Ukrainian musician from Mariupol joins Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra

Ukrainian oboist Marianna Oleksun, who hails from the country’s southeastern port city of Mariupol, has joined Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra at the initiative of the Culture Ministry of Georgia, the Georgian Public Broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

Principal Conductor Vakhtang Kakhidze introduced the musician and her six-year-old son to the members of the orchestra earlier today. Kakhidze described the introduction as “very emotional”, adding solidarity and support among orchestra members meant they would look at ways of extending help to their new colleague.

Oleksun, whose husband and brother are also musicians, thanked Kakhidze and the members of the orchestra for the support, saying the help from colleagues in Georgia was “very pleasant”.

Oleksun, who played in the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mariupol before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, will begin to perform at the Tbilisi Orchestra, which performs at the Kakhidze Music Centre in the capital, starting today. She will be able to stay as part of the Orchestra until the end of hostilities in Ukraine.

Mariupol has been under siege by Russian military forces for over a month, with the city’s Mayor Vadym Boichenko saying 90 percent of the infrastructure in the town has been destroyed as a result of the blockade and shelling.

Last month, Ukrainian dancer Olha Vidisheva, who got stranded in Georgia due to the outbreak of hostilities in her country following the invasion, joined the troupe of Tbilisi Contemporary Ballet and is featured in the troupe’s performances.