State Theatre to Host Benefit Concert for Ukrainian City

The artful young musicians of Korinya will perform this weekend at The State Theatre in a benefit concert for Ukraine.

All the proceeds from the concert at 1 p.m. on Saturday will benefit the local Sister’s Sister charitable organization, which is sending aid to the war-damaged city of Nizhyn in Ukraine. State College residents have specifically been raising money to rebuild the hot water system in Nizhyn, which was repeatedly bombed at the start of the Russian war against Ukraine a year ago. Like State College, Nizhyn is a college town with a large university.

Korinya, which means “roots” in Ukrainian, will perform traditional folk songs from the country “in a lively, uplifting style,” according to a news release.

“Feel free to stamp your feet and clap your hands to Ukrainian kolomeyka and hopak dance tunes that will remind you of Irish jigs and reels with their boundless energy,” the release stated. “And you’ll hear exquisite Ukrainian vocals presented in the traditional Ukrainian style.”

The band describes itself as “a contemporary folk band with a fresh, grassroots sound.”

Tickets are $12 for adults, and $5 for students and children, including convenience fees. Advance tickets are available on The State Theatre website and at the box office, 130 W. College Ave. Opportunities will be available to give additional donations in the lobby of the theater by check, cash, Zelle or Venmo for anyone wishes to do so.

The event, which coincides with the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is co-sponsored by the Penn State Ukrainian Society, the Woskob Family Endowment in Ukrainian Studies and the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.