NEWS

Halyna Rutushna performing at the 2023 fundraiser on the 1-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Since her arrival in Davidson after fleeing Ukraine in September 2022, Halyna Rutushna has been playing the violin at fundraising events for Davidson For Ukraine (D4U). Halyna is a professional musician. She taught at a music school and an international school in Kyiv. She escaped the Russian invasion traveling a harrowing route to the USA to join her daughter and grandson who had arrived in Feb 2022, just months before her. Unable to bring her own violin, she now uses a borrowed one. As she has told me, “Music always helps me because it is my profession. When you constantly think about the war in our country, music really is like a healing elixir.”

Her performance at the Davidson for Ukraine event held on Feb. 24, 2024.

Each time she has performed, she has chosen a song that conveys her feelings for her country. At the 2022 event she chose to play, ”Oh u Luzi Chervona Kalina”, by S. Chernetsky, “Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow”. The song has become an anthem of resistance against Russia. It was sung after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. On February 24, 2022 it again became a symbol of pride, determination and resilience in the face of the Russian invasion of the entire country. Halyna said, “The song fit the theme of the event.”

This past Saturday, the D4U group held a commemoration marking two years of Ukrainian resistance against Russia. At this event Halyna chose to play Christina Zagarina’s “Prayer for Ukraine.” Her music allows her to express anguish that her country is at war.

She has joined the Lake Norman Orchestra. Sam Kizer, its conductor, enthusiastically welcomed her to join. He says, ”Halyna is a wonderful addition to the string section of our orchestra. In addition to being a wonderful violinist, she is friendly and dedicated to our community orchestra. We treasure this talented new addition to our group!”

Halyna says that she plays with pleasure and is very grateful for the opportunity to join the orchestra. She was also surprised and delighted to find that one of her music students from Ukraine is enrolled at Davidson College. These musical connections bring a bit of normalcy to an otherwise confused world.

Halyna Ratushna, violinist – and her former student – Dmytro Kurdydyk, Davidson College class of ’26.

She continues to learn English, a third language for her. Her daughter is proficient; her twelve year old grandson is excelling in school here, even as he has just learned the English language. She herself has taken classes, has studied with student tutors, and continues to use Pimsler and Google Translate.

Quilting has also become a huge outlet. Together with the quilt artist Marian Voorhees, she has made quilts for all the refugees and her American friends. Since nature is another source of strength for her, she walks daily.

The war is now in its second year. Her heart is in her country. Her husband is in her country. The prospects of a fast end are lessening. More and more people are dying. There is a constant threat of bombs.

Halyna listens and watches the news with dread. I asked her if she could stop watching, but she says she needs to know what is going on. Even so, she continues to greet all with a smile, to participate, and to offer her talents in the community and at D4U events and gatherings.