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The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra will present a concert April 27 in the Arts and Communication Center’s Music Hall with the war in Ukraine front of mind.

Dylan Chmura-Moore, associate professor and director of the UW Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, said he hopes the concert will be a place for supportive dialogue and healing, and is his way to engage with the ongoing crisis in the best way he knows how—musically.

“The program will feature the second symphony of the noted Russian composer Tchaikovsky,” said Chmura-Moore. “The symphony’s nickname is The Little Russian—Little Russia being an affectionate name for Ukraine, of course.

“What you might not know is Tchaikovsky had Ukrainian roots on his father’s side, he wrote most of his second symphony in Ukraine at a family home near Kyiv and the three main themes of the symphony are Ukrainian folk songs.

“Further, the symphony is ultimately, I contest, about family and the people of Ukraine.”

The 7:30 p.m. concert will include members of the UWO community—including students, faculty and staff and alumni—performing side by side and in solidarity. Beyond Tchaikovsky, selections include works by Mykhailo Verbytsky and Jean Sibelius.

The concert will open with the playing of the state anthem of Ukraine. Assistant English Professor Abayomi Animashaun also will read poetry from 19th century Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.

Isabel Sorebo, a senior music education and performance major from Appleton, will play the solo in Sibelius’ violin concerto. It’s a spotlight Sorebo earned as the winner of the annual UWO Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.

Ahead of the concert, members of the University community will take part in a Current Events in Context panel discussion about the invasion at 6:30 p.m. in Room S147 of the Arts and Communication Center. Expected to take part are the history department’s Michelle Kuhl and Karl Loewenstein, Women’s and Gender Studies Director Ula Klein, Political Science Professor Tracy Slagter, Associate Anthropology Professor Jordan Karsten and Trisha Jenz, a 2018 anthropology graduate.

Both the discussion and the concert will be livestreamed on the UWO Music YouTube channel.

Admission is free to UWO students, $10 adults, $7 students from outside UWO, $5 seniors and $3 children 12 and younger.

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