On 17 March 2026, the classical music concert “Crossing Cultures” took place at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, organised by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia in partnership with the British Embassy in Tallinn and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
The idea of holding this concert annually in Estonia was initiated by Ukrainian violinist and concert manager Yevhen Kostrytsky.
This year’s event was dedicated to the fourth anniversary of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion. The concert also served as a gesture of gratitude to the Republic of Estonia and the Estonian people for their consistent and comprehensive support for Ukraine.
The concert featured leading Ukrainian and British performers: Yevhen Kostrytsky (violin, Ukraine), Jamie Howe (viola, United Kingdom), Oleksandr Avramenko (clarinet, Estonia/Ukraine), and Sasha Grynyuk (piano, Ukraine/United Kingdom). The programme combined works from the world classical repertoire with compositions by Ukrainian, British, and Estonian composers.
The event was opened by the Rector of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Professor Ivari Ilja, who highlighted the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed unwavering support for Ukraine.
In his remarks, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia Volodymyr Boiechko emphasised that Ukraine has stood firm and continues its fight against Russian aggression, while the Ukrainian people continue to rebuild their state.
Volodymyr Boiechko expressed his gratitude to Ivari Ilja for supporting Ukrainian students, in particular for creating conditions that enable them to continue their education and for providing opportunities for their professional development.
Special thanks were extended to the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Estonia, Ross Allen, for the British side’s support in the organisation of the event.
The Ambassador of Ukraine also called on attendees to join a charitable fundraising initiative launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in cooperation with the UNITED24 platform, aimed at equipping Ukrainian defenders with life-saving ground-based robotic systems:
In his remarks, Philip Gater-Smith, a representative of the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Estonia, noted that this event is being held for the third time in close cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine, and highlighted the importance of cultural initiatives as a tool for strengthening international solidarity with Ukraine.
The concert was attended by representatives of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia), ministries and government agencies, universities, the diplomatic corps, and the Ukrainian community.
The “Crossing Cultures” concert once again demonstrated the strength of international solidarity with Ukraine and the unwavering support for its fight against Russian aggression. The event also convincingly reaffirmed that Ukraine is an integral part of the European political, cultural, and values-based space.