Oleh Mahlay, Conductor

Oleh Mahlay became the artistic director and conductor of the world-renowned Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus in April of 1996 at the age of 26. He is the youngest artistic director in the Chorus' 78-year history. Mahlay's life-long association with the ensemble, a deep appreciation of the bandura and Ukrainian music, along with his diverse musical background and skills bring a new and exciting vision to this award-winning group.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1969 to Ukrainian immigrants, Mahlay began to study the piano at the age of five. Soon after he began studies on the violin. He studied violin, music theory and form at the Cleveland Music School Settlement where he received scholarships for his studies. Maestro Mahlay also studied piano with Dr. George Cherry of Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music.

Beginning in his early teens, Mr. Mahlay earned outstanding marks at various competitions on both the violin and the piano. At the 1986 Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Summer Music Clinic in Berea, Ohio, he won the piano competition, performing Mozart's Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453 with orchestra. He repeated this feat the next year in which he performed Beethoven's Piano Concert No. 1 in C Major. In 1987 was honored as the Outstanding Student of the Year. That same year he was also the piano soloist in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy with the Parma Symphony Orchestra.

Maestro Mahlay received a bachelor of arts in music history and literature from Case Western Reserve University. He studied voice and piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He served as the concertmaster of the University Circle Chamber Orchestra for four years. During his undergraduate studies, the university awarded him the Kennedy Prize for Creative Achievement in Music, and the Charles E. Clemens Prize for Talent and Accomplishment in Music.

In 1988, Mr. Mahlay attended the Bolzano Institute of Music in Bolzano, Italy. There, he concentrated on piano chamber works and accompanying. The previous two years he participated in a choral conducting seminar in Edmonton, Canada. This workshop was run by Maestro Wolodymyr Kolesnyk, formerly of the Kyiv Opera and artistic director of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus for over a decade.

At the age of 16, Mr. Mahlay became the choir director of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio. This position was held for many years by Hryhory Kytasty – Ukrainian composer, bandura player, Artistic Director of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, and musical mentor to Oleh Mahlay. This post gave the current artistic director and conductor of the Chorus the opportunity at a very young age to explore the art of choral conducting and the mystical sounds of Slavic sacred music. Mr. Mahlay also has orchestral conducting experience, once serving as the assistant conductor for the Parma Symphony Orchestra.

Maestro Mahlay began his bandura studies at the age of 15. In 1988, he began his long association with the Emlenton Summer Bandura Camp, where he has served as conductor, lecturer, and music director over the years. He became a member of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus in 1987.

Mahlay served as the ensemble's concertmaster from 1991–1992, became a member of the artistic commission in 1992, and that same year was given the responsibilities of assistant conductor. He participated in the Chorus' two triumphant tours of Ukraine in 1991 and 1994, and served as a conductor of the group in 1994. In the last few years he has also given lecture demonstrations at public schools as well as universities.

Now, Maestro Mahlay continues to teach voice and bandura, and often lectures and conducts workshops throughout the United States and Canada. The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus has released two recordings with maestro Mahlay as the conductor. The Ukrainian Steppe and A Bandura Christmas also feature some of the artistic director's compositions and arrangements.

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