One of Ukraine’s most distinguished conductors, Natalia Ponomarchuk divides her life between London and Kyiv, bringing Ukrainian classical music to audiences across Europe. Since relocating to the United Kingdom in 2022, she has collaborated with leading ensembles including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic, George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, and the Slovenian Philharmonic.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Ponomarchuk has become one of the strongest international advocates for Ukrainian symphonic music, conducting works by Valentyn Sylvestrov, Borys Liatoshynsky, Yevhen Stankovych, Myroslav Skoryk, Alla Zahaikevych and other Ukrainian composers. Together with the National Philharmonic of Ukraine’s Kyiv Chamber Orchestra, she recently completed the recording of Yevhen Stankovych’s complete cycle of Chamber Symphonies. The first volume of the five-disc series will be released by Toccata Classics on Aug. 7. On Aug. 14, she will conduct “Journey to the Great River” as part of the ninth annual Bouquet Kyiv Stage festival. Ahead of the festival, Kyiv Post spoke with Ponomarchuk about conducting as a calling during wartime, living between two countries, the growing international interest in Ukrainian music, and why she believes beauty remains one of Ukraine’s greatest strengths.