Ukrainian refugee finds home in B.C. orchestra | 24CA News
When Alina Herasymenko fled from her residence in Ukraine final 12 months with solely her cello, her pc and a small quantity of meals, little did she know that she’d quickly be enjoying in an orchestra in Vancouver.
Herasymenko was born within the Donetsk area the place she skilled first-hand the savagery of open battle and its impacts. She mentioned in 2014, shells rained down on her group for weeks, prompting a transfer to Western Ukraine along with her household. They lived there for 9 years.
Fast ahead to 2022: Herasymenko was dwelling close to the Ivano-Frankivsk airport when the Russian invasion of Ukraine started. Bombs have been dropped proper exterior of her house, which led to her fleeing the nation.
She then arrived alone in Canada as a refugee. She was welcomed with open arms by a number household, who launched her to Suzanne de Montigny’s composition, Volodymyr’s Plea, a chunk of music devoted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Just a few quick months later, the gifted cellist was invited to carry out the cello for this particular composition with the Ukrainian Folk Orchestra in Vancouver.
“Performing this piece feels like destiny,” she mentioned.
“From the moment heard it, I felt a deep connection. It was as if the music had been waiting for me. I knew it was meant to be.”
Herasymenko mentioned she continues to play the piece to remind each Canadians and Ukrainians of the raging struggle in her residence nation.
The composer, B.C. girl Suzanne de Montigny, was impressed by Zelenskyy’s pleas to Canada’s parliament after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I was impressed by Volodymyr’s passionate plea and by his resilience, and my greatest wish is that the piece reaches President Zelenskyy himself so he knows we support him,” Montigny mentioned.
Volodymyr’s Plea was carried out on Saturday at The Orpheum as a part of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Day of Music with visitor violinist, Kai Chow.
Herasymenko mentioned a few of her household stays in Western Ukraine and a few are nonetheless within the Donetsk area.
She was once an online designer, IT supervisor and cultural supervisor in Ukraine. She mentioned she is hopeful to search out related work in Vancouver as she rebuilds her life.
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