Valeriy Tsurkan (born 2 January 1949) is a musician, composer, producer, arranger of folk and pop music, Honoured Worker of Culture of Ukraine (2009), member of the Association of Variety Artists of Ukraine.
Wikipedia has articles on other people with the surname Tsurkan.
He was born on 2 January 1949 in the village of Lymanske, Reniia district, Odesa region. His father was Ivan Lukianovych Tsurkan, a military man, and his mother was Anastasiia Hryhorivna Tsurkan, a housewife.
He studied at the Yevhenivka village school in Tarutino district, took an active part in school amateur activities.
After graduating from school, he entered the Odesa Cultural Education College at the Department of Folk Instruments.
In 1967, he was drafted into the Soviet Army. During his service, he was a conductor of a military orchestra.
After demobilisation from the Soviet Army, he was invited to the village of Sarata, Sarata district, Odesa region, to the position of director of the House of Culture.
Family.
In 1967, he married Valentyna Tsurkan, and they had a son, Viktor.
In 1968, he divorced her.
In 1971, he married Anna Tsurkan.
In 1972, his son Viacheslav was born.
In 1978, a son, Serhii, was born.
In 1980, his son Ihor was born.
Valerii Tsurkan has 6 grandchildren: Valery, Maxim, Denis, Valentin, Vadim, and Anton Tsurkanov. They are also engaged in music and play musical instruments.
Artistic activity
In 1972, he created the Bucuria folk instruments ensemble (Bucuria - joy).
In 1977, the ensemble "Bucuria" was awarded the title of "People's".
In 1981, he began working as the director of the Dniester Dawns Orchestra at the Cultural Centre of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi.
In 1985, the orchestra was awarded the title of "People's". The ensemble performed concerts in Ukraine and abroad.
In 1997-1999, he worked as a brass band director at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Poland (now the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland) in the city of Otwock in the House of Culture.
Since 2000, he has been working at the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Cultural Centre as the director of the Dniester Dawns Orchestra.
In 2004, he became the director of the newly established charity foundation Musical World. The foundation organised concerts and used the money raised to help the Children's City Hospital and provide targeted assistance.
Since 2004, it has organised annual international festivals in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Germany and Moldova.
In 2005, the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Polish National Society "Akkerman" was established, where Tsurkan was appointed director of the Polish House in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi.
The society established the Akkerman Polish Music Ensemble and the Akkerman Polonaise Festival of Polish Culture with the support of the Consulate General of Poland in Odesa. Polish societies established in other countries, such as Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, took part in the festival.
In 2009, by a decree of the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, he was awarded the title of Honoured Worker of Culture of Ukraine.
In 2018, by the decree of the Minister of Culture of Poland, Valeriy Tsurkan was awarded the title of "Honoured Worker of Culture of Poland"), and the award was presented by the Consul General of Poland in Odesa.
In 2019, by the decision of the creative union of the Association of Variety Artists of Ukraine, Tsurkan was awarded the title of Honoured Artist of Variety Art of Ukraine for strengthening friendship between peoples. His sons were also awarded the same titles: Sergey Valerievich Tsurkan, Vyacheslav Valerievich Tsurkan and Igor Valerievich Tsurkan.
Valeriy Tsurkan is proficient in 15 musical instruments.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 quarantine, Valeriy Tsurkan organised online concerts from the kitchen.
Social activities
In 1984, the Tsurkanov family ensemble was created at the City Centre of Culture in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, which included his father Valerii Tsurkan, mother Anna Tsurkan, sons Viacheslav, Serhii and Ihor.
In 2009, the Borodino Village Council of Tarutino District, Odesa Region, decided to award him the title of "Honorary Citizen of Borodino Village".
In 2019, he was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of the City of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi" by the decision of the Executive Committee of the City Council.
Currently, Valeriy Tsurkan works at the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Polish National Cultural Society.
Awards.
Honoured Worker of Culture of Ukraine 2009
Honorary citizen of Borodino village 2009
Honourary badge "25 years of Independent Ukraine" 2016
Honoured Worker of Culture of Poland 2016
Medal "For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine" 2018
Honorary Citizen of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi 2019
Honoured Artist of Variety Art of Ukraine 2019
