1991 Project Supports Piano Concerto Premiers in Ukraine

January 14, 2025

On December 11, the National Philharmonic of Ukraine hosted the “Re-Construction: Broken Piano and Genre” concert, organized by Octopus, the Student Scientific and Creative Society of the National Music Academy of Ukraine, and the Youth Music Center.

The concert featured the first Ukrainian performance in a century of a modernist masterpiece: a piano concerto by Leo Ornstein. A 20th-century American composer of Ukrainian descent, Ornstein hailed from the Poltava region. He composed this work in his youth while living in America, showcasing the dynamic and innovative spirit of his early career.

The evening also presented a piano concerto by the acclaimed Danish composer Simon Steen-Andersen. Renowned both in Denmark and internationally, Steen-Andersen is celebrated for his groundbreaking fusion of music, visual art, and performance. His distinctive style has earned him numerous classical music awards, establishing him as a leading voice in contemporary art.

The premieres were performed in the Philharmonic’s Column Hall by the National Presidential Orchestra, under the baton of French maestro Etienne Gaan. The evening’s soloists were distinguished Ukrainian musicians Roman Lopatynskyi and Oleksandr Chornyi.

Support for the concert came from the 1991 Project, made possible through a partnership with the Columbia Global Paris Center and the Institute for Ideas and Imagination.

 


 

Learn more about the 1991 Project

Read our recent feature about the 1991 Project's initiative to deliver instruments to students in Ukraine. To inquire about how to donate instruments, please reach out directly to Anna Stavychenko.

The 1991 Project is a Paris-based initiative dedicated to promoting Ukraine’s rich musical heritage and supporting Ukrainian musicians affected by the war. The project highlights Ukrainian repertoire from the Classical era to the present, drawing connections to Western cultural trends and amplifying the visibility of Ukrainian artists on international stages, as well as engaging globally recognized artists to perform Ukrainian music. Guided by principles of social entrepreneurship and feminist leadership, the project exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to cultural advocacy.

Led by Stavychenko—a musicologist, opera critic, and former executive director of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra—the 1991 Project also works to preserve Ukrainian scores and helps deliver instruments to young musicians and schools in Ukraine. It also partners with the Columbia Global Paris Center and the Institute for Ideas and Imagination as a former project of the Displaced Artists Initiative.