Born in Kyiv, Andriy Marchenko was appointed the Director of the Ukrainian Welcome Centre in April 2022. For 28 years prior to this employment, he served as a Ukrainian diplomat, most recently as Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom. He previously served in Canada, Sweden and Libya. He is currently also a Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

"We are deeply moved and grateful to St James's Chamber Orchestra and to everyone involved. By supporting the Ukrainians who have now found refuge in the United Kingdom, you are helping the whole nation survive the barbaric war waged against it by the Russian Federation. Thank you for your interest and generosity, and we hope you enjoy the exquisite musical experience provided by the talented musicians and the unique venue of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral. Welcome!"