Oksana Herasymenko is a Ukrainian bandura player, teacher and composer, Honored Artist of Ukraine (2008), member of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine, associate professor of the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy.
She was born on June 2, 1959 in Lviv (Ukraine) in the family of a famous bandura player, teacher, master inventor Vasyl Herasymenko. Her sister, Olga Gerasymenko-Oliynyk, is an Honored Artist of Ukraine and the wife of the American composer of Ukrainian descent Yuriy Oliynyk.
1982 - graduated from the Mykola Lysenko Lviv State Conservatory (orchestra faculty, bandura class of Professor Vasyl Herasymenko).
2005 - graduated from the Mykola Lysenko Lviv National Music Academy (Theory and Composition Faculty, class of Professor Myroslav Skoryk).
1983-1989 - worked as a music inspector (Especialista de Musica) in the Provincial Department of Culture in Cuba (Cuba, Provincia Granma, Dirección Sectorial de Cultura del Consejo de la Administración del Poder Popular Provincial), and also conducted concert activities.
1989-1991 - worked as an artist at the Agrupación de Conciertos de Granma (Cuba).
Since 1991 she has been a senior lecturer at the Mykola Lysenko Lviv State Music Academy, and since 2007 she has been an associate professor.
3 1996 - Member of the National All-Ukrainian Music Union.
3 1999 - Member of the National Union of Kobzars of Ukraine.
Since 2006 - Member of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine.
Winner of the First Prize of the Hryhoriy Kitastyi International Bandura Composition Competition in 2000 (Toronto, Canada) for his concert fantasy "Kupalo".
Concert activity
From 1974 to 1982, she performed in Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Poland, Vietnam, and Japan together with her sister Olha and Olha Voitovych as part of the bandura trio Lvivianky. In 1978, she received the First Prize at the All-Union Competition-Festival dedicated to the World Festival of Youth and Students in Cuba. Since 1985, she has been active as a soloist and in collaboration with Cuban musician Carlos Puig Premión. At the invitation of Leo Brauer, she participated in concerts at the International Guitar Festival in Havana, Cuba (1986, 1988, 1990). In 1989-1991, she performed as a soloist and in a duet with the Japanese guitarist Ichiro Suzuki at the International Guitar Festival in Barcelona, at international music festivals in Palamos (Spain), France, and Japan. In 1990, she toured the United States. Since 1992, she has been collaborating with Kateryna Nemesh (flute), Myron Bloshchychak (Pan flute), and a string quartet (Zoryana Ivaniv, Olha Luchak, Liudmyla Sauliak, Liudmyla Romanova). Participates in the International Hotkevych Festival in Przemysl (Poland, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2001). In 1994, she toured various cities in Argentina. 1995 - participation in the International Music Festival "Virtuosos of Lviv". 1999 - concerts at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv and the Lviv Philharmonic dedicated to the 25th anniversary of her career. At the invitation of Juan Falu, she performed in various cities of Argentina as part of the International Festival "Guitars of the World´99". In 2000, she took part in the International Festival "Bandura 2000" (Toronto, Canada), performed at the Shevchenko Evenings in San Francisco and Sacramento (USA). She participated in the Days of Ukrainian Culture in Croatia (2000) and toured France (2002). In 2003, she performed the premiere of Yuriy Oliynyk's Third Concerto for Bandura and Symphony Orchestra in the United States with the Camellia Symphony Orchestra in Sacramento under the direction of Yuri Kovalchuk. Sacramento under the baton of Eugene F. Castillo. Together with her sister Olha Herasymenko-Oliynyk, she participated in the Holodomor commemoration evenings in Ukraine, which took place in Ukrainian churches in Sacramento and San Francisco, as well as in the symposium "Holodomor in Ukraine: 70 Years Later..." held at Stanford University with the participation and honoring of Robert Conquest. In 2004 and 2005, she toured Italy with Myron Bloshchychak and the Orpheus vocal ensemble. In 2005, she performed at the Independence Day concert at the Opera and Ballet Theater together with the Lviv Regional Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Roman Fylypchuk (performance of her own symphonic poem "Victoria"). In 2006, she toured Manila (Philippines), where she performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Cultural Center of the Philippines under the direction of Eugene Castillo (performing Yuriy Oliynyk's Third Concerto). In 2008, she performed in Yuriy Oliynyk's author's concert dedicated to the anniversary of his wife Olya Herasymenko-Oliynyk in the S. Liudkevych Concert Hall of the Lviv Regional Philharmonic (Ukrainian premiere of the third concert). In November 2008, together with the chamber orchestra "Virtuosos of Lviv" under the direction of Myron Yusypovych, she performed in the Requiem Concert to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor in the Lviv Regional Philharmonic. In 2009-2010, the author's 50th anniversary concerts were held: "The Mystery of Love" (Lviv Regional Philharmonic, 11.06.09), chamber music concerts "Autumn Watercolors" (Great Hall of the Lysenko National Music Academy, 9.12.09) and "Light of Awakened Dreams" (Drohobych Music College, 3.03.10). She performed a solo program in author's concerts at the Museum of the History of Religion (Chervonohrad, 23.08.09) and the Museum of Kobzarism of the National Research and Development Enterprise "Pereyaslav" (15.08.2010). She performed as a soloist and as part of a trio of bandura players in a concert dedicated to the 60th anniversary of V. Ivasyuk (Lviv Regional Philharmonic, 2009). Performances in the gala concerts of the All-Ukrainian Ostap Veresay Competition-Festival (Kremenets, 20.09.09; Chekhov Theater (Yalta, 27.09.09). Performance in a concert within the framework of the International Scientific and Practical Conference "Taras Shevchenko and Kobzarism" (S. Lyudkevych Concert Hall, LOF, April 15, 2010). In 2011, at the invitation of Ichiro Suzuki, she toured Japan (Kove City, ASAHI concert Hall, 6.11.2011). She has repeatedly participated in Shevchenko's evenings in the Lviv Palace of Arts, in V. Gerasymenko's anniversary concerts in the Lviv Regional Philharmonic. Performance with the Opera House Orchestra in the Concert-requiem in memory of the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-33 (Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. Krushelnytska, 26.11.2011). 20-21.01.2018 - concerts in the USA with the Los Angeles Balalaika orchestra: San Diego (Encinitas Community Center), Los Angeles (The Herbert Zipper Concert Hall).
