Lev Turkevych

Lev Turkevych [Лев Тyркевич], (b. May 4, 1901, in the town of Brody in Western Ukraine; d. 1961 in Toronto, Ontario), conductor of the Ukrainian Male Chorus “Vatra.” He studied composition at the Lysenko Music Institute in Lviv and later at the Music Academy in Vienna. He conducted the Boyan and Bandurist choruses in Lviv. He was also music director of the Lesia Ukrainka Drama Theatre (1939-41) and music director of the Lviv Opera Theater (1941-44). During the second World War, he became a “Displaced Person” at the camp in Bregenz, Austria, where he founded the “Vatra” Chorus (1946-1951). The choir gave hundreds of successful concerts in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and later North America. He immigrated to Canada in 1949 and continued his distinguished conducting career.

1922: Szymanowski Conservatory (Lviv).
1923-25: Studied composition at Vienna Academy of Music.
1927: Directed “Boyan” and “Bandurist” (Lviv).
1939-41: Music Director for Lesia Ukrainka Drama Theatre (Lviv).
1941-44: Music Director of the Lviv Opera Theatre.
1945: Forkeloster DP Camp in Bregentz, Austria.
1946-1951: Founder and Director of “VATRA” Chorus.
1949: Immigrated to Canada.