Our Story
How a lifelong love of music led to a foundation for Ukraine's next generation of performers.
Lviv stands as the cultural heart of Western Ukraine, embodying a rich tapestry of diverse traditions. This beautiful city brims with art, architecture, culture, history, and music. Once part of the Habsburg Empire and having changed hands many times in the twentieth century alone, Lviv has endured a challenging history yet remains a vibrant center of Ukrainian national and cultural life.
This beautiful city brims with art, architecture, culture, history, and music.
From its cobblestone streets and ornate concert halls to its thriving community of young artists, Lviv has always been a city where culture endures — no matter the circumstances. It is in this city that our story begins.
A First Visit That Changed Everything
Larry Tremsky first visited Lviv in July 2014, to attend classes in the Ukrainian language at Ukrainian Catholic University. The students he encountered, while still recovering from the trauma of the recent Maidan Revolution, were full of life, vibrant and engaged, determined to build a just, civil society aligned with Western values.
Their vigor inspired him to return to Lviv repeatedly, engage with Ukrainian culture, and eventually led to his relocation here in early 2026. As both an organist and conductor, early music had always played an important part of Larry's career — and it was this lifelong passion that would find its fullest expression in Lviv.
Excellence Against All Odds
Larry was struck by the excellence of the Ukrainian system of musical training. Despite decades of poor governance and now a terrible war, young musicians here continue to display amazing talent and drive to excel at their art. All this despite the challenges of living in a post-Soviet country with extremely limited resources for advancement. As he began planning his move to Lviv, Larry started looking for targeted ways to support musical life here and to bring resources from outside Ukraine to boost both the musical and economic opportunities for these students.
Despite decades of poor governance and now a terrible war, young musicians here continue to display amazing talent and drive to excel at their art.
A Shared Passion Becomes a Mission
In 2024, Larry met several talented young Ukrainian musicians with a passion for early music. Their dedication to historically informed performance inspired a vision: to create a dedicated space in Lviv for both historical performance and organ study.
The Lviv Early Music Foundation was born from this vision. Now registered with the Ukrainian government as an NGO, the Foundation is based in the Lviv Early Music Hub — a centrally located, accessible, comfortable, and welcoming space that serves as a center for organ study, early music practice, and a resource for musical scores and books.
Meet Our Team →Rich in Talent, Starved for Resources
Currently, Lviv lacks first-class mechanical action organs or continuo organs. The available instruments are limited in resources, difficult to access, or electronic substitutes. Similarly, the lack of historical instruments is a hindrance to the proper study of Baroque music. The music community in Lviv is rich in talent but starved for resources.
The music community in Lviv is rich in talent but starved for resources.
Since Ukrainian independence in 1991, the country's music world has begun to emerge from the rigid isolation imposed by the Soviet Union. Young Ukrainian instrumentalists and singers have had the opportunity to study historical performance practice throughout Europe, engaging with their European colleagues and building important bridges.
The Ukrainian people have endured immense hardship in recent years: war since 2014, the COVID-19 pandemic, and now full-scale invasion. As they confidently plan for a post-war future, providing instruments of genuine beauty and quality will inspire them as they emerge from the uncertainty and fear of wartime.
Planting Seeds for a New Musical Chapter
The Lviv Early Music Foundation aims to initiate a new chapter of creativity and artistry among young and aspiring Ukrainian musicians, and to attract a new generation of listeners for early music. The city's large student population provides both a natural audience and talent pool. Mobile instruments such as a harpsichord and continuo organ will be crucial for bringing early music beyond the concert hall into public spaces.
The Foundation is currently raising funds to purchase a larger baroque performance organ built by van Vulpen Orgelbouw in The Netherlands. This instrument will allow the performance of a significant body of organ repertoire. Completely renovated and installed, the cost will be around 325,000 Euros.
We are currently in negotiations with the Lviv Music Lyceum; the leadership of the lyceum is keen to collaborate with us and their new concert hall will likely be the site of this larger organ — an ideal space for organ music and the first hall in Ukraine with variable acoustics.
Be Part of This Story
Every great musical tradition began with people who believed it was possible. Join us in building something lasting.