Yoanna organised the largest event in Georgia – and perhaps also in the Caucasus – for the Centenary of Poland Regaining Independence.
On 18 November 2019, the concert entitled “Georgian Polonia for Polish Independence” was held at the National Library of the Georgian Parliament.
The author of the script and artistic director as well as the fundraiser, financial director and person integrating all the organisations taking part in this undertaking was Yoanna. Preparation activities for this concert were launched one year earlier.
The event was organised under the honorary patronage of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Georgia, Mr Mariusz Maszkiewicz
It was co-financed by the Senate of the Republic of Poland as part of its support to the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad in 2018.
Yoanna organized this event as a member of the Cracow-based Assocation TAK! (Twórczy Aktywni Kreatywni) and in a close partnership with the Polish diaspora’s organisations in Georgia: Cultural and Educational Union of Poles in Georgia “Polonia” and St. Queen Jadwiga Polish School in Tbilisi.
The concert was performed jointly by artists from Poland and Georgia.
During the concert two musical premieres took place. Yoanna premiered the songs of Konstanty Gorski in jazz arrangements with jazz pianist Kamil Urbański. And Lela Mtchedlidze, concertmaster of the Tbilisi opera, along with an excellent Georgian pianist, Nino Jvania, performed virtuoso violin pieces that Gorski probably composed during his stay in Georgia.
The first part of the concert has been dedicated to the music of the Polish forgotten composer Konstanty Gorski, who lived and performed in Tbilisi in the 1880s. Yoanna premiered the songs of Konstanty Gorski in jazz arrangements, together with jazz pianist Kamil Urbański. Subsequently, virtuoso pieces for violin and piano – which Gorski probably had written during his stay in Georgia – were premiered by Georgian artists – Lela Mtchedlidze, concertmaster of the opera theater in Tbilisi and Nino Jvania, the dean of the piano department at Tbilisi State Conservatory.
In the second part of the concert representatives of the Georgian Polonia performed. Ensemble “Orlęta” from St. Queen Jadwiga Polish School danced a polonaise and performed Polish patriotic songs. The compositions of Frederic Chopin, Henryk Wieniawski and Konstanty Gorski were performed by meritorious members of the “Polonia” Union (which conists of the descendants of Poles deported to the Caucasus after participation in the Polish uprisings in 19th century): Villa Grigoryan, Giorgi Shaverzashvili and the trio “Bravo”.
Yoanna also organised a competition following the traces of Konstanty Gorski’s activity in Tbilisi. During the concert, a solemn announcement of results and an award ceremony took place. The valuable prizes included: Award of the President of the City of Cracow (a 4-day stay in Cracow for two persons); a flight from Georgia to Poland for 2 people funded by LOT Polish Airlines; and a 3-day stay at the Hilton Batumi hotel. Apart from it, the Special Award of the Director of the Polonia Office of the Chancellery of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Mr Grzegorz Seroczyński, was granted. In addition, all participants received gifts funded by the Senate of the Republic of Poland and the City of Cracow.
At the end of the concert, Polonia Choir – directed by Nana Kalandadze – invited all the guests to sing together. It was the premiere performance of the choir, whose creation Yoanna initiated a few months before the concert. The whole hall accompanied the choir in the Polish patriotic songs such as “Wojenko, wojenko”, “Przybyli ułani” and “My first brigade”.
The concert was attended by nearly 200 guests from Poland, Georgia and other countries: Ambassador of Poland to Georgia, Ambassador of Brazil to Georgia, Polish Consul in Tbilisi, Polish diplomats, members of Tbilisi-based Polish diaspora organisations, Poles living or working in Tbilisi, Polish missionaries and numerous Georgians – representatives of the culture, media, science and business spheres.
After the official part, all artists and the public were invited to a reception and a symbolic glass of wine funded by the Tsinandali Estate. To complete the evening full of emotions and memories, the raised a toast for the Independent Poland and the Independent Georgia, and continued a joyful celebration of the common success of the joint concert.
Partner of the event: National Library of Parliament of Georgia
Official partners: Cracow City Council, Polish Airlines LOT, Tsinandali Estate
The event was organised under the honorary patronage of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Georgia, Mr Mariusz Maszkiewicz
The project was carried out as part of celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Poland Regaining Independence and of rebuilding the Polish statehood.
The event was co-financed by the Senate of the Republic of Poland as part of its support to the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad in 2018.
Here you can watch a video from this concert.
Watch the Georgian TV reportages on this concert: TV Rustavi, TV 1, TV Artarea.
Reportage by Radio Poland and interview with Yoanna Ayers can be listened here
Interview with Yoanna on Georgian TV Ertsulovneba