WELCOME TO HAMBURG!
Dear friends of the HfMT,
Unfortunately, we have to cancel the benefit concert on 20 May in the Great Hall of the Laeiszhalle at short notice for organizational reasons. Instead, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce our guest students from the Ukraine, who began their studies at the HfMT in April.
Since the beginning of the war on February 24, we at the HfMT have also experienced an overwhelmingly large and united wave of willingness to help. Whether through financial contributions to our emergency aid fund, the offer of private accommodation, the legal and organizational work of the International Office, the legal advisors and the President's Office of the HfMT or (above all!) the tireless, loving and pragmatic commitment of Ukrainian students here on site, who make arriving under the most difficult conditions bearable with translations, networking and everyday living assistance: all these valuable undertakings have made it possible for around 20 students from Ukraine to be accepted for the summer semester and assigned to various teaching staff.
Traumatized as they more or less are, it is important for them to find a kind of normality in working here and to pursue their usual activities. They find closeness in the Ukrainian community that has come together here, but also with the families who have taken them in and, again and again, across borders and universally understandable through art and the shared immersion in an artistic activity.
We asked some of them about their first impressions of Hamburg:
VLADA AND OLHA
Vlada: "Each of us is going through a difficult time and the opportunity to do our usual thing is the only thing we have now. We have wonderful teachers and professors working here, and I am very grateful for that. Professor Smits in particular, with whom I study, helps me prepare the program for the singing competition. I was also lucky enough to meet a woman at the college with whom I went to the same school in Odessa, and now she is helping me with my studies in Hamburg. It's much easier to live in another country when you have friends there. Now all Ukrainians are like one big family.
Hamburg is a very beautiful and green city. There is a lot of beautiful architecture, a lake with swans and lots of geese, a river and a large inland port. My hometown (Odessa) is also very beautiful, I miss it a lot. But when I see chestnut trees and the harbor, I imagine I'm at home, at least in my mind."
Vlada Koieva (25 years old) comes from Odessa, where she studied singing/master's degree in opera at the Odessa National Music Academy. Since April 7, she has been studying in Hamburg with Prof. Geert Smits.
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Olha: "I don't have many contacts yet and I'm not that active, but I feel safe here. In addition to my main subject, I have already attended the women's choir at the university and talk to the other participants there."
Olha Holub (22 years old) comes from Dnipro, where she studies harp at the Dnipro Music Academy. She has been in Hamburg since March 11 and is staying privately with a hostess in Altona. She is continuing her harp studies here with Isabel Moreton.
ANASTASIA, MILENA AND VOLODYMYR
Anastasia: "Studying here is quite intensive. There are various workshops and lots of events where I am constantly learning new things. I'll remember my first visit to the Elbphilharmonie for the rest of my life: I've never seen such a big and beautiful philharmonic hall. I also think the many parks in Hamburg are wonderful!"
Anastasia Pelts (21 years old) comes from Ivano-Frankivsk and studies flute at the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy. She arrived in Hamburg on April 10. She is currently living in a student residence and can continue her studies with Prof. Jürgen Franz.
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Milena: "It's a bit difficult for me to make new contacts and I always need a lot of time to get used to a new environment. That's why I communicate mainly through joint projects with the others or with people I still know from Ukraine.
I found a very nice place right next to the university: I like being by the water. The opportunity to spend a lot of time outdoors and breathe fresh air is invaluable to me."
Milena Voitsekhovska (22 years old) comes from Mykolaiv and is studying piano and organ at the Odesa National Academy of Music. She has been living in Hamburg Altona since March 23 and can continue her studies with Prof. Caroline Weichert and Prof. Wolfgang Zerer.
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Volodymyr: "Hamburg is a beautiful city with unique architecture and welcoming citizens. I particularly enjoy my studies. I'm learning a lot of new things about vocal technique and gaining a lot of new insights into the peculiarities of vocal stylistics.
When I have time apart from my studies, I spend it with other students. We are all friendly with each other. Every day in Hamburg is very full and colorful."
Volodymyr Milushkin (24 years old) comes from Yuzhne (Odessa region) and studies singing at the Odesa National Music Academy.
He has been in Hamburg since April 9, where he is being taught by Prof. Geert Smits.
SERAFIM AND OLEKSANDRA
Serafim: "I was very touched by the way we were welcomed and received at the university and treated with attention, care and understanding. The people I am staying with also exude an incredibly positive atmosphere.
From the first day of my stay in Hamburg, I fell in love with this city. The incredible beauty of this city inspires me, even if I sometimes feel a little lost with the huge range of cultural life on offer.
I admire my teachers Gordon and Hubert. They are true masters and I am trying to learn German quickly so that I can take as many courses as possible."
Serafim Ivanov (24 years old) comes from Mykolaiv and studies piano and composition at the Odesa National Academy of Music. He has been in Hamburg since March 12 and lives in private accommodation. His teachers here in Hamburg are Prof. Hubert Rutkowski and Prof. Gordon Kampe.
