Aeolian Hall benefit concert raises $70K+ for Canadian Red Cross efforts in Ukraine

More than 600 people attended the concert, while more than 1,000 streamed it online, according to the Aeolian Hall, with viewers as far away as Chile, Germany, Korea and Spain.

A two-night benefit concert last week at London’s Aeolian Hall collected more than $70,000 in donations from members of the community in support of the Red Cross and those impacted by the war in Ukraine, organizers said Tuesday.

At least 23 musicians and two choirs of 57 took to the stage on Thursday and Friday as part of the Concert for Peace, with money raised going toward the Canadian Red Cross and its Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal campaign.

More than 600 attended the concert, while more than 1,000 streamed the event online, according to the Aeolian Hall, with viewers as far away as Chile, Germany, Korea and Spain.

Speaking with 980 CFPL’s Devon Peacock on Tuesday, Clark Bryan, the hall’s executive and artistic director, said money collected was still being counted, and more was continuing to trickle in.

“We have done a number of benefits for world crises over the years, starting with the Haiti earthquake many years ago, and raised about $25,000. I think I was kind of hopeful we would get there again. But I had no idea we would get this kind of community support,” he said.

“It really speaks to the power that we have as a community to be able to rise to the occasion and not feel hopeless or helpless, and through inspiration, solidarity and generosity, we can make a big difference together.”

Loreena McKennitt and Denise Pelly with Stephen Holowitz were among the musical acts who took to the stage as part of the event.

Also in attendance were Ukrainian Toronto-based artist Anya Romanenko and her three nephews, brothers Stephan Sirko, 5, Michael Sirko, 11, and Yeuhenii Klymenko, 20. The three boys were forced to flee Ukraine, and Aeolian Hall officials say Romaneko is caring for them while their parents fight in Kyiv.