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Two important dates for Ukranian accordionist Yulia Humeniuk for May 2026
May
Royal Academy of Music rising star Yulia Humeniuk gets set for two recitals, the second of which will hold a very special place in her heart and reflects her own story.
RAM student Yulia Humeniu has two concerts in London this May.
The first is the UK premiere recital of the piece on May 21st at 18.30 with The Ensemble of Radical Romantics not at the RAM but in the Performance Hall at the Royal College of Music, for the premiere of Keith Burstein’s new work Finale without an ending. . See flier below. You can also can QR code on the flier to book.
The second is her final recital at the Academy on Wednesday May 27th, 11:05-12:10pm
PROGRAMME NOTE This recital is conceived as a musical narrative about Ukraine and the experience of living through war. The programme explores different emotional states and realities — from inner reflection and grief to resistance, endurance, and fragile hope. Each work in the programme represents a different perspective. Some pieces express personal introspection, others depict struggle and tension, and others create space for silence and remembrance. Together, the programme forms a journey, allowing the audience to experience the war in Ukraine through multiple emotional prisms: the constant uncertainty of daily life, the strength required to continue, and the deep human need to hold on to identity and meaning. The new trio work for accordion, flute and harp focuses on the present moment — the psychological reality of war today. Rather than illustrating war through literal sounds, it reflects the feeling of living in a state of constant alertness: anxiety, disruption, emotional exhaustion, and the persistence of life under pressure. The programme also includes my own composition, “Берег Спогадів” (The Shore of Remembrance), written especially for this recital. This piece is deeply personal: it is connected to Yulia’s hometown, which is currently under occupation. Through music, she returns there in her thoughts — to places, images, and memories that continue to live inside her. The work is a reminder that even when a home is taken away physically, it can still remain alive in the inner world. The recital ends in silence, leaving space for reflection. This silence is not emptiness, but a final statement: even when so much is taken away, the human spirit remains unbroken.
Please support Yulia at her final recital as it is great for students to have an audience to perform to.
