Ukraine concert: Finest classical musicians to play charity event in Hammersmith

A group of international musicians are coming together to play in a charity concert to raise funds for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian charity concert, which is taking place at the Polish Centre in Hammersmith on Friday September 9, will feature pianist Rahul Suntah and mezzo-soprano Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues.

It will also feature the St Mary’s Ukrainian school choir led by choir leader Inna Hryhorovych.

Half of the proceeds of the event will be donated to a Ukrainian Child refugee charity.

Pianist and composer Rahul, who moved to the UK from Mauritius six years ago, said this will be his first performance in London.

“We decided to put on this concert to help raise some money for the people of Ukraine after seeing all of the horrible things that are going on over there.

“I will be joined by an amazing mezzo soprano singer Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues.

“The concert is going to be a mixture of my own solo stuff and a few collaborations.

“The audience should expect to hear a mix of Disney, popular and classical renditions.”

This week Ukraine marked 31 years of independence, with several events taking place in London.

The country also reflected on the six months since Putin’s invasion.

5,587 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since the war started on February 24, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

While at least 12 million refugees have fled their homes since the fighting began.

On Wednesday Prime Minister Boris Johnson travelled to Kyiv, to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Announcing the visit on Twitter, 10 Downing Street shared an image of Johnson speaking to Zelensky outside the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv and added Johnson’s message was: "Ukraine can and will win this war."

Meanwhile in London, hundreds of people gathered for a rally outside Downing Street to both celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day and protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.