A local singer, Poet Laureate, and Ukrainian producer and composer will premier a new song at a Stamford event set to take place this Thursday, 12 January 2023.

Local singer, Ghost, will premiere a song penned by Stamford Poet Laureate Scott Coe and composed by prominent Ukrainian composer Ruslan Kvinta at the Ukrainian Festive Family Party hosted by Stamford Diversity Group on Thursday 12 January 2023 at Stamford College. 

Ghost has been singing since 1993, performing at private parties, festivals and local venues in the East Midlands. They are known for their exquisite performance skills and total dedication to whatever style of music that they are involved in. Their repertoire consists of a diverse range of styles from J-pop to classic pop styles. Ghost is an avid songwriter and is looking to produce an EP of their own soon. 

Ghost (image courtesy of Stamford Diversity Group)

Currently, Ghost is involved with an exciting international collaborative project with an East Midlands poet laureate, a producer in the local area, as well as a Ukrainian film producer and music composer from Kyiv.

During a Welcome Meal for Ukrainian refugees hosted by Stamford College in June 2022, Poet Laureate Scott Coe read a poem he had written called 'Would I be brave enough?'

Nataliia Yakovleva, a Stamford Ukrainian filmmaker, asked Scott for permission to send his words to Ukraine for the famous composer Ruslan Kvinta to set to music. Between 2018 and 2020, Ruslan Kvinta acted as the main musical producer of Ukraine's Eurovision selection Vidbir.

Yvette Diaz-Munoz Chair of Stamford Diversity Group CIC, town & district Cllr Amanda Wheeler, Lauren Lowe and Emma Hemmings from Stamford College being filmed discussing the party for BBC Lincolnshire North (image courtesy of Stamford College).

British Ukrainian local music teacher Mike Tymoczko - who heads up the local Ukrainian choir voluntarily - received the composition, extracted the backing track and recorded it as a version with local singer Ghost.

Now, with Ruslan's permission Stamford Diversity Group are able to premiere the song live to all 100 Ukrainians attending the Festive Family Party this Thursday at Stamford College. The choir will also perform, as will Poet Laureates Scott Coe and Daniel Paice.

The Hospitality and Catering students at the college are putting on the party buffet voluntarily, and students from the Childcare, Media and Makeup departments are giving up their time and expertise to host face painting and party games with the children for free.

Jim from Stamford Rotary with Yvette, Chair of Stamford Diversity Group (image courtesy of Stamford Diversity Group)

Second Helpings, George's Hub and Rotary Club of Stamford have collected and donated presents for the Ukrainian children.

The party is now at full capacity, but Ukrainians wanting to be kept in the loop about future events can email [email protected] or follow Stamford Diversity Group on Facebook.