Andriy Omelchenko

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Andriy Fedorovych Omelchenko (2 July 1926 – 9 May 1981) was a Ukrainian bandura virtuoso, composer and teacher. Born in Pavlysh, he learned the bandura from Makar Osadchyj in Dniprodzerzhynsk and performed with the local bandura group. He later studied at the Kiev Conservatory, finishing both vocal and orchestral faculties in 1956, and he continued bandura studies with Volodymyr Kabachok and Andriy Bobyr. From 1952 he was a soloist with the Bandura Ensemble of Ukrainian Radio, and from 1954 he taught bandura at Kiev’s special music high school, later at the Kiev Music College. Omelchenko performed as a soloist in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Finland and France, and won the Moscow 1957 international competition for folk instrument performers. He published collections of bandura music, composed pieces, and edited the 1967 Handbook for the Bandura by Mykola Opryshko. In 1968 he earned the title Candidate of Arts for his bandura studies and worked toward a doctoral dissertation on Ukrainian folk instruments while teaching at the Institute of Culture. He died of liver cancer in Kiev on 9 May 1981 at age 54.