‘Ukrainian Carols of Hope’ Christmas Concert 2025

Role: composer, arranger, pianist

Location: St Pancras International Station, London (venue for performances by Elton John and Alicia Keys)

A joint performance with Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, which set a record for the largest audience in the station’s history (over 1,000 people). An arrangement for piano and string quartet was created especially for the event in collaboration with Svyatoslav. Also performed were ‘Shchedryk’, ‘Podolyanochka’, ‘The Grey Cat’ and Mariia’s original compositions on Elton John’s legendary grand piano.

Participants: the ‘Lihtar’ choir (conducted by Maksym Levytskyi), a string quartet, and Nazar Lekh (ethnic wind instruments).

Organisers: Campaign for Ukraine, Olena Ivashchenko.

Charitable aim: to raise funds for the intensive care unit at the ‘Okhmatdyt’ Children’s Hospital in Kharkiv and for the psychological rehabilitation of children through the Gen.Ukrainian Foundation.