A Ukrainian musician who is living with a host family in Berkhamsted is able to continue his musical journey after being saved by a London music academy.
Nikita Vikorev, a talented 21-year-old violinist from Odessa in Ukraine, was forced to flee the country mid-studies due to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Now happily settled in Berkhamsted, Nikita has been able to continue his musical studies at the London Performing Academy of Music (LPMAM).
None of this would have been possible without Dr Stefania Passamonte, director at LPMAM, who has been working tirelessly to rescue young musicians from the conflict.
Nikita who was one of the first musicians to be rescued, with Stefania setting up the Ukrainian Student Refugee Fund to help give the students the opportunity to continue their studies.
Stefania described Nikita as a “superstar violinist” and said although she has managed to bring over 10 students so far, her work isn’t over yet as many students have been left helpless after the university in Kharkiv was bombed.
Writing in her blog for the British Phonographic Industry: “Since that fateful day and despite all the violence being unleashed, our academics at my conservatory in London have continued to teach our music students in Ukraine online – a way to encourage and help them pass the hours and days that separate them from the end of this tragedy faster.
“I now have meetings, phone calls and conferences daily to see how we can best support our music students in Ukraine and hopefully help to bring their nightmare to an end.”
Looking ahead, Nikita is looking forward to performing across Britain, with his first at the annual BerkoFest in Berkhamsted on June 2.
Charlie Hussey, founder of BerkoFest, said: “It’s an amazing honour and privilege to have someone as exceptionally talented as Nikita performing at BerkoFest both as a classical solo acoustic violinist and what I am most excited about, is that Nikita will be joining the headline act – Shane Lamont & The Warriors of Light- as a guest electronic violinist where they will ‘Rockin in the Free World’ and might have a ‘Highway to Hell’ moment.”
Donate to the fundraiser, at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lpmam
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