Hryhory Kytasty

Hryhory Kytasty [Григорій Китастий], (b. January 17, 1907, in Kobeliaky, Poltava oblast, Ukraine; d. April 6, 1984, in San Diego, CA). Composer, bandurist, and longtime conductor of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. After completing his studies in 1935 at the Poltava Musical College and the Lysenko Institute of Music and Drama in Kyiv, he joined the Kyiv Bandurist Capella. Eventually, he was elevated to director of the Chorus. In 1949, Maestro Kytasty along with other members of the chorus immigrated to America and settled in Detroit, MI.  In the early 1960s, he became the first choir director at St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church in San Diego, CA. Afterwards, he moved to Minneapolis and then to Chicago. Finally, in 1967, he settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as the choir director at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Parma, OH. He passed away in 1984 and is buried at St. Andrew’s Cemetery in South Bound Brook, NJ.

late 1930s: Joined the Ukrainian Bandurist Capella

1949: Came to America as director of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus

1961-1964: Choir director at St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church (San Diego, CA)

1967: Choir director at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (Parma, OH)