The United States Air Force Band is proud to present "Songs of Friendship: An Evening of Music from Ukraine" at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Arlington, Virginia, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m.
A bilateral military musical collaboration, the historic concert will serve as an opportunity to display public support for the people of Ukraine, recognize their resilience and heroism and reaffirm the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine while showcasing the rich musical traditions from both countries.
The concert band and members of the Singing Sergeants will perform music from both nations. Music from Ukraine will include Mykola Lysenko's "Taras Bulba Overture" and a tenor aria from Semen Hulak-Artemovski's opera, "Andrii Gulak." From the United States, the band will perform the music of Air Force veteran and iconic film composer John Williams as well as a few famous marches by John Philip Sousa.
The concert will be hosted by U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Julian C. Cheater, assistant deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, and will feature Ukrainian Col. Maksym Husak, director and conductor of the National Presidential Orchestra of Ukraine, and two soloists; Serhii Hurets, tenor vocal soloist with the National Presidential Orchestra of Ukraine and Pavlo Gintov, a Ukrainian born and New York City-based pianist.
This event will be a reunion for Gintov and U.S. Air Force Col. Don Schofield, commander and conductor of The United States Air Force Band, who previously collaborated in Ukraine in 2017, when Schofield was the commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe Band. The Sept. 16 concert will be a recreation of their performance of the American classic, "Rhapsody in Blue," by George Gershwin.
To reserve your free tickets for this historic event, click here.
