We are children
A social project charged with the super-power of music
initiated by Ukrainian and Slovenian youth orchestras
This is a social project
Music for the future
During the first days of the Russian–Ukrainian war, the Slovenian National Youth Orchestra (SMO), the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (YsOU) and ART BSA established an urgent collaboration to evacuate young musicians and their relatives from all over Ukraine to Slovenia.
Our goal was to move them to a safe environment where they could continue both their general and musical education. We assisted with the evacuation, provided first humanitarian aid, accommodation, music lessons, masterclasses and concerts — and support for a longer family stay. Evacuation became integration. Out of it grew an orchestra, ensembles and a children’s choir that played across Europe.
- 24.FebruaryThe full-scale war started
- 06.MarchThe evacuation started
- 07.MarchFirst musicians arrive in Ljubljana, in the night
- 08.MarchFirst concert
- 21.MarchFirst music lessons at the Conservatory (KGBL)
Music · numbers · 2022
Music in numbers
Music for the Future on BBC News
The founders
An SMS, a call, an email — and the impossible became possible
The music project underwent a daily transformation from a social, humanitarian aid project and back into a music project whenever possible; like one giant wave in high and low tide. We have upgraded the evacuation to an integration process. For musicians, this was all a part of the resistance. They raised their (musical) voices and fought with their instruments.
Živa Ploj PeršuhFounder of the project & conductor · SMOThe first SMS message arrived. A phone call followed quickly, and a morning talk with the Ukrainian Youth Symphony Orchestra producer. Then, following one email to the mayor of Ljubljana, we were able to organise an evacuation of the first 100 people in two or three days. We restrained from using the refugee title — we wanted the newcomers to be treated as people who have a chance to continue their lives and their music with us.
Tomo PeršuhFounder of the project · director of ART BSA and SMOCreating a safe creative environment for young people, in which they could do their favourite thing from day one, became our top priority. A space of mutual help and mutual understanding was created. This talented youth will save Ukrainian culture, develop its traditions, and promote it to the entire world.
Oksana LynivFounder of the project & conductorThe very first idea of the project was born from our anti-war appeal to the world community and the response from the Slovenian Youth Orchestra. This project implemented a great social mission: to preserve a generation of young Ukrainian musicians, preserve their music and support their creative pursuits. Our music camp became a vital shelter and a place of rehabilitation.
Alexandra ZaitsevaFounder of the project & director · YsOUVoices
We will not be defeated
For me, the project became an expression of the inexhaustible power of life, devotion, humanity and love. It is what gives hope and strength to everyone. I watched courageous women fighting for their children every day. I watched talented children making their first steps in music.
Myroslava BundziakManagerWe managed to bring more than 142 people from Ukraine to the music project, and it was their salvation both psychologically and physically, because the most valuable thing that the children had were their musical instruments. We practiced for 9 hours every day without a day off.
Olga KhomaEducational programmes & conductorTo be in an environment that is filled with people, life, concerts and interesting experiences, gave us a new sense of reality. We thank all the people involved in the Music for the Future project. You are incredible!
Oksana ImametdynovaKharkivIn Slovenia, I met kind and cool people, including people from the project. I am very grateful to the project for the opportunity to play in the orchestra and perform at concerts. I managed to distract myself from the fears of the war.
Yevhen BeznosiukKrasylivThe most important thing is that my children and my old father — for whom this is the second evacuation in his life — can live and feel safe, continue their education, and my son can do his favourite things: play the violin, participate in masterclasses and perform.
Oleksandra ShaleykoKyivI would like to express special words of thanks to our guardian angels – Myroslava and Olga. They managed to organise an orchestra, organise the families, and provide everything necessary for our large team.
Natalia AndreievaDniproI don’t have enough words to express how grateful I am to Slovenia that they really, literally pulled my children, all of us, out of that hell. Thank you for sincerely caring for our children.
Antonina SheikoKharkivThe first experience in a symphony orchestra, the first tours — not only within the borders of Slovenia, but beyond its borders — is something incredible and definitely unforgettable. You will forever be in my memory.
Mykhailo Horiainov17 · DonetskThe project created an inspiring and uplifting story about Music and Unity in times of darkness, when the future of European cultural and democratic values was under threat.
Polina VelichkoProducerI love the Music for the Future orchestra as a whole and each young musician individually: they are now all my children too.
Anna KravchenkoArt directorAll children and young people deserve the opportunity to develop their full potential. As they pursue their mission, they help build a better future for everyone.
Tomaž BergočExecutive director, UNICEF SloveniaIt was a great pleasure to hear that donations from our country helped make this unique and important project a reality.
Sönke LentzDirector, National Youth Orchestra of Germany2022 highlights
Raise your voices

