Music as an art form has the power to convey complex emotions and evoke strong responses. Classical music especially can transport the listener to the metaphysical landscapes of their own mind and soul, as well as connect directly to the intentions of the composer. Often music can hold us to a specific moment in time, or take us through an entire era of history, showing us both the wonders and the horrors of humankind.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. This ongoing escalation of war has displaced more than a quarter of the Ukrainian population, causing a refugee crisis. It’s a tragic atrocity that affects us all beyond our different backgrounds and political ideals.

Three local musicians felt that they needed to do something - whatever they could to show their support for the people of Ukraine. On Sunday, May 29, 2022, starting at 4 p.m., the classical trio of Brune Macary on violin, Christine Mallery on cello, and Kajsa Teitelbaum on piano will play a fundraising concert at the Community Presbyterian Church in Nederland. The proceeds will go to the International Red Cross for their work in Ukraine.

Teitelbaum, organist and Director of Music at the First Congregational Church in Boulder, spoke to The Mountain-Ear about her musical background and how she came to organize the fundraising concert along with Macary and Mallery.

“I started learning the piano when I was five from my grandmother, who was also an organist, and then I didn’t start studying the organ until I was 19. But then I was hooked and I’ve been doing that ever since, all through school in Stockholm and here in the US.” Teitelbaum said. After living on the East Coast for several years, Teitelbaum moved to Colorado to attend CU for her doctorate.

“I found the church job in Boulder and I just stayed after I graduated; and then that’s how Brune and I met.”

Macary also spoke with The Mountain- Ear about her introduction to music at a young age.

“I started when I was six. I went to see a concert and I saw this violinist and I knew ‘I want to do that.’ My parents are pretty musical and I have two siblings, two of four that are also professional musicians; our education was very musical.”

Macary moved to the U.S. when she turned 18 and continued studying music, deciding to stay in Boulder after graduating from CU.

“Since I moved to Ned, Kajsa and I have seen each other a lot more and started playing more together; we’re always trying to find opportunities to keep playing.” Macary said.

Macary is a freelance musician as well as a private teacher, which is how she met Mallery.

“I teach at the high school and elementary. I teach orchestra and so Brune contacted me looking for private students from the orchestra; so that’s how we connected.” Mallery has been teaching 5th through 12th grade orchestra, as well as 6th through 8th grade band, in Nederland for seven years. Like the others in the trio, Mallery got interested in music at a young age.

“I started playing when I was 10. We had some people come to my elementary school and I got to try out the cello and I was hooked.” Mallery came to Colorado for her doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, though she laughs that she hasn’t officially finished her education. “This is my seventh year teaching in Nederland and I never got back to the dissertation…I like it too much here.”

The idea for the fundraising concert came from Teitelbaum, whose husband works as a Professor of International Affairs at CU and has been studying the conflict

“He’s been quite involved in different causes down in Boulder. So I thought it would be nice to help out in whatever little way we can, so I approached Brune and she contacted Christine,” Teitelbaum said. “We contacted the community church, because I know members there, and they’ve been very gracious and more than willing to help out.”

“It’s the first time for me creating an event,” Macary mentioned. “I’ve participated in others, but not from scratch like this.” Macary said, as this fundraising concert is the first event coordinated by the trio, as well as the first time the musicians will have played together.

“I’ve done similar things within the church,” Teitelbaum added. “Like when we need to raise funds to get new choir robes or microphones, stuff like that. But never for outside causes like this.”

The trio hopes that the concert will reach those affected both directly and indirectly by the plight of the people of Ukraine, as well as hoping to entertain and bring professional classical music back to the ears of the community.

“I’m hoping that quite a few of the students will come hear the concert,” Mallery added. “They don’t have a lot of opportunities to hear higher level classical music. So I’m hoping this will be very motivational for them.”

Mallery mentioned that the concert will showcase some popular classical pieces, to which Teitelbaum noted that there will be lesser known compositions, including a piece by a female Swedish composer written specifically for the trio of cello, piano, and violin.

“One of the pieces that I’m playing is an elegy, which musically is really like a eulogy,” Mallery added. “And I think it’s a really moving piece that is a very fitting tribute for this. The music is just so emotional.”

Though the fundraising concert marks the first time the trio will be performing together, these professionals aren’t nervous, but thrilled to share their expertise and love of the music for a noteworthy cause.

“I don’t play with a whole lot of other musicians just because of the nature of my job, so it’s a treat to get to play with other people, and they’re awesome musicians,” Teitelbaum said of her music partners, as they all hope to continue playing together in the future, to further expand the horizons of live music in Nederland.

“We were thinking of moving our concert to one of the breweries and maybe play in different spaces other than a church,” Macary said.

The fundraising concert will be on Sunday, May 29 at 4 p.m. at the Nederland Community Presbyterian Church at 159 Peak to Peak Highway in Nederland. The suggested donation is $15 per person and the funds go to the International Red Cross for their work in Ukraine. Childcare will be provided and there will be refreshments served after the concert. There will be a second performance on Saturday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church on 1128 Pine Street in Boulder.