Iryna Borysivna Aleksiychuk (born December 16, 1967, Dovzhansk) is a Ukrainian composer, pianist, and organist. Laureate of the Revutsky Prize, the Vedel Prize, and the Lysenko Prize, Honored Artist of Ukraine (2018), volunteer to help the Ukrainian army against Russian armed aggression.
She was born in Sverdlovsk, now Dovzhansk, Luhansk region. Her father, Borys Hryhorovych Aleksiychuk, was a choirmaster, so since childhood Iryna has been familiar and close to the magic of choral sound and the specifics of working with a choir. She helped her father a lot as a concertmaster and arranger of music.
In 1983, she entered the piano department of the Khmelnytsky Music School (class of A. Antonov) and in 1985, as an external student, she completed a full four-year course at this educational institution in three years, receiving a diploma with honors. In 1991, she graduated with honors from the Kyiv National Music Academy with a degree in piano (class of Honored Artist, Professor I. Ryabov). In 1993, she graduated with honors from the Kyiv National Music Academy with a degree in composition (class of Honored Artist, Professor Y. Lapinsky). From 1993 to 1996, she took optional organ lessons (class of Assoc. Prof. H. Bulybenko). In 1996, she completed an assistantship at the Department of Composition of the Kyiv National Music Academy (creative director - Honored Artist, Professor Y. Lapinsky).
She is married and collaborates with pianist Yurii Kot.
Since September 2009, she has been practicing Irish sports dancing at the Shannon River School in Kyiv. During this period, she actively participated in international Irish dance competitions and passed all qualification levels, reaching the highest qualification in the industry - OPEN dancer. She is a multiple winner of Eastern European, European and world championships in solo Irish dance.
Music career
Iryna Aleksiychuk is a composer, pianist, organist and teacher - a member of the Ukrainian Association of Pianists-Winners of International Competitions, a member of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine since 1998, a member of the National All-Ukrainian Music Union since 2003, and a member of the Board of the Kyiv Branch of the National All-Ukrainian Music Union from 2005 to 2008.
Multiple laureate of regional competitions of young pianists and composers, winner of numerous regional theoretical competitions (Khmelnytsky, 1974-1983); diploma winner of the National Competition of Young Composers named after S. Prokofiev (Donetsk, 1993); laureate of the First International Competition of Chamber Music Performers "Golden Autumn" in the category "Piano Duets" (Khmelnytsky, 1993); winner of the First International Competition of Chamber Music Performers "Golden Autumn" (Khmelnytsky, 1993). Khmelnytsky, 1993); winner of the 45th ARD International Competition in the category "Piano Duets" (Munich, 1996); winner of the 6th Murray Dranoff International Piano Duets Competition (Miami, 1997); winner of the First All-Ukrainian Competition of Composers "Spiritual Psalms" for the best choral work based on biblical texts (Kyiv, 2001).
In February 2000, she was awarded the L. Revutsky Prize of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine, the National Union of Composers of Ukraine, and the National All-Ukrainian Music Union for her concert activities and performance of contemporary music.
In May 2014, she was awarded the Art Prize "Kyiv" named after Artemiy Vedel of the Kyiv City State Administration in the field of musical composition for the cantata mystery "Lullabies of the Reeds" for soloists, mixed choir and symphony orchestra in five parts; Laureate of the Mykola Lysenko Prize for outstanding achievements in professional composing (2020).
Since 1994 she has been working as a lecturer and since 2001 as an acting associate professor at the Department of Composition of the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy, teaching composition, instrumentation, choral arrangement and score reading. Every year, about 20-25 students from different faculties (composition, history and theory, folk instruments, and opera and symphony conducting) study the above disciplines in her class. Among Iryna Aleksiychuk's graduates are I. Andrievsky, N. Mizney, V. Protasov, V. Kuzin, V. Oliynyk, S. Holubnychyi, K. Osadcha, I. Cherednychenko, Y. Odrin, D. Danov, S. Kadenko, M. Shpanko, M. Narodytska, and others. The works of students of Oleksiychuk's class regularly take part in the reporting concerts of the Department of Composition of the National Music Academy and concerts of the festivals of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine.