Audio recordings
LD, recorded at the EGREM studio (Cuba, 1988). Music by Ukrainian and Latin American composers.
Oksana Herasymenko "Strings of the Soul": original songs and instrumental compositions: Yevshan Corp., 1996. - CYFP 1148.
"ON THE WINGS OF DREAMS": Ukrainian songs and songs of the world performed by Oksana Herasymenko, arranged by O. Herasymenko. O. Herasymenko - USA: YVO Prod., 1994.
Festival Guitarras del Mundo, 98 / 99. - EPSA music, Argentina, 2000. (Recording of two author's works: "Rain Fantasies", "Lullaby to Alyonushka").
"For the Nativity of Christ": Ukrainian carols performed by Olya, Oksana Herasymenko and an instrumental ensemble: YVO Prod., 1999.
"ADORACION": songs and instrumental music by Latin American composers performed by Oksana Herasymenko, arranged by O. Herasymenko.
"TAYNA" Instrumental pieces by Oksana Herasymenko. - O. Herasymenko (bandura), M. Bloshchychak (Ukrainian wind instruments), K. Nemesh, A. Karpyak (flute), Lviv Philharmonic String Quartet (V. Duda, R. Sokruta, V. Megeden, S. Kanchalaba-Shvaykovska), String Quartet (Z. Ivanov, O. Luchak, L. Sauliak, L. Romanova) - [CD]: Rostock Records, 2002.
"Christmas Dreams": Ukrainian Christmas carols - O. Herasymenko (bandura), M. Bloshchychak (Ukrainian wind instruments), arranged by O. Herasymenko: ALLCANN WOOD & INDIGO, 2002.
"AROUND THE WORLD WITH A CAROL": Ukrainian carols. O. Herasymenko (voice, bandura), M. Bloshchychak (Ukrainian wind instruments), O. Luchak (violin), arrangements by O. Herasymenko.
"UKRAINE IN THE VOICE OF OKSANA": author's songs by Oksana Herasymenko based on the words of Ukrainian poets, folk songs. O. Herasymenko (voice, bandura), M. Bloshchychak (Ukrainian wind instruments), K. Demkiv (violin), arrangements by O. Herasymenko.
"Bells of the Native Land": Songs by Oksana Herasymenko with lyrics by Maria Chumarna [CD]. - Ternopil: Uchytelna Knyha - Bogdan, 2017.
Composer's work
The composer's works include the Symphonic Poem "Victoria", chamber instrumental and vocal-instrumental music, choral arrangements, works for children, numerous translations and arrangements. Author of 4 educational and methodological manuals "Etudes for bandura for different types of techniques" (2004), "Ukrainian carols for bandura ensembles" and "For young bandura players" (2006), co-author (with O. Hryb) of the textbook "Chimarosa D. Sonatas. Arranged for Bandura" (2011), "Ukraine, My Ukraine" (teaching aid, 2017),
Her compositions are constantly performed in Ukraine, as well as in different countries of the world (Canada, USA, Argentina, Japan, France, Spain, Poland, etc.), often featured on radio and television programs in Lviv, Kyiv, other cities of Ukraine and other countries, and are used for soundtracking documentaries and theatrical performances, including "Firebird" (Kinematohrafist Studio, Kyiv), "Return" (LTB, Lviv), "Sweet Darusia" (performance of the Ivano-Frankivsk Drama Theater), etc.
