27th June was the day of the Rachmaninoff competition's extravagant gala in Moscow, the same day a Russian missile hit a busy shopping mall in Kremenchuk killing dozens of civilians.

This is an open letter from below signed British musicians who are strongly condemning the participation in Russian state organised competitions and concerts in light of the ongoing aggression against the people of Ukraine - artists cannot simply be seen as above politics, with their partaking in high-level state propaganda events sending a strong implicit message of support for its patrons. 

The esteemed young British pianist and composer Yuanfan Yang, alumni of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music has chosen to participate in a Russian state-organised and sponsored Rachmaninoff competition that took place in Moscow in June 2022. Representing Britain, he was the only non-Russian participant in his category apart from the two Chinese musicians. This competition was organised by the Russian state's Ministry of Culture, through RosKoncert, and was supported by Putin himself. 

Despite his UK's colleagues strongly advising against participation, in light of ongoing war in Ukraine, Yuanfan has nevertheless decided to take part, despite him arguably being able to win most comparable international competitions during his career, due to his undoubted musical abilities. Furthermore, this decision was supported by Royal College of Music professors in March 2022 with official written recommendations, even after the Russian War in Ukraine had already started.

27th June was the day of the competition's extravagant gala where Yuanfan showcased his work, the same day a Russian missile hit a busy shopping mall in Kremenchuk killing dozens of civilians.

In light of the death and suffering inflicted by the Russian Federation onto Ukrainian people, it is hard to underestimate the importance of a united front amongst UK musicians respectful of values such as freedom, democracy, and the respect of a people to chose its own future in peace and without outside interference. With so many companies exiting Russia in protest, as well as musicians refusing to take part in Russian state backed events, it is extremely regrettable to see a British-raised and trained musician that chooses to take Russian state's money, implicitly approving and giving a validation of their actions of bombing Ukrainian civilians on a daily basis.

It is also regrettable to see how a British artist lends himself to Russian propaganda. In a video posted by the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Culture on social media, in the context of a staged meeting between the Secretary for Culture and Putin himself, the Competition is mentioned as part of the National effort and it is praised for its international character in the discussion. This competition has been evidently organised and politicised by the Russian Federation’s government and Putin himself. Most notably, conductor Valery Gergiev was the patron of the conducting branch of the competition. Gergiev has been fired from his positions at the Munich Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Teatro alla Scala, Bayerische Staatsoper and the Metropolitan Opera.

 

Signed, 

Petru Cotarcea - Royal Academy of Music, alumnus

Andrei Mamara - Royal Academy of Music, alumnus

Nicholas Sabisky - Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, alumnus

Kristupas Bubnelis - Royal Academy of Music, alumnus

Svitlana Shamina - Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy, alumna

Robert Wheatly - Royal Northern College of Music, alumnus 

Dylan Kirk - Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, alumnus

Luca Gliozzi - Royal Academy of Music, alumnus

Jordan Clarke - Royal Academy of Music, alumnus