Fifth Osokins Freedom Festival for Ukraine and its charity campaigns announced
The fifth Osokins Freedom Festival will take place in Riga and elsewhere in Latvia from 5 April to 12 May. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the festival has been dedicated to supporting the Ukrainian army and civilians. This year, the focus is also on Ukrainian children. Additionally, for the first time, it will raise funds for the parents of seriously ill children in Latvia. The festival and its supporting events will continue for two months, bringing together Latvian, Ukrainian and international artists and professionals in a wide range of concerts, masterclasses, talks and other events. In cooperation with Biļešu Paradīze and Ziedot.lv, the proceeds from the festival’s concert tickets and funds raised through a special campaign on Ziedot.lv will be used for selected charitable causes.
Andrejs Osokins, founder and artistic director of the festival, says: “It is very important not to lose hope and conviction that justice will prevail, as well as the connection with those who need help so much, both in Latvia and Ukraine. While Russia continues its brutal assault and attempts to destroy the Ukrainian people, we must continue to provide emotional, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukrainians. This is our struggle too, and we must show how united and strong Latvia is in its support for Ukraine and in its human ideals. Music is a force that helps to strengthen, unite and give hope to us all. The emotions, applause and smiles of the audience at the previous festivals inspire us to continue, so that together we can give more and more support to our fellow human beings and bring Ukraine closer to victory.”
Five concerts and piano masterclasses for students of Latvian music schools and music high schools are currently announced. The opening concert will take place on 5 April at St Peter's Church in Riga. It will feature the vocal group Latvian Voices, organist Kristīne Adamaite, saxophonist Aigars Raumanis, pianist Dainis Tenis, Ukrainian double bassist Jurijs Gavriļuks and violinist Zane Kalniņa, percussionist Reinis Tomiņš, as well as Andrejs Osokins himself.
The festival will continue on 18 April at St. Saviour's Anglican Church with the concert “Moment, Music and Word”, where the magic of the moment will be captured by contemporary jazz pianist Kristaps Vanadziņš, guitarist Rihards Lībietis and his band (Toms Kursītis, Sigvards Dižais, Mikus Ģērmanis), painter Kristīne Kutepova, Ukrainian bandura virtuoso Darja Leleko and other artists.
On 27 April, a concert of folklore and contemporary music synthesis will take place at the Daile Music House, featuring ethnomusician Viktorija Prituļaka and “Jumalo Jazz Orchestra”, duet ZeMe (Laima Jansone and Monsta (Uldis Cīrulis)), Ukrainian singer, conductor and musicologist Oksana Nikityuk and Andrejs Osokins.
On 10 May, the House of the Blackheads will host the only concert in Latvia by New Zealand-born American violinist Geneva Lewis and pianist Georgijs Osokins. The musicians will perform a varied and monumental programme, focusing on romantic and beautiful expressions, as well as less frequently performed opuses.
The festival will conclude on 12 May at the Ziedonis Hall of the National Library of Latvia, where Latvian and Ukrainian artists will unite in support of families and children in Latvia and Ukraine in a special concert dedicated to Mother's Day. The artists will include Ieva Akuratere, Zigfrīds Muktupāvels, the band “Citi zēni”, Ingus Ulmanis/Lādezers, the vocal group “Midnight Five”, Anastasija Ja
menkina, Andrejs Osokins and others.
Ticket proceeds from the festival events and funds raised through a special campaign on Ziedot.lv will be donated to the soldiers on the frontline and civilians in Ukraine, with a special focus on Ukrainian children, as well as to support parents of seriously ill children living in Latvia. The parents of the children will be provided with the necessary medical assistance and specially trained nannies to ease their emotionally and physically difficult daily lives. Everyone is invited to donate to these causes not only by attending the festival concerts, but also through a special campaign on Ziedot.lv: https://www.ziedot.lv/osokina-brivibas-festivals-ukrainai-un-latvijai-4918. A certain number of Ukrainians who have taken refuge in Latvia and parents of children in need will be able to attend the festival events free of charge.
Rūta Dimanta, Director of Ziedot.lv, says: “We would like to thank Andrejs Osokins, who perseveres and wholeheartedly leads the admirers of his talent into the world of charity, giving help to those who need it most! Ukraine and our own people need our help.”
One of the opening events of the festival will be piano masterclasses for students of Latvian music schools and music high schools by JVLMA Professor Sergejs Osokins, NMV Emīls Dārziņš Music School teacher Ilze Treija and Andrejs Osokins. The masterclasses will take place on 23 March in the cultural space “Ola Foundation”. You can apply for the masterclasses until 26 February this year.
The festival programme can be found and tickets for the concerts can be purchased at all “Biļešu paradise” box offices and online at https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/custompage/4127. More information is also available on the website: https://www.andrejsosokins.com/osokins-freedom-festival.
The creative team of the festival would like to thank all the supporters and friends who make this year's festival possible! Among them are JSC “Latvijas Finieris”, Ziedot.lv, “Biļešu Paradīze”, Embassy of Ukraine in Latvia, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Riga, association “Tavi draugi”, Riga St. Peter's Church, Blackheads House, National Library of Latvia, “Ola Foundation”, music house “Daile”, Anglican Church, Pavuls Jurjans Music School and many others.
