Free multimedia flute concert honors Ukraine

Amelia Lukas

Amelia Lukas

Tatyana Ostapenko

Flutist and producer Amelia Lukas steps into the spotlight with Natural Homeland: Honoring Ukraine, a multimedia, tour de force program of music that deepens emotional awareness around the meaning of home, in light of current events. Presented by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, in partnership with the Hawaii Flute Society and Pacific Gateway Center, this cohesive and moving modern concert experience weaves together stories of displacement and disaster with themes of hope and inner sanctuary.

The 90-minute performance will be on Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at UH Mānoa’s Orvis Auditorium. A talk between the artists and partners follows the performance. Lukas will also hold a masterclass at the UH Mānoa campus on Thursday, March 23.

Lukas, a Powell Flutes (producer of professional flutes and piccolos) artist and directorial powerhouse, brings her highly acclaimed, multifaceted aesthetic to Hawaiʻi, integrating “a diverse and gorgeous array of music” (Cascadia Daily News) for solo flute, piccolo, alto flute, bass flute and electronics, with beautiful, program-specific dance, visual art, lighting, videography and poetry. Projections of “gorgeous” (Oregon ArtsWatch) artwork by Oregon-based Ukrainian painter and muralist Tatyana Ostapenko will precede the concert and feature alongside Lukas’ performance of Gemma (by Ukrainian composer Ludmila Yurina). 

Known for her “fine balance of virtuosity and poetry” (The New York Times) Lukas is the rare musician who not only performs at the highest caliber, but pushes the classical music industry forward with visionary ideas and implementation. As the founder and principal of Aligned Artistry, which composer Kenji Bunch has called, “the gold standard for arts consulting in Oregon,” Lukas expands the impact of artistic work through sophisticated creative strategy and public relations services. She also founded and for seven years directed New York City’s “scintillating; impeccably curated; truly original” (Time Out New York) Ear Heart Music series, which “arrived as a major cultural resource in the city, and… provided a solid base for satisfaction.” (New York Arts).

For more information, visit UH Mānoa’s music events website. 

Program: 

• Plyve Kacha—traditional Ukrainian; a haunting lament on the horrors of war
• Albatross by Oregon-based composer Lisa Marsh—through Slavic-inspired melodies, this work depicts the world’s largest seabird—a living compass
• Come perduto nel mare un bambino (A child lost at sea) by Nadir Vassena—a showcase of extended techniques and tribute to the wave of African refugees crossing the Mediterranean
• Within by Ian Clarke—“marvelous and dramatic… sweeping soundscapes [that] evoke the beauty of East Africa… Brilliant, brave, moving.” (Musician)
• Gemma by Ukrainian composer Ludmila Yurina—a tribute to the people we consider home; with paintings by Tatyana Ostapenko
• Four Blossoms Single Stem by Oregon-based composer David Bernstein—inspired by Black Elk Speaks; lighting design emblematic of traditional hoop dances
• I will not be sad in this world by Eve Beglarian—a “humane, idealistic rebel and a musical sensualist” (Los Angeles Times)
• Move It by Carlos Simon—recipient of the 2021 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, recognizing extraordinary classical Black and Latinx musicians

More about Amelia Lukas, flutist and producer

“Known for her especially pure tone, flexible technique and passionate performances,” (Artslandia) flutist Amelia Lukas performs with “a fine balance of virtuosity and poetry.” (The New York Times) A Powell Flutes artist and Portland resident, she “excels at bringing drama and fire to hyper-modernist works with challenging extended techniques.” (Oregon ArtsWatch) Her recent and upcoming engagements include solo appearances for Chamber Music Northwest, United for Ukraine, Hawaii Flute Society, Fear No Music, Orcas Center, Makrokosmos Project, Kenny Endo, March Music Moderne, Portland Taiko, the Astoria Music Festival, Music in the Woods, Cascadia Composers and for All Classical Portland’s live radio broadcasts, with additional performances for the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Portland Piano International, TedX Portland, Friends of Chamber Music, 45th Parallel and Oregon Music Festival. While in New York, Lukas’ career included founding and directing the “truly original... impeccably curated” (Time Out New York) multimedia series Ear Heart Music at Roulette, membership in the American Modern Ensemble, and performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Stone, Bargemusic, (Le) Poisson Rouge, Roulette and New Music New York Festival. She holds degrees from the Royal Academy of Music (London), where she received three prizes for musical excellence, and from the Manhattan School of Music, where she joined twelve other students in the inaugural class of the Master's Degree in Contemporary Performance. Amelia is a Board Member for Chamber Music Northwest and is the Principal and Founder of Aligned Artistry. Amelialukas.com

About Tatyana Ostapenko, painter

Contemporary painter and muralist Tatyana Ostapenko creates art that is “gorgeous… [a] bold reflection of joy and resiliency.” (Oregon ArtsWatch) With a practice that’s deeply influenced by her experience as an immigrant, as well as by her formative years in post-Soviet Ukraine, she focuses on trans-generational trauma and the gender inequalities that persist in her country of origin as well as in the U.S. Ostapenko has a “talent for capturing human moments” (Oregon ArtsWatch) and uses images from her native Ukraine to speak about universal human experiences with an emphasis on empathy and strength in the face of adversity. “Ostapenko exudes strength and pride… [her] work normally has an edge. She uses the language of Socialist Realism… to critique power and misogyny, society and culture.” (The Oregonian) Her paintings have been exhibited in regional, national and international museums, galleries, and art fairs, and purchased by public, corporate, and private collections, including the City of Seattle, City of Portland and Stumptown Coffee HQ. She holds a BFA in Studio Practice from Portland State University and has received Professional Development Grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Oregon Arts Commission. tatyanaostapenko.com

Partners:

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Department of Music, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in general music, music education, performance, ethnomusicology, musicology and music composition. Its  extremely qualified faculty also provides instruction with a broad liberal arts background for general music students, prepares future elementary and secondary school teachers and trains aspiring professional performers, composers, scholars and private teachers. Learn more at https://manoa.hawaii.edu/music

The Hawaii Flute Society continues the legacy of Honolulu Symphony Principal Flutist and educator Jean Harling by nurturing the talents of Hawaiʻi’s flutists of all ages and abilities through educational programs and ensemble playing; creating more performance opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s flutists ranging from formal concerts to community outreach at our local community centers, hospitals, care homes and schools; and engaging the greater Hawaiʻi community while promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation for flute music and music in general. Learn more at www.hawaiiflutesociety.com 

Pacific Gateway Center has been a safe haven for the displaced to begin the process of rebuilding their lives for five decades. First organized in 1973 in response to the Vietnam war and multiple crises in Southeast Asia, Pacific Gateway Center acts as a trusted partner in navigating the complex challenge of making a new home. In 2022, Pacific Gateway Center answered the call when Russia invaded Ukraine, leading Hawaiʻi’s assistance of those uprooted by the Ukraine war. To date, Pacific Gateway Center has served close to 140 individuals from Ukraine with immigration, legal and social services. Learn more at pacificgatewaycenter.org