A CELEBRATION OF UKRAINIAN CUISINE AND ARTS 

13 AUG 2022

Hackney businesses The Clapton Country Club & Tram Store in association with Other World Wines hosted a fundraising evening for Ukraine on August 13th 2022. It provided an opportunity for Londoners to sample Ukrainian cuisine and wines along with art and music from both Ukraine and London.
 
The event was a sit-down dinner followed by an art show with live music and donated prizes from UK Companies.
Special Guests who appeared on the night:

Alla Kravchuk
Alla Kravchuk trained at the Kiev Conservatory in her native Ukraine before finishing her studies in London with Vera Rosza. She now lives in the UK after being based in Germany for ten years as soloist with Niedersachsiche Staatstheater, Hannover with whom she appeared at the Edinburgh international festival and the Vienna Festival as Melisandre in Debussy’s “Pelleas et Melisande”. She now combines teaching with her passion for recital and oratorio performance, which she has maintained throughout her opera career appearing at the Queen Elizabeth and Westminster Halls in London, the Sheldonian theater, Oxford and many concert venues in Germany. Her recital work has included the recent World Premier of “Einzige Tage” by Francis Pott as well as programmes of more traditional German lieder and art sons from England, France and her native Ukraine.

Julia Biel
Singer songwriter recording artist Julia won the Perrier Young Jazz Vocalist of the Year in 2000, which brought her more attention. In 2005 she made her recording debut as a leader, with the album Not Alone. She also appeared on the Polar Bear album Dimlit. Her compositions appear on the Unity Collective EP Love in the Dead of Night and on recordings by guitarist Jonny Phillips. She also featured on and co-wrote Ben Watt’s "Guinea Pig" and "Bright Star" alongside Watt and the German producer Stimming. Her second album, Love Letters and Other Missiles, was released in 2015 led to her being nominated in the Best Jazz Act category for the MOBO Awards. She performs accompanying herself on piano or electric guitar with backing from bass and drums and tours extensively in the UK and abroad.

Oksana Germanchuk
Accomplished Pianist/Concert master at the conservatoire in Kiev (Oksana has sought sanctuary in London) and will be appearing with singer Alla Kravchuk a childhood friend from Kiev

Deirdre Cartwright
Clapton musician Deirdre is a regular performer at Clapton Country Club and was recognised with a prestigious award of UK Jazz Guitarist of the year 2019

Food and drink
Guests will received a glass of sparkling Ukrainian wine upon arrival, then shown to their tables for a sit down dinner. We have an exciting menu of tapas style Ukrainian dishes, served with more delicious Ukrainian wine, which we brought over especially from Odessa.

Music
After the meal, we had live music performances from Ukrainian and London-based artists, including a performance by Oksana Germanchuk. Oksana is an accomplished pianist and was concert master at the conservatoire in Kiev. She is now a refugee in London, and will be performing a mix of Ukrainian and British music, accompanied by childhood friend and singer Alla Kravchuk.


Also on the night was will be award winning singer songwriter and recording artist Julia Biel, and 2019 UK Jazz guitarist of the year Deirdre Cartwright.

Art
We set up an artist residency for one night at Clapton Country Club. After the music, food and wine, guests were able to meet Ukrainian artists living in London, showcasing their work, which was also be available for purchase.

Prizes
Included in the ticket price was the opportunity to win gifts donated by local businesses. Boutique fitness studios donated classes, wine bars donated wine and charcuterie, acupuncture therapists donated free sessions.

Speakers
We also had guest speakers who work for a charity providing support to Ukrainians on the front line.

The 13th of August 2022 was a celebration of Ukrainian Cuisine and Art. Showing some of the amazing things Ukraine has to offer.

All proceeds went to organisations helping Ukraine, we raised £13,500, thank you to everyone who helped us and showed their appreciation of Ukraine and their cause.



Video of the evening by @FashionedFilms