*
banner

Ukranian charity boost for Christmas

Download a copy of 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' and you can help a fantastic charity

Chrsitmas
  Proceeds will go to the charity

Composer Liz Lane has created a brass band arrangement of a version of 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas' by award winning Ukrainian composer Halyna Ovcharenko.

It's free to download with donations going to the Ukrainian charity 'Help Orphans Affected by War' (Bright Kids/Global Giving).

The piece has been made as easy to play as possible — written for Youth/Fourth Section level with flexible instrumentation (minimum 5 cornets, flugel, tenor horn, baritone, trombone, euphonium, Eb bass, glockenspiel).

UK/Ukraine link

Halyna wrote the arrangement for her pupil Avi and his mum Abi to play, and was one of a series of piano duets to raise money for the charity. She has lived in the UK since studying for her PhD at Bristol University, although most of her family live in Ukraine.

Liz told 4BR: "I saw the video of Avi and Abi's performance of 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas' on Facebook last week.

Jack Stamp, Grimethorpe's International Composer in Association, recently asked me if I had a Christmas arrangement the band might play for their holiday concert he was conducting in December and this seemed the perfect choice.

I'm hoping it will appeal to bands of all levels, and there will be a spare slot in Christmas programmes and carol play-outs to help raise money for Ukrainian orphans this Christmas."

Charitable trust

Liz has known Halyna since they both wrote works for the London Children's Ballet. They met up again last weekend, when she brought Liz up to date with how things are for her family in Ukraine and how she hoped to create a charitable trust for young Ukrainian musicians and artists.

Download and donate

We Wish You a Merry Christmas score and parts can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/WWYaMC22

Donations can be made to:
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-help-orphans-affected-by-war/donate

To see more of Halyna's work and find out about her other arrangements for the charity, go to www.halynaovcharenko.com

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


4BR Podcast

4BR Review podcast: Episode 2

February 17 • The second episode is now out with at look at what has been, and what is going on in the banding world.


French National Championship

Results: 2025 French National Championships

February 17 • Haut-de-France claims a fifth consecutive French National title in Metz, with section wins for Brass Band De Gones, Brass Band Musicalis Algrange, Brass Band Lorient Bretagne Sud and Brass Band Brassaventure.


Marsden Silver

Report & Results: 2025 NEMBBA Contest

February 17 • Pre-regional boosts for Marsden, Lindley, Barnsley Brass, Rode Hall Silver and Matlock as Long Eaton's youngsters also enjoy their spotlight moment.


uNIbrass

Results: 2025 UniBrass Championships

February 16 • The students of University of Birmingham and Universities of Sheffield & Sheffield Hallam claim the UniBrass Trophy and Shield honours in Cardiff


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal College of Music Sackbut Ensemble

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Welsh Guards

Friday 21 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Midlands Championships Preview Evening

Sunday 23 February • Summit Centre . Kirkby in Ashfield . Nottinghamshire NG17 7LL


Contest: North West Regional Championships

Sunday 23 February • Winter Gardens Complex, Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HU


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 28 February • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Boarshurst Silver Band

February 17 • Boarshurst Silver Band, NW Championship Section, requires a BBb player, flugel, and front row cornet player. Under MD Jamie Prophet, the band have an ambitious and varied calendar for 2025, including NW Area, Spring Festival and Whit Friday.


Mid Rhondda Band

February 14 • Mid Rhondda Band are looking for the following players : Front Row Cornet, Solo Trombone, Eb Bass, Kit and Tuned Percussionists. The band will be competing in the 3rd Section at the Welsh Area. Contest & concert engagements in the diary for 2025


Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band

February 13 • Reading Band (current joint 1st place in the L&SC 4th section grading tables) needs a TENOR HORN for the regional contest in Stevenage on 15th March! Rehearsals in Woodley (RG5) on Thursday evenings with our MD Stephen Bucknell.


Chris Wormald

B.Mus (Hons), LTCL, PGCE
Conductor, adjudicator, arranger


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd