Significant Meetings and Initiatives

The September meetings as part of Samit-Knyha publishing house's presentations in Kyiv marked an important milestone in the development of professional connections and joint initiatives.

The acquaintance and collaboration with Ivan Stepurin provided a new impetus for further projects between our foundation, Labdaribas Fonds HelpUkraine, and Samit-Knyha, which were discussed during the meeting.

A notable event was the presentation of the book by the People's Artist of Ukraine and head of the National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments (NAONI), Victor Hutsal, titled "Musical and Non-Musical Vibrations". This event offered an opportunity not only to enjoy live music but also to hear the author share details about his creative journey and future plans.

Victor Hutsal leads NAONI, established in 1969. The orchestra actively promotes Ukrainian folk instruments and contemporary music, collaborating with leading artists in the country. Notable events include NAONI’s performances with the electro-folk band ONUKA during Eurovision in Kyiv in 2017, as well as joint concert programs with Oleg Skrypka and the band "Druha Rika".

In the context of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, NAONI not only continued its activities but also actively supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) through charity performances at Kyiv’s railway station, in the metro, and at military hospitals, as well as participating in the cultural event "Cultural Weekends in Solidarity with Ukraine" in the French city of Metz.

Photos by Evgeny Sosnovsky.