Kateryna Mysechko (27) has butterflies in her stomach as she meets her new colleagues in the Arctic Philharmonic.
– There are lots of nice people here, but I’m a little nervous. This will be completely new to me, she admits.
The violinist is in Stormen concert hall in his new and temporary hometown in Bodø.
She is part of the national chamber ensemble, Kyiv Soloists. The orchestra consists of renowned musicians from all over Ukraine.
Many of them have won national and international music competitions for their work in presenting Ukrainian culture around the world.
On February 23, they went on a European tour.
The first stop was to Italy, but then Putin and Russia attacked Ukraine.
– We were lucky, because six hours after we left Ukraine, Russia went on the attack. February 23 is also the last time I was home. I have not seen my family since then, she says seriously.
The 15 musicians were suddenly on the run from their home country, Ukraine.
– EXCITED: 15 musicians from Kyiv Soloists have had their first meeting with Arctic Philharmonic Photo: Robin Jensen / TV 2
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– There are so many emotions. I never think an orchestra has been in a similar situation before. We played 46 concerts in two months in different countries. Almost every day was a day of travel. We went from different cities to hold concerts, she says.
Left husband and family
– The most difficult thing was to understand and accept that there was war in our home country. Thinking about family and friends suffering from a Russian invasion is very difficult, says the violinist.
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The 27-year-old left both her husband and close family. She has not seen them since, but tries to have regular contact by phone.
– My husband is not allowed to leave Ukraine now. He has no military education, but must still be there. He is in the west of Ukraine, and fortunately it is a little safer there, he says Mysechko.
– What about the rest of your family?
– Fortunately, my immediate family is alive, but the family of my cousin lives in Mariupol. It is difficult to stay in touch. Sometimes they call from a neighbor. They say very little about the conditions there, but say that they are alive and receiving humanitarian aid, she says seriously.
The orchestra, which has been on the run around Europe, has touched many.
– FIRST EXERCISE: Assistant conductor Anna Hartmann in the Arctic Philharmonic got 15 new musicians in place this week. Photo: Robin Jensen / TV 2
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The Arctic Philharmonic initially received an inquiry via the Norwegian Theater and Orchestra Association with a request to offer Kyiv Soloists the opportunity to hold a concert in northern Norway.
– I’m so grateful
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Needs peace and quiet
– We wanted to be able to offer them something more than one single concert and then just send them off. Then we thought instead of including them in our orchestra. They needed peace and opportunity to relax. Therefore, it was only natural for us to help. They will be part of the orchestra until August in the first instance, says Geir Nordeng, orchestra director in Bodø for the Arctic Philharmonic.
– GOOD TO CONTRIBUTE: Orchestra conductor in the Arctic Philharmonic, Geir Nordeng, gets good feedback from the musicians in Kyiv Soloists. Photo: Robin Jensen / TV 2
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Receiving an orchestra of 15 people requires a lot.
They should have a place to live and work and this should happen quickly. In a short time, both Bodø municipality, local business, Nordland Music Festival and Bodø2024 lined up with both housing and employment.
– This is as close to the core of the European Capital of Culture as we can get. Our mission is to contribute to cultural diversity and unity, and it has unfortunately never been more important than right now, says Henrik Sand Dagfinrud, program manager Bodø2024.
Large splice layer
The stay in Bodø is a joint venture between several players and costs around four million kroner.
– We have released around just over a million kroner for the purpose and are outside what were our original plans. The purpose of providing them with a safe haven is so important to us, that we are happy to show up. Arctic Philharmonic sets up with its entire apparatus, and we also experience that there is a good dialogue with the authorities, says Sand Dagfinrud.
In 2021, Bodø became a free town for persecuted artists from all over the world.
– We are a free city for artists on the run, and I think it is very nice that the Arctic Philharmonic has taken the initiative for this, and is working closely with both Bodø2024 and Musikkfestuka to make this happen. Solidarity in Bodø is strong, and there are an incredible number of people contributing to the refugee crisis. I am incredibly proud of how the Bodø community has met the refugee situation and how people stand up, says Ida Maria Pinnerød (Labor Party), mayor of Bodø municipality.
Experiencing great generosity
Kateryna Mysechko and the other musicians now live together in several houses in Bodø. This has been possible thanks to the Molobyen project, which had several empty houses standing.
Here they get time to relax and think about something else between the exercises. They really appreciate the generosity they now experience in Bodø.
– We are very grateful to all those we have met, and especially people in Bodø and the Arctic Philharmonic, They have made everything easy for us. Many other refugees do not have it like us. We are allowed to work while we are here. It is important to have something to do, she says.
It is very special to sit in a house in Bodø to see bombed-out villages and people fleeing their homeland. It hurts and there are many emotions when the orchestra plays pieces from their home country.
– FIRST MEETING: – The nerves passed quickly after the rehearsal with new colleagues in the Arctic Philharmonic, says Kateryna Mysechko from Ukraine. Photo: Robin Jensen / TV 2
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– Music is very subjective. When we have concerts and come to parties that remind us of Ukraine, then it is hard to think of all the bombing and shooting. It’s hard to perform, but there are also parts where the music makes me forget what’s going on. There is therapy and thoughts disappear from the war, the 27-year-old says.
Now the musicians of the Kyiv Soloists will use the power inherent in the music to help their country move forward.
– We must help Ukraine
– We will use the music to spread information about Ukraine to the rest of the world. We can talk about what we think about the Russian invasion, while at the same time using what we earn at the concerts to help Ukraine. It is very important for us to stop the war, or to try to get them to stop earlier, says the violinist.
– When do you think you can move back to Ukraine?
– I have plans to go home for a visit when we get a few days off in June. Then I hope to see the family for a short while. I am very grateful that I have now got a job here in Bodø, not all refugees are as lucky as us, says Kateryna Mysechko, musician in Kyiv Soloists.
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