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Mary Irvine’s Blog: Ukrainian Duo in Dumbarton

Professional,. passionate, magical. I couldn’t find enough laudatory words to explain my feelings at a recent concert held in St Augustine’s Church, Dumbarton with Oleksii Kolomoiets and Igor Sayenko, who together make up the Kiev Classic Accordion Duo. I’d seen a poster quite by chance two days before the performance date and wondered why it had not been more widely advertised..   However, I thought this was a fund-raising event well worth supporting so decided to go along.

Professional

Oleksii Kolomoiets and Igor Sayenko played an eclectic mix of classical, jazz and traditional music to an appreciative audience of around a hundred. Say ‘accordion’ to most people and it will conjure up the piano-accordion so beloved by street musicians in many countries throughout Europe. Not these accordions. These were of the classical button variety and exceptionally versatile. Under the control of the skilful fingers of Igor and Oleksiithese instruments spoke to us, often sounding as though a trumpet, an organ a violin had joined their playing. It was not surprising to hear they were members of prestigious national orchestras in Kyiv.

Passionate

Igor and Oleksii performed not only classical music but also traditional Ukrainian.Both were played with passion and joy. I later discovered the pair had been touring the U.K. yearly since 2009, raising funds for varying charities, such as the victims of the Chernobyl disaster, in particular the Hippocrat society, which aims to help the mothers of disabled children. These were children born with mental and physical problems caused by the radiation fallout.

Magical

I was captivated and will certainly look out for their return next year. St. Augustine’s Church, in Dumbarton, welcomed the duo during the pair’s recent U.K. tour to raise funds for the war victims in their homeland. This was a concert ‘extraordinaire’ and Dumbarton was privileged to be given the chance of this unique experience.

Mary Irvine Septtember 2023

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