Whitewashing War Crimes With Music

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UA Florida, as a Palm Beach County based nonprofit organization, is concerned with the Palm Beach Symphony’s current schedule, specifically, performances by Vadim Repin on February 28 and March 2.  Mr. Repin is a well known public Putin propaganda supporter, and has been banned from performing in several prestigious European venues.  Repin, who was born in Russia, is currently a naturalized Belgian citizen, living primarily in Austria.  However, he is still  an active participant in Putin’s cruel, hostile regime. 

Repin attends Putin-sponsored government meetings, carries out Putin-directed assignments, and receives state awards and funding for his projects because of his relationship with Putin. Putin has been recognized by the United States as the head of an “aggressor state”.  We are concerned with Repin’s desire to “promote culture”, while, at the same time, promoting Putin’s anti-American agenda.

We, therefore, call on the Palm Beach Symphony to follow their European counterparts, and consciences, by canceling Mr. Repin’s performances, as well as a “teach-in” in one of our most valued high schools in Palm Beach County. We are especially concerned about his event at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach.  Mr. Repin will have access to young people, who may not be fully informed about the political situation in Russia. One can say it’s “just music”, but he is not mentioning the highly talented Russian musicians who have spoken out against Putin, who were either killed,  or imprisoned for life in horrifying conditions.  

One wonders what Mr. Dreyfoos, who created what we know today as the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, would have to say about such an event.  One looks at one of his most remembered quotes: “Let’s hit a home run, or not go to bat at all,”.  This is clearly not a home run for the school, the community, or the image of Palm Beach County, as a place that welcomes Putin propagandists.

We are asking the Palm Beach Symphony to address our concerns, as members of the local community.  We would ask that the Principal of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Ms. Blake Bennett, to consider canceling his visit, or at least informing the students’ parents of Mr. Repin’s background.

Culture should not be used to promote war or propaganda, and  Mr. Repin poses a real danger of doing both. 

Sign the online petition here

Relevant publications:

Violinist Vadim Repin booked in US, but cancelled in Europe

Open letter to cancel Putin’s violinist Vadim Repin at the Palm Beach Symphony.

Palm Beach Symphony to World Premiere Paul Moravec’s ‘Lullaby’