Istvan Khalus (born 20 August 1979, Mukachevo) is a Ukrainian singer (tenor, baritone), teacher. Leading soloist of the academic choir Cantus, soloist of the famous rock bands Rock-H and Vandor, and the Hungarian Melodies ensemble.
Biography
He was born on 20 August 1979 in Mukachevo in a Hungarian-speaking family of employees of the local Tochprylad enterprise. Istvan's first language was Hungarian. He graduated from a Hungarian-language school in Mukachevo, and in 1996 began studying at the Uzhhorod Music College named after D. Zador, singing department.
Since 2002, he has been an artist of the professional collective of the academic chamber choir "Cantus" in Uzhhorod (for more than 20 years - the leading soloist of the collective). Istvan got acquainted with the Cantus Choir when he entered the Uzhhorod Music College. The teacher of the institution, Emil Sokach, introduced a compulsory discipline - choir, also drew attention to the boy and from the third year began to invite him to concerts. The first trip was to France, which I liked, it was very interesting. I didn't experience any difficulties. He is also a soloist of the Hungarian Melodies chamber instrumental ensemble at the Zakarpattia Regional Philharmonic.
He is a tenor and baritone singer.
In the summer of 2009, he became the new vocalist of the Rock-H band. He studied at the music school and Lviv Conservatory with Viktor Yants, the director of Rock-H and a composer.
In April 2017, he formed his own band, the famous ethno-rock band Vandor (Vandor means "traveller" in Hungarian). According to other sources, István is a co-founder of Vandor together with another band member, guitarist Rodion Sun Lion. The singer and Rodion manage the band together.
He works as a teacher at a specialised music school in Uzhhorod.
On 20 February 2019, he took part in an event to honour the feat of the participants of the Revolution of Dignity and perpetuate the memory of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes at the memorial to the fighters for freedom and independence of Ukraine in Uzhhorod. Together with the choir of students and teachers of the Uzhhorod College of Culture and Arts, he performed the song "Plyve kacha pon Tysyna...".
On 20 September 2022, he took part in the concert programme of the Transcarpathian Regional Philharmonic "Melodies of Autumn", aimed at supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
He is the author of the lyrics of the song "My Stars, My Stars", a translation of the Hungarian folk song "Csillagok, Csillagok".
Awards
In 2011, as a member of Rokash, he became a laureate (II prize) of the All-Ukrainian Festival of Contemporary Song "Chervona Ruta" in the nomination "Rock Music" (Kyiv).
In 2019, as part of Vandor, he won (I prize) the 30th anniversary festival "Chervona Ruta" in the nomination "Rock Music" (Chernivtsi).
