A RUSSIAN schoolgirl violinist is holding a music concert in Hereford in aid of Ukraine.

Kseniia Kalugina, 19, has watched the war in Ukraine with mounting horror and hopes her music can do something to help refugees.

The concert at Hereford Cathedral cloisters on April 20 was originally intended to help raise funds for her musical education.

But after the invasion she knew she wanted to support the war-relief effort.

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Half of the proceeds from the concert will now go to the Disaster Emergency Committee which is coordinating humanitarian efforts.

"I cannot imagine the horror and helplessness that millions of Ukrainian people are facing, and I will try to help them in the only way I can at the moment - with my music," said Miss Kalugina.

Hereford Times: Kseniia Kalugina, 19, is a Russian violinist holding a concert to support Ukraine.Kseniia Kalugina, 19, is a Russian violinist holding a concert to support Ukraine.

The award-winning violinist joined a specialist music school in St Petersburg aged six.

She has been a soloist with the St Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra and the St Petersburg State Governor's Orchestra.

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In 2020 she won a Leverhulme Trust bursary to study at the famous Chetham's school in Manchester and recently won a place at London's Royal College of Music.

She has got to know Hereford because her English boyfriend, who is also a classical musician, lives in the city.

Hereford Times: #ThereWithUkraine#ThereWithUkraine

"Hereford is one of the loveliest places I have found in England," said Miss Kalugina.

"The cathedral is beautiful, and the people have been very friendly."

The concert will include work for solo violin and piano by composers Bach, Elgar, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky.

She will be accompanied by Luke Fitzgerald, assistant organist at Coventry cathedral.

The event will start at 7pm and entry is free with donations welcomed.