Since 1983, Oleksiychuk has performed extensively in prestigious concert halls in Ukraine (Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Odesa, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Kaniv, Bila Tserkva, Ternopil, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, Bakhmut, Shostka); Belarus (Minsk); Moldova (Chisinau); Serbia (Kragujevac); Slovakia (Košice); Germany (Munich, Dresden, Darmstadt); Italy (Carrara) and the United States (Miami) as a pianist, composer, organist, member of chamber ensembles of various compositions, as well as a piano duo with Honored Artist of Ukraine, winner of international competitions Yurii Kot. The duo has won three international competitions, two of which (the ARD International Competition in Munich and the Murray Dranoff Two Piano Competition in Miami) are considered to be among the most prestigious and challenging music competitions in the world. The duo's repertoire includes world classics and original, sometimes exclusive works created specifically for this ensemble. Iryna Aleksiychuk and Yuriy Kot are performers, and often the first performers, of works by many Ukrainian composers (E. Stankovych, H. Lyashenko, Y. Ishchenko, L. Dychko, O. Kostin, B. Filts, Y. Lapinsky, V. Yefremov, V. Zhuravitsky, S. Lunev, M. Kovalinas, and others).
Aleksiychuk has performed with the Bavarian Radio Munich Symphony Orchestra, Germany (conductors: Wolfgang Balzer, Lothar Zagrosek); MERCK Chamber Orchestra, Darmstadt, Germany (conductor: Christian Rudolf Riedel); National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (conductors: Volodymyr Sirenko, Viktor Ploskina); National Variety and Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Natalia Ponomarchuk); Symphony Orchestra of the Zaporizhzhia National Philharmonic (conducted by Viacheslav Redia); The ARCHI Chamber Orchestra, Kyiv (conducted by Ihor Andriievskyi); the Kyiv Soloists Chamber Ensemble, Kyiv (conducted by Bohodar Kotorovych); the New World Symphony Orchestra, Miami, USA (conducted by Neil Stalberg), etc.
She has participated as a pianist and composer in numerous international music festivals. Among them: "In Memoriam" Festival in memory of Volodymyr and Regina Horowitz (Kyiv); "Season Premieres" and "Kyiv Music Fest" (Kyiv); "Farbotony" (Kaniv); Festival in memory of H.H. Neuhaus Memorial Festival and Bach Fest (Kropyvnytskyi); Golden Autumn (Bila Tserkva); Polissya Rhapsody (Shostka); Duetissimo (Minsk, Belarus); Musiksommer 97 (Dresden); Two Pianos Plus (Miami); "Oktoch (Kragujevac, Serbia); the Chamber Music Festival in Carrara (Italy); the Hong Kong Contemporary Music Festival, choral music festivals in Spain, Poland and Germany, etc.
In January and August 1998, February 2003, January 2004, and October 2006, she gave piano master classes and lectures in Kragujevac (Serbia). In January 2001, she participated in the jury of the First International Competition for Young Pianists GRADUS AD PARNASSUM (Kragujevac, Serbia). In February 2005 and April 2008, she participated in the jury of the All-Ukrainian Competition of Pianists-Students of Music Schools named after I. Karabyts. She regularly participates in the work of the L. Revutsky Prize Commission of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine, the NUCA and the Navy. In April 2007, she participated in the jury of the international competition for young composers GRADUS AD PARNASSUM (Kyiv, Ukraine), in May 2010 she was the chairman of the jury of the Golden Orpheus competition for children's choirs (Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine). In November 2015, she participated in the jury of the All-Ukrainian Competition of Young Pianists in Memory of P. Tchaikovsky in Kamianka, Cherkasy region.
As a composer, Oleksiychuk works in various genres. Her oeuvre includes symphonic, choral, chamber vocal and instrumental works that are very popular among performers and listeners. But it is the choral genre that is one of her favorites and is in great demand among performers.
