In a powerful demonstration of music’s capacity to heal and unite during times of crisis, internationally acclaimed pianist Takeshi Nagayasu joined an extraordinary assembly of world-class artists for the Charity Concert for Children in Ukraine on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022. The online humanitarian concert, organized by the Culture and Art Foundation in cooperation with the Saint Nicholas Foundation, brought together classical music’s finest performers to support Ukrainian children displaced and traumatized by the ongoing conflict.
Professional Networks Foster Humanitarian Art
Nagayasu’s participation in this historic charitable initiative stemmed from his professional relationship with Dr. Magdalena Baczewska, Director of the Music Performance Program at Columbia University and artistic director of the prestigious 2019 Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition, where Nagayasu earned First Prize. Baczewskaconnected him to Jola Wodiczko, director of the Culture and Art Foundation and organizer of major Polish cultural events in New York.
The relationship proved fruitful when Wodiczko first invited Nagayasu to perform at the Ignacy Paderewski Tribute Gala at New York’s Town Hall on October 21, 2021. The success of this performance, where Nagayasu performed alongside Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Mary Ann McCormick and other distinguished artists, led Wodiczko to invite him back for the Ukraine charity concert several months later.
The Easter humanitarian concert featured an even more remarkable roster of international talent, including Metropolitan Opera soloists Isabel Leonard, Mireille Asselin, Brandie Sutton, Eric Ferring, and Adam Plachetka. The piano contingent represented the highest echelons of classical performance, with Kevin Kenner, winner and juror of the Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, alongside Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition winners Juan Pérez Floristán (2021), AntoniiBaryshevskyi (2014), and Steven Lin (second prize, 2014).
Original Compositions for Humanitarian Purpose
For the Ukraine concert, Nagayasu contributed a particularly poignant original work—a dark and reflective piece structured as a theme and variations that perfectly captured the antiwar sentiment of the event. “The composition employs a recurring pitch set (0, 1, 4) that transforms throughout the variations, creating what can be described as an obsessive quality. The cyclical structure returns to the original theme in the final variation, but with a modified texture spread across the keyboard, creating a reflective and open-ended conclusion that mirrors the uncertainty and ongoing nature of humanitarian crises,” Nagayasu explains.
This compositional approach demonstrates Nagayasu’s ability to create meaningful original music that resonates with specific cultural and emotional contexts while maintaining the sophisticated musical language expected at elite international venues. His solo recital as the sole recipient of the Dominique Weber Scholarship at the prestigious Gijón International Piano Festival 2024 in Spain further showcased this unique combination of performance excellence and compositional innovation, with the world premiere of his original work, ‘Isidora for Piano,’ featured prominently in the program.
Political and Cultural Significance
The concert operated under distinguished patronage, reflecting its cultural and political importance. Adam Struzik, Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, Cardinal StanisławNycz, Metropolitan of Warsaw, and Archbishop StanisławGądecki, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, lent their support to the initiative. Institutional partners included the Local Government of the Mazowieckie Province, Polish Mining Group, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York, and the Polish Cultural Institute New York.
The Saint Nicholas Foundation, which had been operating the Santa Claus Day Care Center in Mariupol that was destroyed during the conflict, established an International Logistics Centre in Chorzów, Poland, to coordinate humanitarian aid deliveries from across Europe to Ukraine. The concert directly supported these relief efforts, with all funds raised going immediately to assist displaced children.
Digital Innovation Amplifies Global Impact
The concert’s innovative pre-recorded online format, premiering at 2:00 PM EST on Easter Sunday and remaining available through April 24, 2022, maximized both its artistic impact and fundraising potential. This digital approach reflected changing performance paradigms while serving the humanitarian mission more effectively than traditional concert formats.
“Since it was a pre-recorded online concert, it was able to reach more audiences. I always like to spread classical music to places where people do not have as much access/exposure to classical music,” Nagayasu noted. This accessibility philosophy continues to guide his programming choices and institutional affiliations as his career develops internationally.
Continued Commitment to Community Service
Nagayasu’s dedication to charitable causes extends far beyond single concert appearances. Through his ongoing performances at private fundraising events, he regularly contributes to institutional development initiatives. He has performed multiple fundraising concerts, including events on April 3, 2024, and April 9, 2025, which were part of the Eisendrath fundraising concert series for the University of Michigan. These concerts helped to secure financial support through intimate donor concerts that combine artistic excellence with community engagement.
These carefully curated programs allow him to make classical music accessible while supporting educational initiatives. His approach includes brief introductions to pieces and post-performance Q&A sessions to enhance audience engagement, making sophisticated repertoire more approachable for diverse audiences.
Concert Legacy and Artistic Impact
The charity concert represented a watershed moment in classical music’s response to the Ukrainian crisis, demonstrating how artistic communities can mobilize rapidly and effectively to support humanitarian needs. For artists like Nagayasu, it exemplified the responsibility that comes with international recognition, using one’s platform not merely for personal advancement but for the betterment of society’s most vulnerable populations.
The successful collaboration between Nagayasu and the Culture and Art Foundation created lasting networks of artists committed to both artistic excellence and social responsibility. This model continues to influence his programming choices and institutional affiliations, from his regional work in Texas to his international performances in venues like Spain’s Atlantic Botanical Garden of Gijón and the Opéra-Comique in Paris.
As Takeshi Nagayasu continues his international performance schedule across the United States, Europe, and Asia, his dedication to using music as a force for positive social change remains unwavering. The distinguished pianist, winner of the 2019 Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition, exemplifies this commitment through a September 2025 charitable performance series in Michigan.
The outreach initiative included a solo recital at a retirement community, a supportive performance at the University of Michigan Hospital (September 18, 12 p.m.), and ‘Mom’s Night Out Special Music’ at Stone-Chalet Event Center’s Brigham Ballroom (September 24, 7 p.m.). The evening concert featured works by female composers in an interactive format designed to make classical music accessible to mothers with young children. These performances ensured that future generations will benefit from both his artistry and steadfast dedication to humanitarian causes through musical excellence.
