site.btaConductor Oksana Lyniv Sees Varna Concert of Ukraine's Youth Symphony Orchestra as Symbol of Solidarity

The Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is performing in Varna on Monday evening as part of the Varna Summer International Music Festival. Conductor Oksana Lyniv described the concert as a powerful example of how people from around the world can unite in support of young musical talent. Speaking at a news conference ahead of the event, Lyniv was joined by the festival's Artistic Director Mario Hossen, violinist Andrii Murza, and Varna's acting Mayor Pavel Popov.

On her first visit to Bulgaria, Lyniv is leading the orchestra she founded to take part in the festival. She noted that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine the orchestra has been important not only for the education of young musicians but also as a source of solidarity. "In these difficult times, they feel like one whole," she said. The orchestra has spent ten days in Varna preparing for its summer tour, which will continue with appearances at an international festival in Bratislava and concerts in Switzerland and Germany.

According to Lyniv, more than half of the musicians still live in Ukraine and face enormous challenges, with families, homes and schools destroyed. "In what should be the best years of their childhood and youth, they have no normal life. They are sad, stressed out, exhausted and sleep-deprived, but it is uplifting to see how after their stay in Varna they begin to smile again, thanks to the good food, swimming in the sea and the warmth of their hosts," she said.

The orchestra has rehearsed up to eight hours a day, and for many of the young musicians this is their first-ever concert. Lyniv stressed the significance of working alongside professionals such as Mario Hossen and the Paganini Ensemble, who will join them on stage in Varna.

She thanked all who supported the orchestra, including Varna Municipality, the Austrian Cultural Forum, private sponsors and a fundraising campaign in Tokyo. Next year the orchestra will mark its 10th anniversary with a joint project with Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, an appearance at a Berlin festival and continued collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic.

Monday's concert in Varna features the Paganini Ensemble Wien, comprising Mario Hossen (violin), Marta Potulska (viola), Liliana Kehayova (cello) and Alexander Swete (guitar). Alongside Hossen, Andrii Murza will appear as soloist, with the two performing "Amitie" by Eugene Ysaye. Murza noted that the rarely played piece is both beautiful and special, and Hossen stressed that he chose it for its title, which carries a cultural and political message of unity to the world.

Murza stressed the importance of recognizing the significance of the Varna Summer Festival, which marks its 100th anniversary in 2026, as there are very few events in the world with such a long history.