The composer works extensively on the orders of individual groups and performers. Various choral groups have repeatedly received special prizes and grand prizes at international choral competitions for performing works by contemporary authors, choosing music by I. Aleksiychuk. In 2017, the girls' choir of the Mykola Lysenko Kyiv Music School under the direction of Yulia Puchko-Kolesnyk won first place in the world ranking of choirs in the category "Sacred Music" for performing a program exclusively of Iryna Aleksiychuk's works. The composer's works were also performed by the State Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (conductors V. Sirenko, V. Ploskina); the State Variety and Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (conductor N. Ponomarchuk); B. Lyatoshynskyi Classical Music Ensemble (conducted by I. Andrievskyi); Kyiv Municipal Chamber Choir (conducted by M. Hobdych); Khreshchatyk Municipal Chamber Choir (conducted by L. Bukhonska); Women's Chamber Choir (conducted by L. Bukhonska). Bukhonska); Women's Choir of the Drahomanov National Pedagogical University (conductor L. Baida); Women's Choir of the Glier State Music School (conductor G. Horbatenko); Boys and Young Men's Choir "Dzvinochok" (conductor R. Tolmachov); Children's Choir "Dzvinochok" (conductor R. Tolmachov); Children's Choir of the Mykola Lysenko Children's Music School (conducted by Y. Puchko-Kolesnyk); Choir of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (conducted by V. Vitrenko); Amateur Women's Choir "Oriana" (conducted by G. Shpak, Odesa). Odesa); Choir of the Military Music Center of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Chernihiv (conductor M. Honcharenko); Municipal Chamber Choir of Kropyvnytskyi (conductor Y. Liubovych); Kropyvnytskyi Women's Choir (conductor O. Trushyna); Kropyvnytskyi Women's Choir (conductor O. Trushyna); Municipal Chamber Choir of Luhansk (conductor N. Knyazeva); Municipal Chamber Choir of Khmelnytskyi (conductor I. Tsmur); Chamber Choir "Taipei Chamber Singers", Taiwan (conductor Chen Yun-Hung); ARCHI String Quartet under the direction of I. Andrievskyi. Honored Artist of Ukraine Y. Kot; soloist of the National House of Organ and Chamber Music, winner of international competitions V. Pototska; soloist of the Khmelnytsky Regional Philharmonic, winner of international competitions O. Leonova; soloist of the National House of Organ and Chamber Music, winner of international competitions O. Shynal; winners of international competitions N. Syvachenko, Y. Bilousova, M. Svyato and others.
The composer's individual and stylistic searches, dominated by the neo-romantic trend, are characterized by a combination of modern compositional techniques with traditional culture, emotionality, and generalized figurative programmatic. The thematic and intonational content of his work is determined by the breadth of associative connections, the original transformation of folklore, biblical, and classical literary motifs, and the tendency to large cyclic forms.
Aleksiychuk's music has been performed and admired by audiences in the United States, Italy, Serbia, Spain, Korea, Poland, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and other European countries. Aleksiychuk has recorded on television and radio in Ukraine, Serbia, Germany, and the United States. She has been repeatedly invited to participate in art programs on Ukrainian radio and television. Her works and concert performances have received positive reviews in the foreign and domestic press. In January 2013, a CD with choral music by Iryna Aleksiychuk was released.
Helping the Ukrainian army
In March 2015, on the recommendation of the medical service of the Right Sector's Hospitallers, Iryna Aleksiychuk was awarded the medal "For Dignity and Patriotism" by the All-Ukrainian Association of Citizens "Krayina" for civic courage, patriotism, civic activism and selflessness aimed at uniting Ukrainian citizens in the pursuit of sovereignty and development of the state, and for active volunteer work and assistance to the wounded and the front line. Order No. 3 of 03.03.2015 (No. 0632).
In February 2019, on the recommendation of the commander of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, People's Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Mykhailo Drapatyi, she was awarded the medal "For Dignity and Patriotism" by the All-Ukrainian Association of Citizens "Krayina" for civic courage, patriotism, civic engagement and selflessness aimed at uniting Ukrainian citizens in the pursuit of sovereignty and development of the state, and for active volunteer work to help the front. Order No. 74 of February 06, 2019 (No. 8333).
In November 2019, she was awarded the annual Euromaidan SOS Volunteer Award for her active volunteer work to help the frontline.
She also has numerous certificates of appreciation from various military units for her volunteer assistance to the Ukrainian army during the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine.
Awards.
Honored Artist of Ukraine
Winner of national and international competitions
Laureate of the L. M. Revutskyi Prize
Laureate of the Art Prize "Kyiv" named after Artem Vedel
Laureate of the Mykola Lysenko Prize
Associate Professor of the Department of Composition at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine
Works.
