Stories Behind the Music: Live Edition

There is a human life behind every piece of art.

Stories Behind the Music is a curated listening and concert series created by cellist and educator Anna Shabalina. The project explores classical music not only as sound, but as a living story — shaped by real people, their friendships, struggles, and the world they lived in.

This year, we began with the Classical era. In January, we gathered for a listening session centered around Schubert’s Death and the Maiden Quartet, exploring the music and stories of this period together. Now, in February, we continue with the Classical era — this time through music for strings, performed live.

This concert is presented as part of Soul Strings Ensemble — Anna Shabalina’s chamber music project.

Soul Strings Ensemble is a flexible chamber ensemble that brings together local and international musicians for themed programs. The ensemble changes with each project, shaped by the repertoire and the collaborators chosen for it.

For this Classical-era program, Soul Strings Ensemble appears as a string trio.

✨ Performers

Anna Shabalina — cello & stories

Inna Klymenko — violin

Vladyslav Martsyniv — viola

Music by Mozart, Schubert, Boccherini and Hummel.

🎼 What to expect

– A live string trio concert in the sanctuary of the church

– Short, informal stories about the music and composers, woven into the program

– Guidance on what to notice in Classical-era music, and why this music still speaks to us today

– A relaxed social time after the concert to talk and connect

– Light refreshments and snacks

This is not a formal lecture — and not a traditional concert either — but something in between:

a thoughtful and social way to experience classical music.

🎟️ Admission is free.

No prior musical knowledge is required.

With gratitude

This project would not be possible without the ongoing support of the United Church of Canada Foundation and the Hillside United Church team. Thank you for generously providing the space, volunteers, refreshments, and — most importantly — your time, care, and energy.

Special thanks as well to RBC for their generous donation, which allows this program to remain free and accessible to the audience.

Please, reserve your spot here, so we know how many people to expect:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1982537712667?aff=oddtdtcreator