Wikipedia

Herman Makarenko

Herman Makarenko (born 29 June 1961, Ukraine) is the conductor of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine named after Taras Shevchenko, the chief conductor and artistic director of the Kyiv Classic Orchestra, People's Artist of Ukraine, PhD,[1] Doctor of Arts, Professor, Ambassador of the Ukrainian culture, became the first Ukrainian musician to be awarded the title of UNESCO Artist for Peace[2][3], Honorary citizen of the city of Kyiv[4], author and initiator of international projects, including those under the auspices of the UN and UNESCO, Head of the Viennese Balls Organizing Committee in Ukraine[5][6], the first performer and conductor of D. Bortnyansky's opera "Creonte" (world premiere on November 11, 2024, Kyiv)[7].

Herman Makarenko
Герман Макаренко
Background information
Born (1961-06-29) 29 June 1961 (age 63)
Lviv, Ukraine
GenresOpera, ballet, symphonic music, chamber music
OccupationConductor
Websitewww.kyivclassic.com

The author of the annual exclusive projects – «Concert Premiere»,[8] «New Year Strauss Concert», «Declaration of Love», concerts dedicated to the 60th, 65th, 70th anniversaries of the UN,[9][10] «Ukraine to China», an international project that brought together UNESCO Artists for Peace «Art Against a Pandemic»,[11] «Message of peace»,[12] and many others.

He has toured all over the world - United States, Canada, France, Italy, Iran, Russia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Norway, Belgium, Serbia, China,[13] Egypt,[14] Kuwait,[15] and others. Performed in prestigious concert halls of the world: UNESCO Headquarters Hall, the Madeleine Church Hall in Paris, Bedřich Smetana Hall in Prague, Cercle Royal Gaulois in Brussels, Cairo Opera House, Abdul Hussain Abdul Ridha Salmiya Theater,[16] Guangzhou Opera House, Xiamen Opera House, etc.

Has recorded more than 15 CDs with works of Western European, Russian, Ukrainian composers (including full music for Tchaikovsky's ballets Swan Lake, Nutcracker , V. Gubarenko opera «Tenderness», and others).

Author of monographs – Music and Philosophy: Schopenhauer, Wagner, Nietzsche, The Conductor's Creative Work: the Dimensions of Aesthetics and Art History and a manual for students in higher education.

Biography

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Herman Makarenko was born on 29 June 1961 in the city of Lviv in the family of opera soloists - mother was a ballet soloist and father was an opera soloist (tenor).

«I was born behind the scenes of the opera, even the name was given to me in honor of the hero of "The Queen of Spades", my father’s favorite opera», says Herman Makarenko.[17]

Makarenko studied at the Kiev music specialized school named after Mykola Lysenko, and graduated from the piano faculty and later - opera and symphony conducting of the National Music Academy of Ukraine of P.I. Tchaikovsky Kiev State Conservatory. Upon completion, he was already a prize-winner of competitions for young performers. Since 1982, he began his career as a conductor, although he considers his work more a mission than a profession.

Among the mentors who had a great influence on the formation and fate of a young musician were People's artists of Ukraine Roman Kofman and Oleg Ryabov, and principal conductor of the National Opera of Ukraine - Stephen Turchak. It was he who in 1987 invited, then a young intern at the Opera House, where Herman, as well as all new conductors, went through all the stages of formation - from assistant-trainee to the lead conductor.

He has toured with various symphony orchestras and opera theaters around the world, including United States, Canada, France, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovakia, Iran, Cyprus, Russia, Egypt, Norway, Kuwait[18] and others.[19]

Herman Makarenko is an adherent of charitable projects, he is convinced that music can heal human soul: “If you feel good, you need to share your happiness with those who need it,” he says. Therefore, he and the Kyiv Classic Orchestra take part in charity Viennese balls around the world, organizes interactive concerts for children for the New Year and St. Nicholas Day. The orchestra under his direction can be seen not only on opera stages, but also in social centers, children's hospitals and even in art projects in the subway.[20][21]

His son and daughter, twins, who study at school, attend all of his concerts, learn to play the violin and even perform on international tours with his father.[22] “I would really like them to love something as much as I love and adore conducting”, says the conductor.

History of the Kyiv Classic Orchestra creation is also unusual: the project, which Herman Makarenko devoted to many years of his life since 2004, was born in Paris. One of the first concerts musicians performed at the La Madeleine Cathedral in Paris, and the next was at the prestigious UNESCO Hall. Ukrainian musicians “passed this exam successfully” and have been touring around the world for many years. The orchestra widely spreads European and Ukrainian classics around the world.[23]

Headed by Herman Makarenko Kyiv Classic Symphony Orchestra has been widely recognized in Ukraine as well as abroad.[24] High professional status of the collective in many aspects supported by his exclusive music projects, including "Concert Premiere", "New Year’s Strauss Concert", "Declaration of love", Viennese balls in Ukraine, Cyprus, Norway,[25] as well as exclusive projects: "Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian" dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the European Constitution, the "Millennium of Ukrainian violin", performed on the instruments of the string master Florian Yuriev.

