Tag = Violin: Krysa, Oleh Nationality: Ukrainian-American

Krysa, Oleh

"Musician of the first rank." — The New York Times

The Ukrainian-American violinist Oleh Krysa is long esteemed in the former USSR as a distinguished soloist, chamber musician and teacher. A prominent student of David Oistrakh, Oleh Krysa won major prizes in such international competitions as the Wieniawski, Tchaikovsky and Montreal, and was the outright winner of the Paganini Competition.

Oleh Krysa began his teaching career as chairman of the Violin Department at the Kiev Conservatory. In 1973 he took the same position at the Gnesin Musical and Pedagogical Institute in Moscow and, two years later, returned to the Moscow Conservatory as Professor of Violin, where he remained until 1988. Currently he is Professor of Violin at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

Oleh Krysa has performed in major music centers throughout the world (including the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Concertgebouw, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, Teatro alla Scala, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Kennedy Center, etc.) with leading orchestras and conductors and ensembles. He has also appeared at major festivals in Europe, North America, the Far East and Australia. In addition to his thriving solo career, Mr. Krysa was the leader of the celebrated Beethoven String Quartet 1977-87.

Oleh Krysa is also a champion of contemporary music and has worked closely with Alfred Schnittke, Edison Denisov, Sofia Gubaidulina, Krzsyzstof Penderecki, Sydney Hodkinson, Virko Baley, Valentin Silvestrov and Myroslav Skoryk. He has premiered a number of their works and many have been written specifically for him. Mr. Krysa has recorded on the Melodiya, BIS, Triton, Olympia, Amadis, Polskie Nagranie, TNC and Russian Disc labels.

Oleh Krysa has served on the jury panel of the International Tchaikovsky, Wieniawski, Paganini, Kreisler, Joachim, Oistrakh, Lipizer, Quingdao, Sarasate and Montreal Violin Competitions.

Mr. Krysa is married to pianist Tatiana Tchekina who has been his partner in most of his recitals and recordings over the years.

"...distinguished musician herself and a pianist of a notable talents..." — Canberra Times