Igor Iosifovich Bilozir is a Ukrainian composer, musician, performer, People’s Artist of Ukraine, leader of VIA “Vatra”.
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on March 24, 1955 in the city of Radekhiv, Lviv region, in a family of teachers.
He was the fourth child in the family. He took over his interest in music from his father, Dmitry Iosifovich, who at one time taught singing at school.
Bilozir began to write his first songs while still at school, and in high school he organized a musical group, with which he performed at school events and weddings.
Bilozir received the first impetus for recognition in 1969 during a trip to Lviv with classmates on spring break. Then he decided not to go to the circus performance, as the group had planned, but instead visited the regional radio. There he showed his songs to the presenter Marta Kinasevich, who hosted the Wandering Meridian program. It was she who invited Igor to record several songs for the program “Microphone for everyone”.
After completing his studies at Radekhiv Secondary School No. 1, Bilozir continued his education at the choirmaster department of the Lviv Music and Pedagogical College, and later received the profession of conductor.
In 1982, he entered the composition department, where he studied in the class of Viktor Kaminsky. However, due to the heavy workload of tours and musical activities, Bilozir failed to complete his studies and receive a diploma.
Career
In 1977, Bilozir headed the amateur ensemble “Rhythms of the Carpathians” of the Lviv Bus Plant. Together with him, his wife Oksana Rozumkevych, whom he met while studying at a music school, joined the team.
Later, Bilozir and his wife were recommended to the ensemble “Vatra” of the Lviv Regional Philharmonic.
In April 1981, theensemble “Vatra” won the IV Republican Contest of Komsomol Song “Young Voices” and became the main discovery of that year.
Musical films with the participation of the band began to appear on Lviv television. Among them are “Vatra Calls for a Holiday” (1982), “Vatra” in Lviv (1983), “Vatra” in the Carpathians (1983) and “Music and You” (1987).
In the 1980s, the ensemble was among the most famous Ukrainian musical groups, which actively toured not only within the Soviet Union, but also abroad. The band gave concerts in Germany, Poland, Hungary, Canada and the United States of America (USA). At the same time , the repertoire of “Vatra” fundamentally did not include Soviet compositions or songs in Russian.
Bilozir was repeatedly subjected to pressure: he was fired from his job, restricted from touring, and songs that were considered “dubious” were removed from the concert program.
In 1985, the composer played the role of the court singer Mytnytskyi in the film “Karmelyuk”.
In 1990, Bilozir founded the Vatra Music and Art Center, which included the famous ensemble of the same name, the first Ukrainian children’s musical theater “Children of the Earth”, a recording studio, as well as groups of young artists and creative groups.
In May 1990, Bilozir underwent an internship in Canada and the United States, where he collaborated with the Montreal company Yevshan. Then he met Kvitka Tsisyk, who recorded one of his songs – “Beloved” on the verses of Petro Zapotichny. They planned joint projects and performances in Ukraine, but the singer’s illness prevented them from implementing their plans. Bilozir was offered to stay abroad, but he decided to return to Lviv, where he continued to write music, help young artists, and also participated in the jury of various competitions and festivals.
Death
Bilozir’s life tragically ended in May 2000.
On May 8, in the Lviv café “Caesar’s Coffee”, where he was in the company of friends and performed the song “First Snow”, two men – Russians Dmitry Voronov and Yuri Kalinin – found fault with him. After a conflict in the institution, they chased the composer on his way home and beat him severely. Doctors fought for his life for 20 days, but on May 28, Ihor Bilozir died.
The court sentenced the attackers to 10 and 8 years in prison, but after 2 and 5 years, respectively, they were released early.
The composer was buried at the Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv.
