Violinist Valeriy Sokolov Misses Concert Due to Visa Delays

Due to the recent backlog in processing visas from Ukrainian applicants as a result of the national crisis, Ukrainian violinist Sokolov had a concert appearance cancelled in the UK 

Kharkiv-born violinist Valeriy Sokolov was due to appear on June 9, 2022, with the British chamber ensemble, Aurora Orchestra, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. However, VC Artist Jennifer Pike ended up stepping in his place playing the same work.  

“Sadly Valeriy Sokolov is no longer able to join us for tomorrow’s concert at The Apex — Valeriy’s visa application has apparently been delayed as a result of current backlogs, stemming in part from the Ukraine crisis,” Aurora Orchestra posted on Facebook at the time. 

According to The Guardian, a class action lawsuit is being prepared on behalf of hundreds of Ukrainians who applied to travel to the UK but whose cases have been lodged in a chronic visa backlog. 

These delays have been exacerbated by the UK’s Home Office approving many visas but failing to notify the confirmed applicants. As of the government figures last month, 59,000 people had visas approved but had not yet arrived in the UK. Just 15% of the 74,700 Ukrainians who applied under the sponsorship route made it into Britain. 

Despite such delays, Sokolov has since been able to travel into Europe in time to perform with the Aurora Orchestra and conductor Nicholas Collon on June 12 at Germany’s Kölner Philharmonie and will appear again on June 24 at  Southbank Center’s Royal Festival Hall in London.

 

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Born in Ukraine, Sokolov moved to the UK at age 14 to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School and later, the Royal College of Music. A former prizewinner at the George Enescu International Violin Competition, his mentors have included Natalia Boyarskaya, Felix Andrivesky, Marc Lubotsky, Ana Chumachenko, Boris Kuschnir, and Gidon Kremer.

After working across Europe for an extended period, Sokolov was back in Ukraine for two years until the conflict began. He left his homeland just over a month ago and is currently living in Germany, according to an interview between him and Collon on Aurora Orchestra’s website.

“We need to respect and make Ukrainian culture contemporary and market-worthy, instead of the current ex-Soviet model which to me seems illusionary,” Sokolov expressed about him performing Tchaikovsky’s work.

“In this respect it’s hugely beneficial that so many fleeing Ukrainian musicians have been so warmly welcomed by Western European concert promoters, orchestras and musical institutions,” he added. “This kind of dialogue is going to be crucial in rebuilding our own cultural scene after the war, and my advice would be to concentrate on that rather than try to dictate repertoire choices to those in more established countries.

“I want to get on with music right now as it is the best thing to do for now, at least mentally…Materially speaking I have felt the war in a direct way by having my apartment bombed and a house outside the city centre partly destroyed,” he continued. “Of course these things are completely insignificant compared to the many human tragedies playing out in Ukraine as we speak…I am grateful that despite all I am alive and playing, and even more grateful than ever for various opportunities to minimize this personal desperation.”