Musikhochschule Luzern – Playing against the war with music – News

In Lucerne, musicians from Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine play together to set an example.

It’s actually quite normal for students from different countries to rehearse or perform together at the Lucerne School of Music. But things are different in times of war. Suddenly it’s a special situation when young people from Russia study at the same university as those from Ukraine.

friendship across borders

“We are not politicians,” says the Ukrainian Maria Perekrestenko. Nevertheless, the violinist and singer is convinced that she can send a signal against the war. «We do what we can. We make music.”

Music as a contribution against the war. In her case, that means playing with other students who come from Russia or from Belarus, which is an ally of Russia. The musicians could show on a small scale that the peoples who are now at war with each other are actually closely connected: “I’m glad that I have them here as real friends. That is invaluable to me,” says Maria Perekrestenko.

There are around 20 students, all of Eastern European origin, who have joined forces across the borders of the hostile countries and also publicly demonstrated this – at a benefit concert in a church in the city of Lucerne. It is important to her to take a stand, says the Russian pianist Anna Zaychenko. “I condemn this war.” And that’s why she also campaigned for this to be written on the flyer for the concert. “So you don’t just say: We are together and that’s nice. I think that’s far too little at the moment.”

worries about family

Double bass player Aleksei Charkov sees it similarly. He hails from Belarus, the country that has sided with Russia. “We must show that we are against the war. Against Putin and Lukashenko,” he says firmly. He was glad that he could say this so openly here. His family in Belarus agreed, but it would be too dangerous to say it. Those who protest must expect severe punishment. “You can easily get fifteen years in prison.”

Legend:

“We must show that we are against the war.” Belarusian double bass player Aleksei Charkov.

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The Belarusian musician also worries about his family in other ways. «You always hear military flights and see tanks. Because my city is close to the Russian and Ukrainian borders.» He’s afraid for her, says Charkov.

Music gives hope and strength

The fear. She also drives the Russian pianist Mikhail Krasnenker. «Everyone is afraid. This is the emotion that we all from Russia, from Belarus and from Ukraine are feeling right now.” Making music together should help overcome this fear. And give hope.

And also courage. “I feel stronger when we play together,” says the Ukrainian Maria Perekrestenko about the Russian and Belarusian musicians with whom she shares the stage. “You give me strength too.” Strength, of which a lot is needed in these difficult times.

Almost 30,000 francs collected

With their commitment, the music students would also like to contribute to concrete help for those affected by the war. They succeeded in doing this at the solidarity concert for Ukraine, which the cultural organizer Urban Frye organized together with the non-profit society Lucerne: around 28,500 francs in donations were collected for Swiss Solidarity.