With the participants' tears of joy and excitement for what they experienced during the camp, as well as concerns about returning home to Ukraine, where a severe winter is expected, the Third Musical Instrument Masterclass Camp for students of music schools of the Chernihiv region ended. The camp for talented young musicians from Ukraine was organized by pianist Andreis Osokins and the Osokins Foundation. During it, the children had the opportunity to develop their instrument playing skills under the guidance of outstanding Latvian music school pedagogues, participate in various excursions, creative lessons and other activities. The goal of the camp is not only to help children improve their musical skills, but also to give them the opportunity to recover a little from the horrors of the war and give them hope for a brighter future.
The camp was attended by 25 children aged 12 to 16 who learn to play the piano, violin, cello, viola, saxophone, flute, bassoon, trumpet and other instruments in various music schools of the Chernihiv region. This is the largest number of participants and the widest range of musical instruments represented in these camps so far. During the two weeks that the children spent in Latvia, under the guidance of Latvian music school pedagogues, they developed the technique of playing an instrument, improved their interpretation and performance skills, got to know the performance of their peers - students of Latvian music schools - and Latvian musicians, and also performed in concerts themselves, gaining stage experience and enjoying the concert atmosphere, which is often prohibited in Ukraine due to the threat of attacks.
A retrospective video of the camp, which includes the impressions of the participants and teachers about what they experienced in Latvia, as well as an insight into the various events of the camp, can be seen here:
Its author is Louise Annie Zaltzmane.
Pianist Andrejs Osokins, the author and implementer of the idea of the camp, says: "The dedication with which the children worked during the master classes of the camp was really amazing, making you feel that these master classes will become an important stepping stone in their professional growth. Especially when you think about the terrible conditions they are currently practicing in and how important it is to create in such dark and hopeless moments faith that they have a future and that we are waiting for them on stage, bringing back the feeling of a happy childhood for a moment."
Special attention was paid in the camp to children having the opportunity to improve their physical, mental and emotional health. In addition to music master classes, students participated in art and ceramics classes, which allowed them to enjoy creative freedom and reduce emotional tension, and also went on various excursions, during which they got to know Latvia and its cultural and historical heritage. The children visited Sigulda, Jūrmala, the Latvian National Library, the Latvian National Art Museum, Riga Motor Museum, the National Botanical Garden in Salaspils and other places. The diverse camp program was provided by the "Osokinu Foundation" in cooperation with the company "Baltic Restaurants", the Children's Hospital Foundation, the Riga State City Municipality, the Pāvul Jurjānas Riga Music School and the association "Activist".
In addition to the opening and closing concerts, for the first time the camp program included a special Ukrainian support event, which took place on October 8 at the Ogre School of Music and Art. Opera singer Brigita Reisone, Andrejs Osokins, several children from the music camp from Ukraine, as well as students of the Ogre School of Music and Art performed there. The concert sounded like a celebration of friendship and togetherness, where music united different generations, nationalities and musicians with different experiences, creating a beautiful and heartfelt event for all present.
The organizers of the camp say that the last days with the Ukrainian children were filled with love, gratitude and also sadness. The participants' enthusiastic impressions of what they experienced in Latvia were heard, their tears of joy and excitement were seen, as well as their fear for their loved ones in Ukraine and the soon return home, where a severe winter is expected. The children admitted that the time spent in Latvia gave them the opportunity to remember what a peaceful, safe life is, how much they were inspired by the opportunity to play instruments and have a carefree rest. This is denied to them on a daily basis, as the Chernihiv region is located on the very border of Russia, so drone and missile attacks, which are often aimed at Kyiv as well, create constant threats and constant fear for their lives and the health of their loved ones. Training during emergencies takes place in basements or remotely, often without electricity, heating or water.
Ukrainian children's teacher Hanna Tupikova, who accompanied the students to the camp, admitted at the end of the camp that during the two weeks they spent in Latvia, they received an incredibly high dose of energy, which recharged and gave them a new breath for life and future work. "Together we understood - Latvia is a small country with a big heart! Here everyone truly and sincerely loves people, every animal and grass and shared this love with us, inspiring us from the heart! This music camp is not only about music, it is about friendship, strong emotions, inspiration, laughter and also about life!" said Hanna Tupikova.
The implementation of this camp was possible thanks to the company "Baltic Restaurants", the Children's Hospital Foundation, the Riga City Municipality, as well as other cooperation partners and supporters of the "Osokinu Foundation", which include Pāvula Jurjānas Riga Music School, the association "Aktivists", Ogre County Municipality, Ogre Music and Art School, Skrivanek Baltic, Gjensidige, Music Center, Fazer Latvia, Innovative Education Development society, AnRita and others.