Russian and Ukrainian violinist and teacher, Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1925, Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1934.
Biography.
Mykhailo was born on 4 December (22 November) 1885 in the village of Baranovo, Starooskolsky Uyezd, Kursk Province (modern Gorshechensky District, Kursk Region) into a poor gypsy family. His father was a third-generation violinist and leader of a gypsy orchestra. At the age of five, Mykhailo gave his first concert in Kharkiv, and the same year he performed in Rostov and Yekaterinoslav. At the age of 14, with charitable donations and money earned at concerts, he went to Moscow with a letter of recommendation from Rear Admiral Abaza and was accepted to the music school at the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory.
In 1904, he graduated from the school with a gold medal in violin from I. Grzhymal; he taught at the Samara Music School. He participated in the events of 1905 and conducted the orchestra at Bauman's funeral. He was convicted and exiled to Vologda, then to the Arkhangelsk province. After being allowed to perform, he travels almost all over the Russian Empire with concerts; along with performances for wealthy audiences, he gives charity concerts for the benefit of miners, workers, and students.
In 1910, he became a laureate of the Moscow Violin Competition and was invited to teach at the Kyiv Music School (in 1913-20, the Conservatory). In 1910-17, he led the quartet of the Kyiv branch of the Russian Musical Society, performed as a soloist and conductor.
In 1920, he settled permanently in Krasnodar, where he organized and headed the music and theater committee, symphony orchestra, academic choir, drama and opera theaters, and the Kuban Conservatory. Since 1927, he worked in Moscow. In 1935 he was invited to a professorship at the Moscow Conservatory. He died on January 21, 1940.
In 1956, the Erdenko Music School was opened in Staryi Oskol, and a street was named after him.
In 1986, the first Erdenko Competition for Young Violinists and Cellists was founded and held.
