Mykola Ivanovych Rizol (* 19 December 1919, Katerynoslav, now Dnipro) - died 17 March 2007, Kyiv) was an outstanding Ukrainian accordionist, teacher, composer, artistic director of the Kyiv Philharmonic accordion quartet. People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1982), Professor of the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine.
Mykola Rizol was born in the city of Yekaterinoslav into a working-class family. As a member of the Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble, he went through the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
In 1939, together with his sisters Raisa and Mariia Biletsky and Ivan Zhuromsky, Rizol founded the Accordion Quartet, which in its original composition existed for over 50 years, raising the ensemble folk-instrumental art to the highest professional level.
Since 1948, Rizol has been a lecturer at the Kyiv State Conservatory (since 1973, he has been a professor). Over many decades of teaching at the Tchaikovsky Kyiv Conservatory, Professor Mykola Rizol has trained more than 100 bayan musicians. Among his students are 5 People's Artists of Ukraine, 6 Honoured Artists of Ukraine, 7 Honoured Artists of Ukraine, 15 Honoured Workers of Culture of Ukraine, including People's Artists of Ukraine V. Besfamilnov, S. Grinchenko, V. Samofalov; Honoured Artist of Ukraine V. Runchak.
In order to improve his performing technique, M. Rizol developed "Principles of using five-finger fingering on the accordion" (Moscow: Sov.kompozitor, 1977); he is also the author of the collection "Essays on working in an ensemble of accordionists" (Moscow: Sov.kompozitor, 1986). M. I. Rizol composed a concerto for accordion and orchestra, numerous pieces and arrangements of folk songs for accordion. Mykola Rizol made numerous arrangements of classical and contemporary music for a quartet of accordionists, creating a bright, original repertoire.
His arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs, dances, and melodies of the world's peoples have become favourites for accordionists of many generations. They are performed by musicians of all levels of training, and are included in the "golden" fund of folk instrumental art.
Nikolai Ivanovich Rizol is a whole era in this genre. Mykola Rizol's work is continued by his spiritual students and grandchildren - the Mykola Rizol Accordion Quartet of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine.
Family.
His wife is an accordionist Raisa Biletska, a member of the Mykola Rizol Accordion Quartet, Honoured Artist of the Ukrainian SSR.
Daughter Liudmyla (1947) - pianist.
Son Yurii (1957) - director of the Veseli Muzyky ensemble, Honoured Artist of Ukraine.
