Nazareth hosts Concert for Ukraine

Stephanie Duprey

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PITTSFORD, N.Y. (WHEC) — Music filled the halls of Nazareth College Saturday to benefit Ukraine.

The concert was put on by local non-profit Roc Maidan. This concert was extra special for Nazareth. It has a sister campus in Ukraine.

The college used musical notes as a symbol of solidarity for Ukraine. The donations raised will help purchase medical kits for soldiers fighting in that area.

"We asked them to channel these funds to Ostroh where our partner university is located to purchase trauma kits, which are medical kits for Ukrainian civilians and soldiers who have been wounded in the field,” the executive director of the Center for International Education, Nevan Fisher said.

Fisher says Ostroh Academy is safe, but bombings have happened in areas near the Ukrainian campus. Nazareth has had a relationship with the academy for over 10 years.

"The academy is not in direct harm’s way, it’s not the eastern portion of Ukraine where much of the fierce fighting has been, there has been a bombing near to where the university has been,” Fisher added.

Nazareth’s, "Chamber Singers" performed. Elena Parkins, who sings with the group, said preparing for the concert was emotional.

"We worked very hard, to have the right pronunciations. There is a lot of similarity between Russian language and Ukrainian language, so really trying to get those nuances, because those details really matter,” Parkins told News10NBC.

There was no specific number on how much the college hoped to raise. School officials said they don’t feel success is measured by money—it’s the solidarity factor.

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