GREENSBORO, N.C. — For a few hours, people came to Temple Emanuel in Greensboro to listen to classical music, and for a few hours, they stood in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The musicians who put on the concert wanted to raise money to help those stuck in the country as well as those who fled to neighboring countries.
Among the performers were pianist Katya Kramer-Lapin, pianist Vyacheslav Gryaznov and violinist Elzbieta Tokarska. They all have eastern European backgrounds. They all wanted to use their talents to help.
"We are inspiring hope, and it's a hope of peace," said Lilia Shwarts, one of the concert organizers, "That's a message that we bring to the music. It's a message of love."
Tickets were $25 for adults. Students and those in need paid $15.
The money will go to two places: the Red Cross for Ukraine and the Greensboro Jewish Federation Global Emergency Fund for the crisis in Ukraine.
"Music is about unity. It is about all coming together and bringing these various voices. Our musicians are Russian Americans, Polish Americans," Shwarts said, "I want to bring this unity to their families and continue sharing this message of all of us together in the pain, the peace and happiness."