With many dressed in the colours of the Ukrainian flag and all wearing a ribbon in those colours, the packed St Mark's Church supported the remarkable efforts of Helen Cooper in putting together the fundraising event which brought local musicians from across South Warwickshire together with one voice, that voice – to recognise the bravery of Ukraine and to contribute to the Disaster Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Conductor Joe Davis, more usually enthusing the Leamington Sinfonia players, showed a quite different set of skills as he acted as compère and 'continuity man', liaising with the seven contributing groups, supplying entertaining linkages as the evening built up a head of steam. 

It must be added the shaggy-dog story about a lost cat, "Snowy," turning up on the door step as two pints of milk stretched his creditability somewhat!!

St Mark's Church resident organist opened the concert with the Ukraine National Anthem and played Sortie by Lefébure-Wély, a French composer who played a key role in the development of French symphonic organ style. Patrick Gordon offered the deeply touching Melody in A Minor by Ukraine born Myroslav Skoryk.

Leamington's Polish Community Choir in national dress, was a pre-interval highlight, singing Polish folk songs and a Prayer for Ukraine. Phil Overton's very moving duets with Martin Lammyman (viola) reminded his audience of the horors which befell Aleppo during the Russian involvement in Syria's recent struggles.

Twelve cellos from local orchestras presented an enhanced version of Telemann's Concerto for Four Cellos, with a sound that was memorable.

Recorder players, Amie Boyd and Eleanor Holdsworth, also chose Telemann for their duet, playing two excerpts from his Canonic Sonata No 5. Finally, Joe Davis took up his baton to conduct members of Leamington Sinfonia in Ukraine-born Victor Kaminsky's intense Te Deum, a fitting end to a very moving and successful event.

In total the evening raised £3,387.

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(Header image by John Brightley via geograph.org.uk)