Chopin Mazurkas: The Pavel Kushnir Scholarship Concert

A special concert in honor of Pavel Kushnir, pianist, writer and voice for freedom

Pavel Kushnir was a talented pianist and author, known for his radio series Mazurkas on Wednesdays . He stood up for justice and spoke out against the war in Ukraine. Tragically, he died in a Russian prison in July 2024 during a hunger strike. His legacy of courage, artistry and determination continues to inspire.

The concert will take place at De Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam. The program includes Chopin’s soulful mazurkas, performed by three remarkable pianists — Maria Nemtsova, Ekaterina Zhemaitis, and Julia Okruashvili. These will be followed by Pavel’s own interpretations of the mazurkas, from his Mazurkas on Wednesdays series.

Dutch actor Joris Smit, member of the National Theatre in The Hague, reads Pavel's texts about the mazurkas.

This concert marks the launch of the Pavel Kushnir Memorial Scholarship, which was established to support students from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in their music studies at renowned institutions worldwide. All proceeds from the concert will go towards these scholarships and additional donations are welcome.

By attending, you will support this mission and help create opportunities for young musicians to study and practice music in freedom.

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