraiser, UCHI Board Member and Concert Chair Dr. Jaropolk Lassowsky returned to the city of Kherson, Ukraine, to deliver several instruments and monetary help he had raised to the Kherson Philharmonic Orchestra. Professor Lassowsky completed a Fulbright assignment in Kherson from September 2003 through January 2004 as a visiting professor of music at the Kherson State University (20,000 students) and the Kherson Regional College of Music (1,200 students). Upon his return to the US, Professor Lassowsky related how poorly these cultural institutions were faring under tough economic times in Ukraine. The UCHI started a separate fund to assist this effort. His report follows: "The Kherson College of music is a 90-year old institution, renowned in Ukraine for its strings, piano, and vocal instruction. As we know, the economy of the country of Ukraine is ailing and the Kherson region is one of the most economically depressed in the country. As in the rest of the world, cultural institutions are the first to suffer the effects of a bad economy. However, in Ukraine, the financial margin of such institutions is so thin, that very often they are not able to function at all. For example, the best auditorium for symphony performances and rehearsals in Kherson--the Auditorium of the Kherson College of Music--remains unheated until mid-December. This did not discourage the phenomenally talented students from playing enthusiastically under my baton, some of them wearing gloves with finger cutouts, but the cold contributed greatly to the cracking of wooden instruments which, like all musical instruments are prohibitively expensive in Ukraine because they are pegged to the world market, whereas the students’ family incomes are on the disgracefully low Ukrainian standard. In general the physical plant and support equipment that one takes for granted in an American school with so many exceptionally gifted students does not exist in this school. The orchestra stands are beyond any repair but the music director Dmytro Siryj manages to make them barely serviceable with a screwdriver and pliers before every rehearsal and concert. The College does not have its own instrument collection. Professional wind players use the kind of student model instrument that American middle schools would not touch. The situation is similar with string players, and bow and string replacements cost between an average two-week and a month’s salary. The music library is such that it would make a professional pedagogue weep, considering the very high level of the students’ accomplishment. Students copy music by hand (Xerox is not cheap in Ukraine) and orchestral music is worth its weight in gold. I have given them a copy of the state of the art FINALE music processing software, and I taught them how to use it on their two old computers. I am in the process of sending them donated PCs from the USA. When I returned to the US I related this story to my friends and colleagues. Mrs. Sherry Dieringer, a retired teacher of Dubois, PA, and a member of the Warren Civic Orchestra, which I conduct, donated three violins to the Kherson College of Music through the Ukrainian Cultural and Humanitarian Institute. The members of the Warren Civic Orchestra took up a spontaneous collection and came up with $300 on a rehearsal night without asking for any tax deductions. I am in the process of buying used music stands and collecting used music for the orchestral program in the Regional College. The University is in better shape, but unfortunately the College belongs to a different Ministry—Culture, rather than Education. The Ministry of Culture for all practical purposes has no budget. This situation is brightened by the thought that so many talented young Ukrainians are so hard at work to better their musical gifts despite the widespread poverty and that there are some means to help them: The Shevchenko Scientific Society (America) has been charged with the administration of the Petesh Memorial Scholarship for young violinists, and I am returning to Kherson with the intent to produce compact discs of their playing to be sold entirely for the benefit for the young musicians of Kherson." In May 2004 UCHI set up a special fund to provide assistance to the Kherson Civic Orchestra. If you are interested in assisting the UCHI’s efforts with the Kherson project, you may send donations c/o UCHI – 610 Bouquet Street – Carnegie, PA 15106. Please indicate on your check “Kherson Project”. Thank you. © Ukrainian Cultural and Humanitarian Institute, 2002-2005 Webmaster