Gidon Kremer
First symphony concert of the Music for the Future Orchestra — Loboda’s Requiem, Silvestrov, Schumann and Dvořák’s 8th. Donations collected with UNICEF Slovenia; President Borut Pahor was honorary patron.

Stuttgart
“Music connects. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, young people from two nations have been making music together for their and all our futures.” — Staatsoper Stuttgart. Almost €3,000 raised.

Bled Strategic Forum
The Ukrainian–Slovenian youth string orchestra opened the forum. For the first time, “Ode to Joy” — the EU anthem — was sung in Ukrainian, before addresses by Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The journey continues
2022 — 2024
Annual booklet
Flip through our year
Transparency
Every euro for the future
479.404 €
Total budget of the project in 2022 — plus 1,000 kg of meat donated by Perutnina Ptuj. The largest expense was accommodation for the families (299,823 €), followed by food (44,874 €) and the team (64,000 €).
We couldn’t have done it without you
Thank you


Special thanks to 352 people from 31 countries who donated
- Maria in Rok Accetto
- Nejc Avbelj
- Arpad Balazs-Piri
- Primož Banovec
- Andrej Baričič
- Barbara Berkopec
- Christina Biwank
- Jaka Bobek
- Miran Bolha
- Meta Breznik Bertoncelj
- Žana Brzin
- Luka Brzin
- Sam Burstin
- Aleš Čad
- Paolo Calligaris
- Emile Cantor
- Peter Cesar
- mag. Anton Česen
- Uroš Dokl
- Yevheniy A. Dranov
- Slavica Drozg
- Simon Dvoršak
- Luka Einfalt
- Rok Erjavec
- Jure Eržen
- Seung Eun Lee
- Daniel Eyer
- Žiga Faganel
- Maria Gamboz Gradišnik
- Blaž Gantar
- Dominik Johannes Golenhofen
- Jan Gorjanc
- Jure Gradišnik
- Liza Hawlina
- Peter Horvat
- Primož Jamšek
- Mojca Jug
- Yuri Kalnits
- Matjaž Kondardi
- Katja Konvalinka
- Iztok Kordiš
- Anže Koren
- Nataša Kos
- Maja Kostric Grubišić
- Myroslava Kotorovych
- Barbara Koželj Podlogar
- Jurij Krč
- Aleksandra Kregar Brus
- Vlado Kreslin
- Aleš Krivic
- Tomaž Kukovič
- Olga Kurilin
- Aleksander Kurilin
- Tatjana Kušar
- Iztok Lampič
- Marjetka Leban Vaupotič
- Felix Löffler
- Anita Lovše
- Majda Mali
- Patricija Maličev
- Alja Mandič
- Trpin Matija Ivan
- Darja Mlakar
- Damjan Močnik
- Julia Jacqueline Morneweg
- Barbara Murn Vrviščar
- Daniel Nodel
- Vesna Novič
- Mitja Petrovič
- Nina Petruna Babarović
- Irena Plešivčnik
- Janez Podlesek
- Branko Repe
- Dejan Rihtarič
- Matej Rihter
- Maja Rome
- Bernarda Rutar
- Matej Šarc
- Martin Sikur
- Ana Šinkovec
- Nataša Šip
- Tjaša Slokar Kos
- Gregor Štampohar
- Andrej Šter
- Eva Strmljan Kreslin
- Katarina Štrukelj
- Vesna Tripkovič
- Ksenija Trotovšek
- Michel van Mulders
- Žiga Vaupotič
- Boštjan Videmšek
- Jure Vidmar
- Tadeja Vovk
- Mateja Vrankar
- Sebastjan Vrhovnik
- Jörg Winkler
- Nataša Zanuttini
- Marjanca Zres Žerdin
- Martin Žužek Kres