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Oleksandra: "It was very difficult for me at the beginning. Like for anyone who has to leave home, I think. I am very grateful to all the people who support us here. Everything has been done to make us feel at home here and my fellow students are all very friendly, understanding and helpful, which is so valuable for us during this time. I'm slowly learning German and can even understand a few sentences, which of course makes me very happy.
Every day here is special for me. There are new impressions every day. The fact that we can attend concerts in the Elbphilharmonie free of charge means a lot to me as an artist, because we have the opportunity to experience great masters live. The impressions from these concerts will stay in our hearts forever."
Oleksandra Holub (20 years old) comes from Volnovakha in the Donetsk region and is studying piano at the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music.
She arrived in Hamburg on March 7, where she can stay with a host family in Eilbek. For the duration of her stay, she can continue her studies with Julia Bochkovskaya.
ANASTASIIA, OLEH AND DARIIA
Anastasiia: "My uncle works in Erfurt and I came to live with him at the beginning of March. I really like small towns and didn't want to go to Hamburg at first because I didn't know anyone here and thought it would be very cold. But then I was very surprised. I was taken in by an incredibly nice German family and felt a lot of support. And although Hamburg is a big city, you can always find a cozy place here where you can be alone.
I believe in the power of art and especially in the power of music and I am very happy that I can study and develop professionally here."
Anastasiia Trubaieva (23 years old) comes from Kharkiv, where she studies singing at the Kharkiv National Kotlyarevsky University of Arts. Since April 11, she has been living with a family in Hamburg and studying with Prof. Carolin Grace James.
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Oleh: "I already have some contacts with my fellow students in Hamburg. The city is very beautiful and I'm particularly impressed by the old buildings."
Oleh Kytskai (18 years old) comes from Ternopil and studies violin at the Solomiya Krushelnytska Music College. He has been in Hamburg since April 10, where he was taken in by private hosts in Uhlenhorst. He is currently studying with Prof. Tanja Becker-Bender.
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Dariia: "I have friends here in Hamburg who support me. We go for walks together and go to concerts. All the guest students who have come from Ukraine are very good musicians. We enjoy sharing the different musical moments and professional impressions with each other and exchanging ideas.
The professors are great and I'm very grateful because they not only work at an incredibly high level, but are also very nice.
I also like the city itself, its architecture and incredible atmosphere."
Dariia Savchenko (21 years old) comes from Vinnytsia and studies piano at the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music. Since March 7, she has been living in Hamburg with a host family in Wandsbek. She can continue her studies with Prof. Hubert Rutkowski.
OLEKSII AND OLENA
Oliksii: "As I was involved in two different projects right from the start, I had a lot of work and didn't even get to look around Hamburg properly. I was also very busy during the New Music Week.
The lessons with my teacher Gordon are very free and I would describe the weekly lessons as a kind of free discussion about life, music and culture, which suits me very well."
Oleksii Nikolaiev (20 years old) comes from Kiev. He came to Hamburg from the Ukraine on April 10, where he was able to begin his studies in multimedia composition with Prof. Gordon Kampe.
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Olena: "Because of the war and the situation in my home country, I was only able to come to Hamburg last week, so I haven't fully started my studies yet, but I've already gained a lot of good impressions and my host family is incredibly nice.
The old organs that I've already seen in Hamburg's churches have left a special impression on me. It was as if Johann Sebastian Bach or Dieterich Buxtehude had recently been here. This incredible atmosphere inspires and motivates me a lot. I am extremely grateful to the city of Hamburg and the HfMT."
Olena Malynovska (24 years old) comes from Dnipro and studied organ at the Dnipro Music Academy there before coming to Hamburg on May 2 to begin her studies with Prof. Wolfgang Zerer.
Olena lives with a family in Hamburg Hausbruch.
VIKTORIA AND NATALIIA
Viktoria: "I live with an incredibly nice host family next to the city park. We immediately found a common language and a good atmosphere. I often go cycling together with the landlady and I often have discussions with her husband about the present.
I like people and always enjoy talking to them. This will hopefully help me improve my German quickly.
All my fellow students are incredibly nice and support me with a sensitive conversation when needed. Since the beginning of the war, they are the first people I have been able to talk to so openly. I am very grateful to them for this support."
Viktoria Holenok (21 years old) comes from Zaporizhzhia, where she studied directing at the National P.I. Tschajkovskyj Music Academy in Kiev.
Since April 9, she has been living with a host family and can continue her studies with Maximilian von Mayenburg at the HfMT.
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Nataliia: "I feel good here and find everything very interesting. The contact with people here is very important to me. We spend a lot of time together and also communicate a lot via social networks."
Nataliia Lykhoshvai (20 years old) comes from Poltava and studies cello at the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music. She has been living in Hamburg since March 18, where she began her studies with Prof. Tanja Tetzlaff.
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Dear readers, with this brief insight, we would like to thank you for your loyal interest and commitment and at the same time encourage you to continue to support us, follow our activities and keep our emergency fund topped up. This will enable us to continue to provide effective and uncomplicated aid in the future.
Thank you very much!
Your HfMT
WAS SONST NOCH LÄUFT
Wir freuen uns auf ihren Besuch!
FOLGEN SIE UNS!
