Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

Founded in 2022 by conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson in response to the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra brings together Ukrainian musicians and members of the European diaspora. From its inception, the orchestra has established itself as both an artistic initiative and a symbolic project, supported notably by the Metropolitan Opera and the Polish National Opera. Its repertoire combines major works of the European tradition, with compositions by Ukrainian composers such as Valentyn Silvestrov and Maxim Kolomiiets. Among its notable recordings is a 2024 interpretation of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, in which the final chorus is performed in Ukrainian, transforming the "Ode to Joy" into a message of resilience and cultural identity. The orchestra has also recorded the album Beethoven: Symphony No. 5; Kolomiiets: Suite from The Mothers of Kherson (2026).