Music filled the Broumov Monastery in late May, when young musicians from the Police Symphony Orchestra held a charity concert there to support the Agency for Development of the Broumov Region and orchestra members afflicted by Covid-19. Over $21,000 was raised through an online fundraising drive.
The Police Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is a youth orchestra founded by musicians from the town of Police. They organized this extraordinary charity concert, called P.S. ONLINE, to highlight the importance of partnership and solidarity and to support cultural life in the Police and Broumov areas. The event brought together music lovers and professionals.
“P. S. ONLINE is an expression of partnership, help, humility and friendship, which brought together amateur musicians from the regions and professionals, who played side by side to fill the Broumov Monastery with the sound of music and contribute to a good cause,” said David Ostružár, who developed the concert concept.
Viewers enjoyed a multiple-genre musical performance by the Police Symphony Orchestra and guests, including Ivo Kahánek, a leading Czech pianist, and spectacular views of the beautiful monastery gardens.
Under the leadership of conductors Joel Hána and Věra Vlčková, the concert featured the PSO, pianist Ivo Kahánek, Jan Maxián, Vendula Příhodová, Jan Sklenář, Hana Hána, the Kácov choir, Anita Príbojská and the Náchod art and music school dance group, the Prague figure skating group, JM DANCE and other guests. Lucie Výborná moderated the concert.
“The concert was one of the most powerful events I’ve ever experienced. I can scarcely believe that in just three weeks, hundreds of people came out to help us and work together to make it happen. I still can’t believe that our ‘crazy idea’ actually turned into reality, that all the technology worked, that it all went so beautifully and that we all enjoyed it so much. And that we were able to raise over $21,000 for Broumov culture – that is another miracle that occurred that day. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” said Petra Soukupová, founder of the PSO.
The charity concert can be viewed at P.S. ONLINE. It was watched live by 6,500 viewers. You can also take a look at event photos on the Facebook page of the PSO.
POLICE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA was founded in 2010 in Police nad Metují by Petra Soukupová, who was 15 at the time, and her brother Jakub. Today, the orchestra is led by Joel Hána and Věra Vlčková, and brings together young musicians and other volunteers from across the Hradec Králové region. All are volunteers. They have held 120 concerts in the Czech Republic and abroad, for a total of more than 100,000 viewers. Many of their concerts have been fundraisers; the orchestra has raised almost $50,000 (CZK 1.2 million), mostly for elderly care services.
www.policesymphonyorchestra.cz
Photos: Michal Bareš
