{"id":23267,"date":"2022-07-03T05:30:06","date_gmt":"2022-07-03T09:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=23267"},"modified":"2022-06-23T11:29:29","modified_gmt":"2022-06-23T15:29:29","slug":"ukraine-benefit-in-hendersonville-nc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2022\/07\/03\/ukraine-benefit-in-hendersonville-nc\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine Benefit in Hendersonville NC"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Horrified by Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and inspired by the fortitude and determination of the Ukranian people, two Western North Carolina residents looked for a way to provide some support to the besieged people of the Ukraine. John Ariaitti and musician friend Tom Fisch teamed up to stage a Benefit Concert for Ukraine on June 25 at Trinity Presbyterian. The concert will feature local talent led by Fisch plus Mare Carmody, Ellen Trnka, Aaron Burdett and Jeff Michel\u2019s Folkadelic Jam. With a set that includes topical songs, Michel is a believer is music\u2019s power to effect change, to be a force for good in the world. \u201cI think that songwriters especially have the power to be philosophers, if that\u2019s the right term,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

All performers donated their time and talent. A special addition to the event is Ukraine-born Yukia (Julia) Kashirets, who was scheduled to sing her home country\u2019s national anthem. Yulia, who recently sang the Ukraine National Anthem at the USTA Billie Jean King Cup, moved to Western North Carolina in 2015. She lives in Flat Rock with her husband and daughter.<\/p>\n

What are your favorite kinds of songs to sing?<\/b>
\nYulia Kashirets: <\/b>I love to sing Ukrainian songs. It\u2019s [awkward] to sing in English, because people can still hear my accent. I am attached to Ukraine, to that language, to those traditions, to that culture.<\/p>\n

Do you still have family in Ukraine?<\/b>
\nYulia Kashirets: <\/b>Yes, and [that\u2019s] the hardest part. My brother is a soldier, and he is defending the country since the second day of the war. That\u2019s very personal and heartbreaking. I can contact him; sometimes he disappears for five days. I know [the army] is doing something and he cannot be available. We discuss everything, but if I don\u2019t hear from him [for] seven days, I am going to contact his commanders. Sometimes he just tells me, \u2018I\u2019m fine and I love you.\u2019 But nothing specific; they cannot tell the details.<\/p>\n

What led you to put together this benefit concert?<\/b>
\nJohn Ariatti:<\/b> I was really upset seeing the TV news showing women, children and others being killed. The Ukrainians have shown great courage in their fight against Russia to retain their independence. Later I learned that the painter and tile setter for my new house \u2013 people I know \u2013 are both Ukrainians and have families still in Ukraine. The horror of this war suddenly jumped out of the screen and into my life. It became real and personal. Tom Fisch is a friend and neighbor; we both wished we could help in some way. We thought of a concert and wondered if anyone in Hendersonville was planning on producing one. Tom said he didn\u2019t know of any, so I said, \u201cOkay, let\u2019s do it!\u201d<\/p>\n

What is your fundraising goal?<\/b>
\nJohn Ariatti:<\/b> A minimum of $100,000, but Tom and I are hoping we\u2019ll exceed that amount. All proceeds will go to the International Rescue Committee and to Razom. Razom \u2013 which means \u201ctogether\u201d in Ukrainian \u2013 is working with volunteers and partners in the U.S., Poland and Ukraine to address the emergency medical needs of people in Ukraine. Their focus is on getting tactical medical kits to the people who need them. They are also providing certain non-medical supplies that enable the distribution of the aid through accurate communication and navigation.<\/p>\n

If people are unable to attend the concert but still wish to help\/donate, what can they do?<\/b>
\nJohn Ariatti:<\/b> They can write a check to one of the two charities \u2013 International Rescue Committee or Razom \u2013 and mail it to Concert for Ukraine, PO Box 271, Flat Rock, NC 28731.<\/p>\n

What would you like people to know about the conflict in Ukraine?<\/b>
\nYulia Kashirets: <\/b>I think the whole world now knows what is happening. There are two countries; one of them started the war against the other. They came to our land and started to kill, to do terrible things. Our people don\u2019t have another choice [other] than to protect themselves, their homeland, their family and children. It was a hard decision for a lot of people to leave the country, or to leave specific areas in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

We have been helping them since the beginning of the war. Some people help with weapons; some people help with money, with prayers. And some people help with their voice. And it is an honor for me to join this concert and to be helpful. Because we need to unite and show this support and compassion for Ukraine. Ukrainian people are brave; they\u2019ve proved it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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