Music for Ukraine: Benefit Concert Series for Humanitarian Aid

Local music professionals, organized by flutist Caitlin Boruch, have joined together to channel their talent and passion for performing into Music for Ukraine: Benefit Concert Series for Humanitarian Aid, a fundraising concert series where 100% of donations benefit UNICEF's coordinated response to the crisis in Ukraine. 

These concerts will feature a diverse selection of classical music, spanning works by the Great Masters to Ukrainian folk songs, which will inspire you while providing a direct means to support those in such desperate circumstances.  Please join us for these compelling musical performances, turn your concern into action, and have your spirit lifted among a like-minded community.   

Tickets are free to the public and donations are encouraged.  Concert series and single event sponsorships are available for a fixed donation.

100% of all donations support UNICEF’s humanitarian response efforts directed towards children and families in Ukraine and neighboring countries offering a safe haven to those displaced. 

Saturday, May 7^th – St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Thousand Oaks

The Music for Ukraine concert series begins with a performance of vocal and instrumental chamber music on Saturday, May 7^th at 2pm, held at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 1 Church Rd in Thousand Oaks. The concert will showcase the new, all-female vocal quartet Seraphour, recently lauded by Fanfare as “meltingly beautiful….a new vocal ensemble worth watching.” 

There will be a silent auction with many exciting items, including gift cards to Mouthful Eatery, Barkingham Palace Mobile Pet Styling Spa, Ventura Beach E-Bike, Revolution Surf & Skate, and gift baskets from several more local businesses!

This concert will feature works including:

Preludes, by Eric Kinsley
Eric Kinsley, piano

Cantata BWV 82, Ich habe genug, by J.S. Bach
Heidi Vass, soprano
Caitlin Boruch, flute
Eric Johnson-Tamai, bassoon
Eric Kinsley, harpsichord

Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt
Frederic Beerstein, oboe
Tomiko Taylor, piano

Alleluia by Randall Thompson
Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjielo
Seraphour
Emma Roche, Heidi Vass, Dana Rouse, Melissa Birch

Trio Sonata No. 2 by Jan Dismas Zelenka
Frederic Beerstein, oboe
Julian Amberg, oboe
Tomiko Taylor, piano

Ukrainian Folk Song Goodbye, Ridnesenke Village
Прощай, Село Ріднесеньке, Op. 81 by Vidas Pinkevicius
Sara Frey Edwards, organ

About the Venue

The first concert of the series is graciously hosted by St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, led by Rector George Daisa and Music Director Dr. Eric Kinsley. 

Sunday, May 15^th – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Ventura

Sponsored by Shapiro Laser Eye Center  

and

Karen Heyrend, Broker/Realtor, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

The second Music for Ukraine concert features a program of vocal and instrumental chamber music on Sunday, May 15^th at 6pm, held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3290 Loma Vista Road in Ventura.

Performers include Ventura College faculty pianist Dr. Felix Eisenhauer and vocalist Tara Eisenhauer, California Lutheran University faculty pianist Dr. Eric Kinsley, bassoonist Eric Johnson-Tamai, and oboist Frederic Beerstein. 

Directly after the concert, concertgoers are invited to attend St. Paul’s Episcopal compline service for an extended moment of reflection.  Enjoy the peace of the candle-lit church with beautiful a cappella music by the St. Paul’s Episcopal choir, led by Tara Eisenhauer.  The church and candle-lit labyrinth will be available to those that wish to continue their prayers and reflection after the service.

This concert will feature a silent auction with baskets from local businesses Fiddle and Fern, B'z Paperie, Green Thumb Nursery, and others!

About the Venue

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, led by Rev. Susan Bek, have graciously agreed to host Music for Ukraine’s second concert in the series.  For over 130 years, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has been a friendly, welcoming and inclusive congregation with the mission statement, "We follow Jesus, nurture ministry, and welcome all."

Please note that at this time, St. Paul's requires everyone attending services and events to wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose, regardless of vaccination status.

Saturday, May 21^st – Deane Chapel, Westmont College, Montecito.

Sponsored by Chaucer's Books

The third concert will be held on Saturday, May 21^st at 3pm at Deane Chapel, Westmont College campus in Montecito. 

This intimate concert, held on the beautiful campus of Westmont College, will feature instrumental chamber works by Ravel, Saint-Saëns, and Ukrainian composer Valentyn Silvestrov will be performed by flutist Caitlin Boruch, clarinetist and pianist Helen Park, and pianist Dr. Eric Kinsley.

Sunday, May 29, 3:00pm

Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Sponsored by Dr. Heather White Chiropractic Care & Wellness Center

The final concert in the Music for Ukraine benefit concert series will be include striking performance by musicians Gulia Gurevich, violin; Alexander Gurevich, viola; Cello(Qiele) Guo, cello; Caitlin Boruch, flute; and pianists Lucía Álvarez Núñez, Alvise Pascucci, and Dr. Eric Kinsley.  New music by composers including Eric Kinsley himself compliment iconic works by Donizetti, Beethoven, Lysenko, Schumann, Dvořák, and more. 

Our last silent auction will auction of gift cards and baskets from local businesses. 

There will be a three gift certificates for self-care and medspa treatments, including a 30 min Executive Lunch Break Facial from SKIN Day Spa, Botox Treatments from Cross Medical Center, and Sunless Tanning from TanLA.