Chmyr receives prestigious National Presidential Award

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - Ukrainian baritone Oleh Chmyr received the "National Presidential Award and Medal for Art and Culture" and was accorded the title of "Distinguished Artist of Ukraine" via a decree signed by President Viktor Yushchenko on November 30, 2005. The honor was in recognition of his "significant contribution to international art and culture." An awards ceremony is slated to be held at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv.

An opera and chamber singer as well as educator, Mr. Chmyr, a native of Lviv, received his professional training at the Lviv and Moscow conservatories. He has appeared as principal soloist with the Lviv, Ekaterinburg, Wroclaw and Kiel Opera Houses, and his opera and concert tours have taken him on extensive tours abroad. His repertoire includes over 20 leading baritone roles. Many of Mr. Chmyr's former students are first prize winners at international competitions.

Mr. Chmyr, who immigrated to the United States in 1994, is currently a leading soloist with the New Jersey State Opera and teaches voice at County College of Morris in New Jersey.

In 2000 his CD titled "European Vocal Miniatures," featuring art songs by Western European as well as Ukrainian, Polish and Russian composers, was released on the occasion of his solo, eponymously titled, concert debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall.

Mr. Chmyr returns to Ukraine frequently with concert appearances. He has performed regularly at the Ukrainian Independence Day concerts in Kyiv between 2003 and 2005 and he is also a frequent guest on Ukrainian radio and television in performances as well as interviews.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 1, 2006, No. 1, Vol. LXXIV

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