Berlin Philharmonic Announces Patronage of Ukrainian Orchestras

The orchestra will become a patron of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, effective immediately

This patronship by the Berlin Philharmonic will provide the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra (KSO) and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (YsOU) with support in organizing performance opportunities and attaining instruments. 

In 2022, at the invitation of the Berlin Philharmonic Foundation, both the Ukrainian orchestras performed at the Philharmonie Berlin. The KSO played at the venue as part of their European Tour, and the YsOU (for musicians aged 12 to 22) played alongside fellow students of the National Youth Orchestra of Germany — the concert can be viewed here.

This previous collaboration created regular contact between the organizations, which has ultimately led to greater opportunities, such as plans to include more joint projects for the music education sector. 

“With these two patronships, we would like to play a small part in ensuring that the two Ukrainian orchestras can continue to work artistically at all and, especially now, remain visible,” said Berlin Philharmonic Foundation’s general manager, Andrea Zietzschmann. “For us, the patronship of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is a logical continuation of our long-standing commitment to the National Youth Orchestra of Germany, which has been working closely with this orchestra since 2017, well before the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.”

“We would like to express our solidarity with the musicians in Ukraine who are trying to maintain musical life in Ukraine under terrible circumstances,” added Berlin Philharmonic board member Eva-Maria Tomasi. “The Kyiv Symphony Orchestra also acts as an important ambassador for its country by giving concerts outside Ukraine. We want to support the musicians in this as much as possible.”

“We would like to thank the Berliner Philharmoniker sincerely for their patronship,” expressed Alexandra Zaitseva, director of both the Ukrainian orchestras. “It is very important for us both symbolically, as a strong sign of support for our home country, and practically,” she added. “It offers us the prospect of a close exchange.

“Together with the founder and chief conductor of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Oksana Lyniv, with all colleagues of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and the chief conductor Luigi Gaggero, we are committed to the European integration of Ukrainian culture, the support of the young generation of Ukrainian artists and the further development of this unbroken musical tradition, especially in today's challenging times.”