Symphonic and cantata-oratorio works:
Symphonic Suite "Folk Images" (1990);
Symphonic poem "Calvary" (1990);
Symphonic poem "Echo" (1991);
Symphony for large symphony orchestra (1995);
"Bridges to Invisible Shores for two pianos and symphony orchestra (2006);
"Lullabies of the Reeds" cantata-mystery in five parts for soloists, mixed choir and symphony orchestra based on the poems of Olena Stepanenko (2006-2007);
Choral works:
Cantata "The Garden of Divine Songs..." based on poems by H. Skovoroda for mixed a'cappella choir (1991);
Choral diptych "Psalms of David" based on biblical texts for mixed a'cappella choir (2000);
Psalm No. 142 "My Voice to the Lord" for women's a cappella choir (2002)
Psalm No. 100 "All the earth, call to the Lord!" for a male a cappella choir (2002);
"Breath of Time" for mixed a cappella choir based on texts from the Upanishads (2002);
"The Lord's Prayer ("Our Father...") for mixed a'cappella choir (2003);
"Tsarevchev's Lyre" - three arrangements of Balkan folk songs from the collection of Vladimir Pavlovich (Tsarevets) for mixed a cappella choir (2004);
"Letters from the Shell" - three choral fantasies for a cappella women's choir based on the poems of Olena Stepanenko (2005);
"Evening Prayer" ("O Heavenly King...") is a prayerful sigh for women's a cappella choir and wind chimes (2007);
"Spiritual Hymns" is a choral concerto for women's a cappella choir based on canonical texts in four parts (2011);
"Otherworldly Games" is a mystery-action in two parts for women's a cappella choir, electronic recording, wargan, didgeridoo and drums based on the poem by Olena Stepanenko (2008);
"Kolyada" is an arrangement of a Ukrainian folk song for mixed a cappella choir (2009).
"Glory to the Father and the Son..." for women's a cappella choir (2010);
"Glory to the Father and the Son..." for mixed a cappella choir (2020);
"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts" for mixed a cappella choir (2010);
"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts" for women's a cappella choir (2011);
"How Volodya flew quickly down the mountain" for mixed a cappella choir based on the poem by Daniel Harms (2011);
"Vesnyanky" - five arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs for women's a cappella choir (2012);
"Sincere St. Nicholas" is a fantasy cantata based on Ukrainian folk carols, cantos and psalms for a cappella women's choir and percussion in three parts (2012);
"Shareno blooms" - three arrangements of Balkan folk songs for women's a cappella choir (2013);
"Pesme љubavi" - three arrangements of Balkan folk songs for women's a cappella choir (2013);
"Chula Jesam" arrangement of a Balkan folk song for women's a cappella choir (2013);
"Gloria" Anthem of the All-Ukrainian Summer Choral Academy for the tests of Hryhorii Skovoroda (2019);
Anthem of the city of Pokrovsk to the lyrics of Olena Stepanenko (2020).
"Güzel Qırım" ("Beautiful Crimea") is an arrangement of a Crimean Tatar folk song for mixed a cappella choir (2021);
"Song" ("Are there any better among the flowers...") based on the text by Lesya Ukrainka for women's a cappella choir (2021);
"Song" ("Is there a better one between flowers...") based on the text by Lesya Ukrainka for mixed a cappella choir (2021);
"Sweet Mother Mary" based on a text by Vitaliy Blyzniuk for children's choir accompanied by piano (2021);
"Sweet Mother Mary" based on a text by Vitaliy Blyzniuk for women's a cappella choir (2021).
Works for two pianos and piano for four hands:
Concert Fantasy "On the Night of Ivan Kupala" for two pianos (1997);
Suite for two pianos based on the novel "Viy" by Nikolai Gogol (2000);
Musical and choreographic composition "Kolomyika No. 1 (Oh, in the forest - hop, hop!)" for two pianos, two pianists and some individual parts of their bodies (2002);
"Kolomyika No. 2 (Oh, in the field - uh-uh!)" for two pianos (2003);
"In Search of Silences... for four-hand piano, wind chimes and electronic recording (2006);
Chamber vocal works:
Vocal Cycle "Love Songs" based on poems by ancient Japanese poets for soprano and piano (2017);
Vocal cycle "The Clay of the Lord" based on poems by Olena Stepanenko for soprano accompanied by piano (2018);
Vocal cycle "Songs of the Old Troubadour" based on poems by Jovan Dučić for baritone accompanied by piano (2018);
"Amore, ora pro nobis" or "Two Ballads about Perfect Love" based on the poems by Olena Stepanenko and Edward Estlin Cummings for mezzo-soprano, organ and bell (2019);
Chamber instrumental works:
"Del vuoto lucente..." ("From the shining void...") for string quartet (2004);
"So Close..." for violin and piano (2005);
"Inscriptions on Water" for violin, cello and piano in 5 movements (2005);
A cycle of preludes for piano (1985-1986);
Two cycles of Variations on a Theme of His Own (1988-1989);
First Sonata for piano (1990);
"The Last Sutra (Second Sonata) for piano (2002);
Transcriptions for piano and two pianos, etc.
