The Music of Exile festival, set in Annunciation Church Marble Arch, aimed to raise money for music students impacted by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
On November 12, students from the Royal Academy of Music and King’s College London performed pieces from composers that were displaced from their homelands, exploring the themes of loss, displacement, and belonging through musical compositions.
The event was created in collaboration with the Forgotten Melodies Society and the Pavel Kushnir Scholarship, set up in memory of the pianist Pavel Kushnir, who died after being detained for speaking out against the war in Ukraine.
Founder of the Forgotten Melodies Society, Nikita Demidenko, said: “All these composers that will be performing in our festival, they had to work in exile, and sometimes they didn’t have a home at all.
“So I hope that it serves as an encouragement to people that come here, maybe immigrants themselves, and see that you can always find a place for yourself.”
So far the scholarship has helped 13 students from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to fulfil their musical careers across Europe and the UK.
Roma Liberov, Founder of the Pavel Kushnir Scholarship, said that proceeds from the festival will go towards helping the foundation continue its work, with hopes to support many more students in the future.
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