4th Anniversary Concert – United 4 Peace 24/02/26

The programme includes an original String Nonet by acclaimed violinist Illia Bondarenko and audiovisual work “A Woman’s War” by composer Kornélia Nemcová and artist Natália Štojková.

On 24 February 2022, Ukrainian violinist Illia Bondarenko spent the night in the basement of his house with his grandmother. He turned to music as a form of cultural healing and resistance, publishing his recent recording of Ysaÿe’s Melancholia from Violin Sonata No. 2 and his own String Quartet No. 2 in the days that followed.

The programme includes an original String Nonet by acclaimed violinist Illia Bondarenko and audiovisual work “A Woman’s War” by composer Kornélia Nemcová and artist Natália Štojková.

On 24 February 2022, Ukrainian violinist Illia Bondarenko spent the night in the basement of his house with his grandmother. He turned to music as a form of cultural healing and resistance, publishing his recent recording of Ysaÿe’s Melancholia from Violin Sonata No. 2 and his own String Quartet No. 2 in the days that followed.

Illia Bondarenko

His composition attracted the attention of world-renowned violinist Kerenza Peacock (concertmaster for Adele, released solo albums with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), who got in touch with Illia to organise a musical flashmob which could raise money for Ukraine. Creating an arrangement of folk melody Verbovaya Doschechka, Illia began the virtual performance with a solo, before the camera panned out to reveal a stunning orchestra of 94 violinists from 29 countries. The video went viral, and was later streamed at ITV’s televised fundraiser, Concert for Ukraine, accompanied by a live solo from globally acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti.

Kerenza Peacock

On 24 February 2026, four years after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Illia Bondarenko and Kerenza Peacock will finally unite in person for a historic concert in Bath Abbey. Together with seven instrumentalists including violist Steven Doman (London Symphony Orchestra), cellist Wallis Power (BBC Symphony Orchestra), double bassist Roger McCann (Belfast Ensemble) they will perform Bondarenko’s original String Nonet. Composed in 2022, the Nonet is Illia’s personal tribute to Ukraine: a country that continues to fight bravely for its future. All four movements convey Illia’s experience during this first year of war and show everything that Ukraine went through and, unfortunately, is still going through.

Audiovisual production “A Woman’s War” likewise focuses on the personal experience of Ukrainians, paying tribute to the strength and resilience of Ukrainian women. The effects of war are rarely communicated from female perspectives, and the impact on people outside of the front line is often overlooked. Kornélia Nemcová and artist Natália Štojková conducted 12 detailed interviews with Ukrainian women, aged 19 to over 60. Artistically, “A Woman’s War” takes inspiration from many traditions including Ukrainian folk and choral music and combines it with immersive sound design. The performance premiered at Blackheath Halls in 2024 and has since been developed into a film, screening in festivals worldwide and publicly premiering at Bath’s Widcombe Social Club.

A Woman’s War

Discover Bondarenko’s beautiful instrumental composition and a new version of “A Woman’s War”, uniting with vocal trio The Ruffians, Bath’s Argyle String Orchestra, and a host of volunteer vocalists in the stunning setting of Bath Abbey, the latter will mainly consist of the members of Courage Choir let by their dedicated conductor and manager Felicity Courage.

During the event, a fantastic canvas print of Banksy’s graffiti art in destroyed Borodianka will be auctioned. Purchased by one of our dedicated volunteers for this purpose, it was printed in Finland and has travelled widely around Europe before reaching Bath. There are only 10 copies printed, and you can become the lucky owner of one!

As always, there will be an opportunity to taste delicious honey cakes made using special recipes from a pastry chef in Oleksandriya, Ukraine.
BOOK HERE