The symphony orchestra from Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union, will kick off its American tour this week in Monticello, Iowa. Organizer Greg Kromminga says a former Monticello man was responsible for starting the Kiev symphony orchestra, and planned its first visit here five years ago.He got a call in the winter of 1997 from Roger McMurrin, who had heard Kromminga was heading the school foundation and offered to play a benefit concert, with a symphony far bigger than the Iowan expected. McMurrin had gone to the Soviet Union as it broke up and its states like Ukraine returned to being independent countries. He’s a minister and also a former music professor, who went to Ukraine to direct Handel’s “Messiah,” a musical piece banned for its religious significance. Kromminga says McMurrin saw a need, and decided to stay. He’d intended to stay five years and has now been there for ten years, feeding widows and orphans and doing service work he sees a need for. The minister and music professor found a lot of talented musicians and organized the first symphony orchestra in the capital city of Kiev, and Tuesday its performance will kick off a U-S tour. Patrons will come to the concert from South Dakota, Kansas, Chicago, Pennsylvania and all over Iowa. The musicians have been staying with host families in Monticello since they began to arrive on Friday. For information on the U-S tour of the Kiev orchestra, visit www.musicmissionkiev.org
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