An exploration of Ukrainian classical music is the focus of the concert “Sorrow and Joy,” set for Saturday, May 17, 2 p.m., at the Trenton City Museum.

The event was designed to bring attention to the current plight of the people of Ukraine and to recognize the Ukrainian presence in the region. It also complements the current Trenton City Museum exhibition, “Cultural Connections: Eastern European Artists of Greater Trenton.”

The concert includes music by Mykola Lysenko, known as the father of Ukrainian classical music; Kyrylo Stetsenko, one of Ukraine’s most prolific and important 20th century artists; Vasyl Barvinsky, Ukraine’s first internationally known composer; and Stefania Turkewich, Ukraine’s first female composer.

Tenor Andrew Skitko, the Westminster College-trained cantor at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Trenton and director of the Ukrainian Art Song Project, performs along with pianist Alina Rabchuk, who is worship leader at Grace Ukrainian Baptist Church in Warminster, Pa.; and violinist Ksenia Stetsenko-Skitko, a Ukrainian composer who merges Western classical music tradition with Eastern-European folk music. In addition to being married to Andrew Skitko, she is the great granddaughter of Ukrainian composer Kyrylo Hryhorovych Stetsenko, whose work will be performed at the event.

A $5 donation is requested to support the artists. For more information or reservations, visit ellarslie.org/cultural or call (609) 989-1191.