Benefit Concert for Ukraine to Take Place in Amsterdam

Marking one year since the beginning of the Ukrainian-Russian war, the concert on February 24 will raise funds for a Ukrainian humanitarian aid initiative

To be performed in Amsterdam’s Lutherse Kerk church, the concert and 75% of its proceeds and donations will go towards UNITED24 — a humanitarian aid initiative launched by Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy — to purchase food and medical essentials needed by those impacted by the continuing conflicts in Ukraine.

Initiated by the University of Amsterdam, the Davidsbündler Music Academy, and the University of New Europe, the benefit concert will feature several Ukrainian musicians, works by Ukrainian composers, and pieces showcasing Ukraine’s musical tradition.

Performers will include violinist Rosanne Philippens, the SonCe Trio, Mischa Maisky Trio, singer Maryana Golovchenko, percussionist Konstantyn Napolov, and pianist Anna Nebaba.

The performance will be held on February 24, 2023, at 8 PM in Aula Lutherse Kerk, Singel 411, Amsterdam. It is open to 450 patrons in person and invites donations from all over the world via its ticket page.

To attend the event, watch the livestream, or donate to UNITED 24, click here.

Concert proceeds will also support scholarships for Ukrainian children studying music at the Davidsbündler Music Academy — some of whose students will also perform at the benefit. 

Amsterdam’s mayor Femke Halsema, the minister of foreign affairs Wopke Hoekstra, and the Ukrainian ambassador to the Netherlands Maksym Kononenko, will be among the officials attending the performance. 

Currently, around 65,000 Ukrainian refugees are living in the Netherlands, according to the Dutch News. Many are commemorating February 24 as a way to signify the continuing conflicts in the area and to remember the over 17,000 casualties to date. Several other events around the Netherlands will also be held on the day, including marches and memoriams.