On October 1, the War Museum hosted a major music event—the annual Surma War Music Fest. For the second time, it was held under the Motherland Monument. This year’s slogan was “Song as a Weapon.” Songs of the Ukrainian resistance, from the 1917-1921 Ukrainian Revolution to the russian-Ukrainian war, were performed on stage, confirming that music can unite in both joy and struggle.
Yurii Savchuk, Director General of the War Museum, and Taras Shevchenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, opened the evening with brief but compelling speeches congratulating the audience and all the defenders of Ukraine. The first to perform was the National Exemplary Band of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The band played the OUN march “Hear the Trumpets Playing” and the song that became the unofficial anthem of the russian-Ukrainian war and became famous worldwide, “Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow.”
Star bands and performers joined us at the Festival: Taras Kompanichenko and the Chorea Kozacky band, Svitlana Tarabarova, KHAYAT, Krykhitka band, Orchestra 59, Miusli UA, PROBASS ∆ HARDI, Alena Omargalieva, National Exemplary Band of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Marta Adamchuk, and Vira Kekelia.
The event was scheduled to coincide with the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, and the musicians performed for the military personnel serving on the front line and in the rear to secure our victory over the enemy.
The project’s main media partner, Suspilne Culture, recorded the Festival, so very soon, everyone will be able to watch the concert on their TV screens or the Suspilne YouTube page.
Festival partners: Suspilne Culture, Cultural Forces, The Last Barricade, Alight, PROFI, ScreenPro, Morshynska.
See you next year at the Surma War Music Fest!
