Philadelphia Orchestra Partners with U.S. Embassy in Ukraine

The collaboration will allow the orchestra’s 2023 Virtual School Concert program to be made accessible to Ukrainian students and refugees

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s (PO) has partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and America House spaces in Ukrainian cities Kyiv, Odesa, and Lviv, which aim to share American culture and education through concerts, English-language programs, and skills workshops.

Through the collaboration, PO’s 2023 Virtual School Concert project will be made available to Ukrainian students and refugees, who will have access to the 25-minute program with Ukrainian subtitles.

The program involves pre-recorded performances and educational commentary from the PO’s musicians — updated with subtitles to reach communities impacted by the war in Ukraine.

Supported by PO’s long-standing relationship with the State Department, this initiative marks the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine that a performing arts nonprofit has provided virtual programming to Ukrainian students through the Embassy.

In April 2023, a group of 35 Ukrainian teachers attended a webinar to learn more about the program and how to build on the material with their students. 

The Virtual School Concert was distributed to 58 classrooms across 18 cities in Ukraine and beyond. Of the registrants, 23 classrooms had been displaced due to the war in Ukraine and now receive remote education from Ukrainian educators.

“As an English language teacher, I found the resources and knowledge gained from the workshop to be incredibly helpful in teaching my 4th-grade students,” said Anna Boiko from Kyiv. “In particular, I used the materials in my Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) lessons with a group of 16 young learners, who were fascinated by music and musical instruments. 

“The workshop provided me with insights on how to organize lessons in a more engaging and interactive manner, which helped me to better cater to my students’ interests,” Boiko added. “The video recording of the concert was a highlight for my class, and for some of them, it was their first time watching a real orchestra play.”

“We are deeply moved by the opportunity to share the Virtual School Concert globally, particularly with schools in Ukraine,” said PO and Kimmel Center, Inc.’s president and CEO, Matías Tarnopolsky. “Music has the undeniable power to connect and heal communities, and we hope that this program brought joy and comfort to those who experienced it. We are grateful to the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine and America House for making this opportunity possible.” 

Founded in 1900, the PO is a GRAMMY Award-winning ensemble, whose acclaimed education and community initiatives have engaged over 50,000 students, families, and community members. Its Jane H. Kesson School Concert Program aims to help familiarize students with concert hall environments and traditions, develop fundamental musical vocabulary, and cultivate passion for classical music.