Life at the front

Even as war rages, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine continues to rehearse and perform - and in October undertakes a 17-date UK tour. Tom Stewart meets some of its brave musicians

- Tom Stewart

The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is hiring. Up for grabs are the 15-or-so seats previously occupied by musicians now living in the safety of other European countries. Given the circumstances - and the fact two players volunteered to fight - there could be worse reasons for this recruitment drive. But for trumpeter and deputy orchestra director Roman Oleksiienko, 35, the situation still stings. 'The war has taken some of our best players,' he says. 'I don't mean that the rest of us are bad, but artistically and organisationally it's a challenge.'

Of his colleagues who put themselves forward for active service, one, a violist, was sent to guard a bridge before being drafted into a folk band sent to entertain soldiers on the front line; the other, a tuba player, learned to fire an antiaircraft gun before joining the army reserves. Along with four-fifths of Ukraine's most  prestigious orchestra, both are now back in Kyiv, the group fitting rehearsals and performances around frequent rocket attacks.

As he runs through the tour posters that line the walls of his sun-filled office, it becomes clear that orchestra executive director Alexander Hornostai is a man who enjoys a challenge. He grins as he recalls trips to China, Europe and the US that packed dozens of cities into an unfeasibly tight schedule. He appears particularly proud of those he has organised since the full-scale invasion began, starting with a performance at Venice's La Fenice opera house in May last year and followed months later by a tour of western Europe. Today, Hornostai is putting the final touches to plans for the orchestra's 17-night UK tour this autumn. 'We are fighting on the cultural, musical, humanitarian front: no blood, only here,' he says, beating his fist against his heart. 'Our mission is to introduce the rest of the world to the best Ukrainian music and music-making.'