Ukraine at the Classical:NEXT Festival
Ukraine will be represented at the Classical:NEXT festival in Berlin by several delegates from the music industry and two showcase performances: by artist Orest Smovzh (Ukraine/Finland) and the electroacoustic ensemble DZ’OB.
About the festival
Classical:NEXT is considered one of the leading international platforms for professionals in classical and art music. The annual fair in Berlin brings together artists, managers, orchestras, labels, lecturers, publishers, journalists, and many other representatives of the industry. It offers space for exchange, cooperation, and innovation on a global level.
The program includes concert formats, pitching sessions, panel discussions, and presentations on current topics such as music management, audience development, financing, and marketing strategies.
Showcase program:
Ukraine is represented at Classical:NEXT with two showcases: DZ’OB (Ukraine) and Orest Smovzh (Ukraine/Finland).
DZ’OB is an electroacoustic ensemble from Dnipro that eclectically combines jazz, classical, and contemporary electronic music such as IDM, techno, and dubstep.
The ensemble consists of Vasyl Starshinov (oboe), Oleksii Starshinov (bassoon), Iryna Li (violin), Oleksii Badin (cello), and Andrii Yarovyi (percussion/electronics).
The ensemble will give its concert on May 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the Colosseum, Cinema 10.
Orest Smovzh is a Ukrainian violinist and doctoral candidate based in Helsinki. His artistic research focuses on contemporary virtuosity in capriccios, études, and studies for solo violin—always seeking electrifying connections with the audience, often in unexpected places. His most recent performance venues include squats, comic book stores, saunas, and pubs, as well as classical concert halls.
Orest Smovzh will perform on May 14 at 6 p.m. in the Colosseum, Cinema 10.
About the Ukrainian delegation
This year, Ukraine is participating in the Classical:NEXT trade fair for the first time, with a national stand organized by the Ukrainian Institute under the title “Music for Ukraine” (stand no. 35). The event will enable Ukrainian delegates to take part in key program items at the fair, establish international partnerships, and raise the global profile of the Ukrainian music scene.
Ukrainian delegates at Classical:NEXT 2025:
The delegates:
- Olha Blazhiievska, coordinator of the Ukrainian art festival Bouquet Kyiv Stage, project manager at the Dom Master Klass cultural center (Kyiv)
- Kateryna Suprun, co-founder, artistic director, and soloist of the Mriya orchestra (Berlin), co-artistic director and soloist of the Kyiv Camerata ensemble
- Olha Lozynska, program manager for classical music at the Ukrainian Institute
- Mykola Hrechukh, founder and artistic director of the Lviv Chamber Fest “Mirror”
- Yulia Nikolaevska, program director of the Kharkiv Music Fest, professor at the Kharkiv National University of Arts, vice-rector for research, teaching, artistic work, and innovation development
- Opera Aperta, laboratory for contemporary opera in Kyiv. Represented by composers Roman Grygoriv and Illia Razumeiko
- Julia Ostroverkhova, manager of the Lyatoshynsky Trio, promoter of Ukrainian music and culture in Austria
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Die Konferenz „From Crisis to Future: New Responsibilities for Museums in Ukraine”:
Показ “Крим, 5-та ранку” у Польщі – це перший мистецький правозахисний перформанс Українського інституту та Міністерства закордонних справ України, який вийде за межі України в рамках діяльності Кримської платформи. Наступного року виставу покажуть у Німеччині, США та інших країнах світу. Її особливістю є те, що у виставі братимуть участь не лише професійні актори, а й польські лідери думок, завдяки чому про Крим дізнається широка польська громадськість. Ми постійно підкреслюємо, що публічність рятує життя в умовах окупації та є ключовим інструментом у боротьбі за права людини,