The National Chamber Ensemble “Kyiv Soloists” stands among the foremost musical ensembles of Ukraine. Based in Kyiv, the orchestra unites distinguished musicians from across the country, many of them virtuoso performers in both solo and chamber music. Founded in 1995, the ensemble celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades of artistic excellence and cultural dedication. Together, they preserve and develop the rich traditions of Ukrainian chamber performance, combining technical brilliance with a deeply expressive artistic style.
Since its formation, the “Kyiv Soloists” have earned international acclaim for performances that blend precision, warmth, and emotional sincerity. Their artistry has resonated in many of the world’s leading concert halls, including the Luxembourg Palace and UNESCO in Paris, the Komische Oper in Berlin, the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, Radio Kulturhaus in Vienna, the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore, and at the World Expo in Japan. They have also represented Ukraine at major cultural events, including a performance at the EU Summit in Brussels and the inauguration of Ukraine’s OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna.
The ensemble’s concert programmes span a diverse repertoire, from Baroque and Classical works to contemporary Ukrainian and international compositions. Composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Valentin Silvestrov, Myroslav Skoryk, and Yevhen Stankovych have entrusted them with premiere performances, recognising their deep musical insight and commitment to artistic integrity.
The “Kyiv Soloists” believe in performing chamber music in its original scoring whenever possible, drawing on the skill and artistry of their outstanding individual chamber musicians. This philosophy shapes the ensemble’s distinctive programme concepts, uniting chamber and orchestral traditions in refined and imaginative concert experiences. Works such as Brahms’s Sextets, Mendelssohn’s Octet, Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du temps, Berg’s Lyric Suite, Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht and his Second Quartet, Strauss’s Metamorphosen, and the piano quintets of Franck, Dvořák and Liatoshynsky have featured in their recent performances to great public acclaim.
“Kyiv Soloists” have appeared at numerous prestigious festivals, among them the David Oistrakh Festival in Estonia, Warsaw Autumn, the Krakow and Ruhr classical music festivals, and KyivMusicFest in Ukraine. Their performances captivate audiences with a lyrical approach, expressive clarity, and a distinctively Ukrainian spirit.
For their significant role in promoting Ukraine’s musical heritage worldwide, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has honoured the ensemble with the title “Ambassador of Ukrainian Culture in the World.” Guided by devotion to artistic integrity and a belief in music as a bridge between cultures, the “Kyiv Soloists” continue to represent the voice and soul of contemporary Ukraine on the international stage.
Bohodar Kotorovych (1941-2009) is an outstanding violinist, People’s Artist of Ukraine, laureate of the Taras Shevchenko State Prize. Professor, head of the violin department of the P.I. Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, artistic director and conductor of the State (now National) Chamber Ensemble “Kyiv Soloists” from 1995 to 2009.
His rapid career began while studying at the Moscow Conservatory (class of the famous teacher Yu.I. Yankelevich): while still a student, Bohodar Kotorovych became a laureate of a number of the most prestigious international competitions, including the Niccolo Paganini competitions in Genoa and the George Enescu competitions in Bucharest.
For several years he worked at the Sydney Conservatory (Australia) as a visiting professor.
In 1995, he founded the International Competition of Young Violinists in Kharkiv.
The maestro is the only foreign violinist in the world who had the honor of playing the legendary PAGANINI violin outside of Italy. In May 1999, the mayor of the Italian city of Genoa brought to Kyiv a violin by Niccolò Paganini “Canon” by Guarneri del Gesù on a special flight for two concerts by B. Kotorovich, which were held with extraordinary full houses in the best halls of the city.
Professor Kotorovych B.A. was constantly invited to the jury of the most famous international competitions (ARD in Munich, N. Paganini in Genoa, P. I. Tchaikovsky in Moscow, K. Nielsen in Odense, B. Britten in London, etc.) and headed the Ukrainian International Violin Competition named after M. Lysenko in Kyiv, and in 2004 he became the artistic director of the BrittenKyivFestival.
Bohodar Kotorovych is a worthy representative of the founders of the Ukrainian violin school, David Bertier, Yakov Magaziner, and Petro Stolyarsky. Graduates of Kotorovych’s class are bright musicians who continue his traditions in different countries of the world. Among them are A.Komisarova (Denmark), M.Kotorovych (Ukraine), O.Kotorovych (New Zealand), V.Kuznetsov (Poland), T.Pecheniy (Croatia), B.Pivnenko, K.Stetsenko (Ukraine), D.Tkachenko (England), S.Shott (Ukraine) and others.
According to the results of his creative activity in 1999 and 2000, Bohodar Kotorovych became twice a laureate of the prestigious All-Ukrainian award “Person of the Year”. He was awarded the Order “For Merit” of the III degree.
