A night of world-class performances, moving tributes and impactful moments of reflection is set to take place at Brooklyn’s Oceana Theater.
The historic Brighton Beach venue will host the 2025 New York Freedom Gala for Ukraine next Friday, Feb. 21. Hosted by the Heart & Valor Foundation and Freedom FM, the event will mark three years since Russia’s invasion.
Political leaders, renowned artists and community members are expected to gather in a show of solidarity, organizers said, with all supporters of peace and freedom invited to attend.
The benefit gala will celebrate Ukraine’s resilience through an evening of music and dance, featuring an acclaimed lineup of international performers. Among them are legendary Italian conductor and pianist Stefano Miceli, Philadelphia Ballet stars Oksana Maslova and Yuval Cohen, Grammy-nominated pop-rock artist Mika Newton, rock singer Nargiz, Kharkiv’s Victoria Vennikova, Georgian opera singer Gocha Abuladze, pianist Alina Nenasheva, and violinist Andy Didorenk. Actors from Svitanok will also present a special theatrical performance.
The gala will include a tribute to those who have sacrificed for Ukraine, honoring Ukrainian artists killed in the war and Russian-Jewish pianist Pavel Kushnir, who was murdered in prison under the Putin regime. The event will also highlight Georgia’s ongoing fight for democracy. Proceeds will support medical care for injured Ukrainian children.
Sure to be one of the evening’s most emotional moments will be a posthumous tribute to Andrew Webber, a decorated U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate who left his law career to fight for Ukraine after the 2022 invasion. He died on July 29, 2023, after giving his protective gear to a young Ukrainian soldier. His mother, Karla Webber, will share his story.
The event will also feature the presentation of the Heart & Valor Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations for their steadfast support of Ukraine.
Now an annual tradition, the Freedom Gala has welcomed past attendees, including New York Mayor Eric Adams and other prominent leaders. This year’s event begins with a VIP reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the main concert from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35, with VIP access available for $150.
Brighton Beach is home to one of the largest Ukrainian populations outside of Eastern Europe. The southern Brooklyn neighborhood has earned the nickname “Little Odessa,” owing to its population and its perch near the beach, just as the moniker’s Ukrainian namesake.
The Oceana Theater, a Brighton Beach landmark, opened in 1934 as a grand movie palace before evolving into a live performance venue. Designed by Simon Zelnik, its Art Deco interiors once hosted Hollywood classics and later, major cultural events. Now a premier concert hall, it remains a vital gathering place, celebrating music, arts and the resilience of diverse communities.
Its 1,326 seats are expected to be filled for the Freedom Gala, organizers said.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit oceanatheater.com.