Major works
Solo for flute: For flute and bandura (version: for flute, bandura and string quartet) (1987)
Music for the children's theater performance "Galapago" ("Turtle") in collaboration with Carlos Puig (Cuba, 1989)
Concert Variations for bandura and piano (1990)
Concert Variations on the Theme of the Ukrainian Folk Song "There is a High Mountain": for bandura (1990)
"Portrait of Paris: for bandura, pan flute, bells and string quartet (1990)
Chamber Suite for bandura and flute. In 3 parts (version: for flute, bandura and string quartet or chamber orchestra) (1991)
Catalan rondo: for bandura and guitar (1990)
"Sunbeam": for bandura and pan flute (flute), as well as in versions: for 3 banduras and flute; for piano and flute; for flute, bandura and string quartet (1992)
"On the Wings of Dreams": for flute (violin) and bandura (piano), version: for flute, bandura and string quartet or orchestra (1992)
"Melody of the Blue Sky": For pan flute (flute) and bandura; For flute (violin) and piano; (For flute, bandura and string quartet), for violin ensemble with fp. (1998)
"Dedication": For flute (violin, cello), bandura or piano
Concert Fantasy "Kupalo": for bandura (2000)
"Confession": for vocal ensemble accompanied by banduras (version: for pan flute, bandura and string quartet (string orchestra), for female or mixed choir accompanied by piano, for violin ensemble with violin (2000)
"Mystery": For Pan flute (oboe, flute), 2 banduras and string quartet (chamber orchestra), for violin ensemble with violin (2001)
Cycle of Preludes "Autumn Watercolors": for piano (7 movements) 2002 - 2007
Prelude for cello and piano (2002)
Two romances based on the words of Maria Chumarna: "The Miracle of Autumn", "Spring has come" (2002)
"Ukrainian Rondo: For violin and piano (2003), for cymbals and bassoon (2003)
Variations on the theme of the rifleman's song "Oh there at the valley": for piano (2003)
String Quartet No. 1 (in three movements) (2004)
Symphonic poem "Victoria" for bandura and symphony orchestra (2005)
"What a Happiness!" / words by Ivan Franko: for voice accompanied by piano (bandura), for quartet of bandura players (2006)
Concert Fantasy "Yatran": for bandura ensemble (2007)
"Musical Pastels" piano cycle: "Winter Fairy Tale", "Breath of Spring", "Sunshine Bunnies" (version: for bandura ensemble) (2009)
Elegy in Memory of Volodymyr Ivasyuk: for string orchestra, two banduras, oboe and female vocal quartet (2009)
"Gold-Blue Ukraine" / words by M. Chumarna: for voice and bandura, piano (version: for ensemble of bandura players, with chamber orchestra) (2009)
Triptych for 2 banduras, flute, oboe and string orchestra: "Return", "Starry Eternity", "Light of Awakened Dreams" (2012)
"Oh, the periwinkle has developed into a flower" / lyrics by I. Demyanova: for voice and bandura (fp.) (2009)
"Everything comes, everything goes" / words by T. Shevchenko: for voice and piano (version for symphony orchestra, for female vocal quartet accompanied by banduras (2011)
"For You and Ukraine" on the words of L. A. Makovey: for trio of bandura players, for voice accompanied by piano (2015), for mixed choir accompanied by fp. or bandura ensemble (2018)
Concert Fantasy "Sunflowers": for bandura solo (2015)
Concerto for piano and chamber orchestra "Radosvit" in three parts (for children) (2016, orchestrated 2017)
"Prayer of Thanksgiving" / words by B. Stelmakh: for baritone, vocal quartet, banduras and string orchestra (2016)
"Christmas Gift": for two banduras and string orchestra (2017).
Works for bandura solo: Fantasia, Prelude in A-Moll, Elegy, Reflection, Dawn, Melancholy, Autumn Dreams, Waltz of Cherry Blossoms, Rain Fantasies, Lullaby to Olenka, Autumn Fantasy, Sunset, On the Riverbank, In Anticipation of Spring, etc.
Choral arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs: Nut Seed, Over those peas, The dawn has sown (for mixed choir), The Cossack loved me, Oh, there is rye in the field, Under a cloud (for women's choir).
Vocal pieces based on poems by Ukrainian poets M. Chumarna, T. Uhryn, M. Stetsenko, L. Makovey, M. Dzvinky, and H. Kravchyshyn.
Pieces for bandura, piano for young musicians, 20 songs for children based on poems by M. Chumarna (for voice accompanied by bandura or fp., in versions for 2 banduras, violin, flute, string quartet)
Numerous arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs of various genres (for voice accompanied by bandura, piano, for bandura ensembles), translations and arrangements of works of world classics and Ukrainian composers, including 18 works by Mykhailo Verbytskyi in translation for bandura and arrangements for bandura ensembles, works by M. Lysenko. Lysenko, songs by V. Ivasyuk in arrangements for bandura ensembles and for voice accompanied by a chamber orchestra, songs by I. Kushpler, and several dozen works by Latin American and Spanish composers, both instrumental and for voice accompanied by bandura.
She is the editor of many works by Ukrainian and foreign composers, including 4 concertos for bandura and symphony orchestra, suites for bandura and piano, and other works by Yuriy Oliynyk. She has published more than 40 repertoire collections for bandura players and musicians of other specialties.