Maestro collaborates with UNESCO Artists, as well as with well-known composers, musicians and sculptors all over the world - from New York to Cairo, from Paris to Beijing as part of the Global Harmony Art Foundation mission.[26]

Awards

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  • Honored Artist of Ukraine (23 Мау 2002) - for a significant personal contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of the capital of Ukraine
  • Order of Merit of the Third Degree (28 November 2006) - for significant personal contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of Ukraine[27]
  • Ambassador of Ukrainian Culture (22 December 2006)
  • The People's Artist of Ukraine (27 June 2015) - for a significant personal contribution to state construction, socio-economic, scientific, technical, cultural and educational development of Ukraine, significant labor achievements and high professionalism[28]
  • UNESCO Artist for Peace (29 November 2016) - in recognition of the commitment to promote music as a vehicle for dialogue and mutual understanding among people[29]
  • Honorary Citizen of the City of Kyiv (13 July 2023) - for a significant personal contribution to the cultural development of the city of Kyiv, to the enrichment of the national cultural and spiritual heritage of the city, for outstanding achievements in the development of science, education, art, in strengthening the international authority of the capital of Ukraine - the city of Kyiv[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Catalogs - Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine".
  2. ^ "Herman Makarenko joins the family of UNESCO Artists for Peace". UNESCO. 2016-11-30.
  3. ^ "Herman Makarenko | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization".
  4. ^ "Decision of the Kyiv City Council to award the title "Honorary Citizen of Kyiv" in 2023" (PDF). Kyiv City Council (in Ukrainian). 2023-07-13.
  5. ^ "The Charity Viennese Ball in Ukraine - About the Ball".
  6. ^ "Herman Makarenko at the Charity Viennese Ball in Kyiv | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". unesco.org.
  7. ^ "We have returned to the world the Creonte, the first opera by Dmytro Bortnyanskyy". www.ukrinform.ua. 2024-11-11.
  8. ^ "At first there were notes. From abroad" (in Ukrainian).
  9. ^ "Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations in Ukraine" (PDF). Ukraine and the UN: 70 Years Together. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  10. ^ "We would like children's voices and music to speak louder than cannons – Roman Shpek". Uacrisis.org. 2015-10-20. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  11. ^ "Herman Makarenko gathers fellow UNESCO Artists for Peace for 'Art against a pandemic' initiative | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization".
  12. ^ "Hedva Ser and Herman Makarenko collaborate on a video to spread a message of peace | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization".
  13. ^ "一年一度如约而至，圣诞音乐会为城市文化点单 | CULTURE_精品购物指南". 微文库 (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  14. ^ "25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Egypt - Kyiv Classic Orchestra's concert". egypt.mfa.gov.ua. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  15. ^ "Ukrainian Kiev Orchestra performs at concert". timeskuwait.com. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  16. ^ عاطف, أمل (2020-01-24). "أوركسترا "كييف كلاسيك"... عزفت لفيروز وأم كلثوم على مسرح "عبدالحسين"". Alrai-media (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  17. ^ "Top Ukrainian conductor fuses music and philosophy to bring emotion to audience - Nov. 25, 2016". KyivPost. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  18. ^ "Concert of Ukrainian Symphonic Orchestra "Kyiv-Classic" in Kuwait". kuwait.mfa.gov.ua. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  19. ^ "Ukrainian UNESCO Artist for Peace Herman Makarenko - قەڵەم". qelam.com. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  20. ^ "Classical music to sound in the capital's subway". ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  21. ^ "Le chef d'orchestre ukrainien Herman Makarenko nommé Artiste de l'Unesco pour la paix (Actualité) | Opera Online - Le site des amateurs d'art lyrique". opera-online.com (in French). Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  22. ^ "في حفل متميز ضمن "القرين الثقافي 26" والأسبوع الثقافي الأوكراني في الكويت". alanba.com.kw (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  23. ^ "Kyiv Classic Orchestra - DistriShow Orchestre symphonique". DistriShow (in French). Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  24. ^ "Dubai expat helps revive symphony orchestra in Ukraine". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  25. ^ "Charity viennese ball". Oslo Operaball. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  26. ^ "Global Harmony Art Foundation". globalharmonyart.com. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  27. ^ Presidential Decree of November 28, 2006
  28. ^ Decree of the President of Ukraine from June 27, 2015 № 367/2015 "On awarding state awards of Ukraine on the occasion of the Constitution Day of Ukraine
  29. ^ Herman Makarenko joins the family of UNESCO Artists for Peace
  30. ^ "Decision of the Kyiv City Council to award the title "Honorary Citizen of Kyiv" in 2023" (PDF). Kyiv City Council (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-07-13.
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