Ukrainian musicians gift electroacoustic harp to Belarusian talented youth
Ukrainian composer Viktoria Kokhana and Honored Art Worker of Ukraine Roman Nedzelsky gave a valuable electroacoustic harp as a gift to the Belarusian talented youth. Harpist Alina Bzhezhinska demonstrated the unique possibilities of the harp at a master class in the Belarusian State Academy of Music on 30 December, BelTA has learned.
The harp handover ceremony was held in the Palace of Independence on 29 December. Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova thanked Roman Nedzelsky for the instrument on behalf of the Belarusian talented youth. She noted that the Belarusian government supports talented young people of the country. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko pays a lot of attention to developing culture and strengthening international ties in this field, including with Ukraine.
This electroacoustic harp was made in France in 2018. The instrument boasts great acoustic characteristics and high sound quality. "It is suitable for any music style. In the hands of a skilled musician it sounds like a symphony orchestra," Roman Nedzelsky told journalists. He took part in the Days of Ukrainian Culture in Alexandria in 2018. Roman Nedzelsky said that the event impressed him. He believes that Belarus has a lot of talented people that should make a name for themselves in the country and beyond. "I know from personal experience how much attention Belarus pays to music education and culture in general. I think that our joint efforts will help the whole of Europe and the world discover Belarusian talents," he added.
Belarus Culture Minister Yuri Bondar also thanked the Ukrainian musicians. "These are friends of our country and thanks to them our talented musicians will be able to play this unique instrument. I think that we will set up a national harp school to train harpists," he said. "The Culture of Belarus program for 2016-2020 includes the special sub-program Musical Instruments. In line with it, Belarusian educational institutions and cultural facilities receive new musical instruments. So far, they have received more than 1,500 upright pianos Belarus. Over 2,000 musical instruments have been repaired," the minister said. The State Academy of Music got 80 upright pianos Belarus, six grand pianos Yamaha, and other instruments made by the world's leading producers in Italy and France.
During the master class, Alina Bzhezhinska performed several music pieces of the 20th and 21st centuries and jazz. She also spoke about the possibilities of the new harp and answered questions from students of the State Academy of Music and school students.
Alina Bzhezhinska was born in Ukraine. She lives in London and works as a musician and tutor at Goldsmiths University and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She gives master classes in the UK and abroad, writes music for the harp, performs with a chamber orchestra, and stages recitals. Her repertoire includes classical and jazz music.
