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CONCORDIA Benefit Matinée 2022

In 2022, we look back on an eventful year: Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February, CONCORDIA Social Projects reacted immediately and - in addition to its existing programmes - ipromptly set up aid offers for refugees. Accommodation, care and support could thus be ensured very quickly. However, children, young people and families are still massively affected by the consequences of the war, the state of emergency in our project countries is still in place and an end to the conflict is unfortunately not in sight. CONCORDIA continues to provide daily help here.
Our motto remains the same this year as on the first day: we go where the need is greatest! And we will continue to do everything we can to support children and young people in the poorest countries of Europe and accompany them on their way to a self-determined life.

Especially in CONCORDIA's project country Moldova, the effects of the war on the population and the provision of basic services are devastating. "CONCORDIA always works in places where there is a lot of need, poverty and absolute lack, that is our mission and our task. This year, the issue of flight has been added to even more by the people displaced from Ukraine," explains Ulla Konrad, Chair of the Board of CONCORDIA Social Projects, in her opening speech.

Together with almost 300 guests - including former Federal President Heinz Fischer and his wife Margit Fischer, National Council Member Karheinz Kopf and Vienna City Councillor Peter Hacker - the CONCORDIA Christmas Matinée finally took place again at Palais Ferstel after a two-year pandemic. This year, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen was once again the patron of the event. The net proceeds of 125,000 from the charity matinée will help to implement our aid programmes in the long term.

We would like to thank the sponsors and all participants who made this event an atmospheric Advent matinée.

If you would like to make a donation for the matinée, please transfer the amount to the donation account: AT21 3200 0010 0703 4499 Please indicate "Matinee" as the intended purpose.

Your generous donation will benefit our social projects.

Every Euro gives hope and a future. Thank you very much!

The programme

Sunday, 18th of Dezember 2022
Time: 11:00 am - 01:00 pm
Place: Palais Ferstel (Strauchgasse 4, 1010 Vienna)

Guard of Honour

President Alexander Van der Bellen

Reading by

Monika Helfer

Artistic presentation by

Martin Gellner, Conducting and Artistic Direction
Big Island Orchester
Maria Radutu, Hammond organ
Rusanda Panfili, Violin

Advent blessing by

Father Markus Inama SJ

The reading

Monika Helfer

Monika Helfer has published novels, short stories, award-winning children's books and essays. The subject of her books is often difficult family relationships, with a special focus on the children's perspective. „Bevor ich schlafen kann", „Die Welt der Unordnung" and "The Baggage" are among her well-known publications. Together with her husband Michael Köhlmeier, she has also written several works and has been awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art I. Class. In the course of the matinée she will read short stories from her book "Diesmal geht es gut aus".

The artists

Big Island Orchester

The "Big Island Orchestra Vienna" was put together by conductor Martin Gellner with hand-picked classical and crossover musicians from various renowned orchestras - from the Vienna Philharmonic and the State Opera Orchestra, to the Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Tonkünstler, to the Mozarteum and the Orchestra of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien. The orchestra specialises in film music and multimedia recordings and brings with it all the qualities to establish Vienna as a film music metropolis in the same way as, say, London or Los Angeles.

Martin Gellner, Conductor

is a Composer and arranger. He is Musical Director and Conductor of the RSO Vienna's "Hollywood in Vienna" concert series. This collaboration resulted in the CD "The World Of Hans Zimmer" - one of the most streamed live film music recordings worldwide. Martin Gellner is music supervisor of the international concert tour of the same name. With his "Big Island Orchestra Vienna", founded in the first Covid lockdown 2020, Martin Gellner has recorded the soundtracks for the Oscar-nominated Globe winner "Borat - Subsequent Movie Film" and "Riverdance - The Animated Adventure", among others. He lives in Vienna and Minnesota with his wife Kim Duddy.

Rusanda Panfili, Violin

works with stars such as Hans Zimmer, Gavin Greenaway, Guthrie Govan and Carlos Rafael Rivera. As a soloist she has performed with orchestras from Mexico, Palermo, Grossetto, Moldova, Romania, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester and the Dresden Staadtskapelle. She graduated with distinction from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Rusanda is active as a composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, and with the ensemble she founded, "Panfili&Friends", she immerses herself in the world of folklore. She plays a violin from 1610 by G.P.Maggini.

Maria Radutu, hammond organ

crosses borders through her dramaturgically designed albums Joujoux, Insomnia and Phoenix. Performances worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Vienna State Opera, Auditorio Nacional Madrid. She combines classical music with visual art, dance and storytelling. As a soloist, she has performed with renowned orchestras, including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, the Orquesta Clasica Santa Cecilia, the California Symphony, the Zagreb Philharmonic and the Las Vegas Philharmonic.