Washington Street United Methodist Church (WSUMC) is proud to present a special benefit concert for the people of Ukraine on Saturday, March 16, at 7:00 pm. The event will take place at the church located at 1401 Washington Street in downtown Columbia, SC. The featured performers, String Time Duo, a world-renowned classical duo with ties to Ukraine, will grace the stage for an evening of captivating music.
All proceeds from the concert will directly contribute to supporting the people of Ukraine through two impactful organizations: Ukrainian Patriot, a non-profit dedicated to providing and delivering aid, especially to the elderly and all civilians, and hospitals in Ukraine, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
WHY DONATE?
Admission to the concert is free, though reservations are recommended due to limited seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to make a love offering or donation at the event.
For phone reservations, call the church at 803-256-2417. In case of inability to attend after reserving a seat, please notify the church to cancel the reservation.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for those who wish to contribute to this meaningful cause. Contact Jane Peterson at [email protected] for information on how to support this important fundraiser.
String Time Duo, formed in 2021 by award-winning musicians Angelina Reed (domra) and Marina Alexandra (guitar), will enchant the audience with a diverse world and classical music repertoire. Marina Alexandra, born in Ukraine, and Angelina Reed, a virtuoso of the three-string domra, bring their unique talents to create an unforgettable musical experience.
The Ukrainian Patriot, a registered organization in Ukraine, the United States, Canada, and Australia, is actively providing support and aid to those defending Ukraine and civilians affected by the conflict. Working on the ground, the organization delivers supplies regularly, responding promptly to the urgent needs of the people.
Ana Sovanov recently sent this video about this amazing organization:
To read an Impact Report about the Ukrainian Project. CLICK HERE.
The war in Ukraine is in its 2nd year now, and times are very difficult. The founder of Ukrainian Project recently posted this video on Vimeo about the organization and how they are helping those on the ground:
As the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church, UMCOR assists globally in direct ministry to individuals in need, offering relief, response, and long-term recovery grants in times of disaster. UMCOR also provides technical support and training for partners addressing ongoing disaster relief, recovery, and long-term health and development issues.
ABOUT THE DUO
MARINA ALEXANDRA: Marina Alexandra was born in Ukraine, where she began her guitar studies at the age of six. In 1996, she immigrated with her family to the United States, and in 1998, she was awarded a scholarship to earn her Master of Music degree at the University of South Carolina. She is one of the founders of Charlotte for Ukraine and its executive director.
She has received awards in several guitar competitions including the Music Teachers National Association State and Regional Competitions and was a semifinalist in the 6th annual Edwin H. and Leigh W. Schadt National String Competition for classical guitar. Marina has a concert career spanning more than 20 years, taking her to Piccolo Spoleto Festival, National Public Radio, Allentown Radio, and hundreds of venues including colleges, guitar festivals, and museums throughout the USA. Her TEDx Talk has close to 3 million views.
She has released three albums including “Timeless Enchantment” (Baroque, Classical, Modern, and Latin-American music), “A Moment of Magic” (modern music by Russian composer, Nikita Koshkin), and “Americas from North to South” (flute and guitar music). Her albums received high praise from such prestigious music magazines as Soundboard, Classical Guitar (UK), and American Record Guide.
ANGELINA REED (domra) has toured the world as a soloist with the Andreyev Russian Folk Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Russia, performing with them at Carnegie Hall’s 100th anniversary. A virtuoso of the three-string domra, she holds a Master’s degree in Performance and Teaching Music from Gnessin Institute of Music in Moscow. She holds the titles of Laureate of All-Russian National Competition among professional domra players (Nizhny Novgorod, 1990), and is a laureate of the international “Cup of the North” competition (Cherepovets, 1992). Angelina was the classical mandolin soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Russia. She has played numerous performances of Baroque and classical music at the Philharmonic Hall and Capella Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia. After immigrating to the U.S. in 2001, Angelina performed around the country, most notably at Spivey Hall, and is the concertmaster and domra soloist of the Atlanta Balalaika Society Orchestra. Angelina also performs with the domra-guitar duo “9 String Theory,” the ensemble “Balalaika Fantasie,” as well as the domra-guitar duo, “String Time” around the USA.
WATCH SOME VIDEO HERE!