Community Corner
Local Jazz Artist Hosts Ukraine Benefit at Zullo Gallery
Jazz Artist, Anton Derevyanko to play in TWO concerts on Saturday, March 26 at the Zullo Gallery to Benefit Ukraine.
Local Jazz Artist Hosts Ukraine Benefit at Zullo Gallery
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia to a Ukrainian father and Russian mother, award-winning jazz saxophonist and Medfield resident Anton Derevyanko was determined to find ways to support loved ones affected by the war in Ukraine.
Tapping into his talents and jazz network, Derevyanko has organized two back-to-back, 75 minute live benefit concerts on Saturday, March 26 at the Zullo Gallery located at 456A Main Street, Medfield. The first concert will begin at 6 p.m.; the second concert will start at 8 p.m.
Doors will open 15 minutes before each start time.
Ticket cost is a minimum donation of $20 per person, and each show is limited to 50 attendees with each person guaranteed a seat (location determined on a first-come, first-served basis).
To purchase tickets, go to Zullogallery.org or directly to the Eventbrite ticketing site. Concert proceeds will benefit Razom, a long-standing, non-profit organization founded by Ukrainians and based in New York. Razom is currently raising money to purchase urgently needed medical supplies and restock hospitals all over the country. Anyone who cannot make the show but wants to donate can visit the Razom website.
Donors who note “Medfield” in the recognition line on the online donation form will help Derevyanko track local fundraising efforts.
In addition to Derevyanko (saxophone), the band will include Ilya Blazh (drums), Mitch Selib (guitar), Alexei Tsiganov (piano), Matt Stavrakas (bass) and Arina Bagaryakova (vocals). Like Derevyanko, Blazh, Tsiganov and Bagaryakova are from Russia and have deep ties to Ukraine.
“These past three weeks have left me stunned. I never thought this would happen; nobody did. The footage is hard to watch, and the stories are hard to hear. But many of my friends and colleagues are doing everything in their power to help - that’s a beautiful thing to witness,” said
Derevyanko, a graduate of Berklee College of Music and Berklee Global Jazz Institute, and a Medfield High School Jazz Band alumnus.
The concert is supported in part by a grant from Medfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
