Volodymyr Runchak 
composer and conductor

VOLODYMYR RUNCHAK, CONDUCTOR

 

1960 - Born in Lutsk, Ukraine.

1979-1986 - Kyiv State Conservatory, graduated as accordionist, conductor and composer.

1988 - Artistic Director, Chamber Orchestra/Ensemble and Concert series “New Music in Ukraine”.

2007-2008, 2010-2011 - Chief Guest Conductor of the State Chamber Orchestra of Azerbaijan.

 

V. Runchak is a conductor specializing in contemporary music. He has conducted numerous symphony and chamber orchestras and ensembles of contemporary music in France (D. Milhaud Hall, Paris), Germany (Konzerthaus, Berlin), Bulgaria (Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgaria National Radio Company), Israael (Henry Crown Symphony Hall Jerusalem), Poland, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine, and has given world and Ukrainian premieres of more than 400 works by contemporary composers.

 

Guest Conductor: National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine National Radio Company, National Odessa Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Lviv Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Zaporizhzhia Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Kharkiv Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Dnipropetrovsk Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgaria National Radio Company, State Symphony Orchestra of Kazakhstan, Chamber Orchestra of the Kazakhstan National Radio Company, State Chamber Orchestra of Azerbaijan, State Chamber Orchestra of Tajikistan, Kyiv Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, “Lviv Virtuosos” - Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Odessa Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, “Leopolis” - Lviv Chamber Orchestra, National Ensemble of Soloists “Kyiv Camerata,” Rivne Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, State Chamber Orchestra of Azerbaijan; Ensembles for new music: “Cluster” (Lviv), “Ricochet” (Kyiv), “Sonor” (Baku, Azerbaijan), “Union Nationale des Compositeurs de Musique” (Paris), Bulgaria Chamber Ensemble for new music (Sofia), Kaprizma Ensemble Jerusalem (Israel) and others.

 

Concert series New Music in Ukraine - 10 CDs (* Chamber Ensemble “New Music in Ukraine”)

CD 1. V.Runchak (2), оrchestral music, National Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 2. V.Runchak (3), sacred works, Chamber Choirs “Gloria,” “Kyiv,” Mykolaiv Women’s Choir

CD 3. H.Holliger, S.Zazhitko, V.Runchak, Z.Krauze, H.M.Gorecki *

CD 4. A.Webern, O.Shchetynsky, A.Kasparov, E.Mirzoev, U.Meder, M.Kagel, V.Runchak *

CD 5. W.Lutoslawski (4), V.Runchak, Z.Almashi *

CD 6. W.Lutoslawski (2), Szymanski, V.Runchak, S.Zazhytko *

CD 7. M.Kagel (3), V.Bibik, V.Runchak *

CD 8. V.Runchak, H.Holliger, V.Dinescu, E.Glauber, S.Pilyutikov, G.Rose *

CD 9. V.Runchak, V.Polyova, A.Ruppert, J.Widmann, M.Rook *

CD10. J.Koffler, W.Kilar, V.Silvestrov, W.Lutoslawski, V.Runchak (2), K.Serocki 

“A bold initiator - ‘motor’ - of the concert series “New Music in Ukraine” and an irreplaceable director of the chamber ensemble,

Volodymyr Runchak evokes nothing but astonishment and respect.  Astonishment – at the consistency and zeal with which this

musician (composer, conductor, organizer and more) has been blasting away for two decades at the wall of public indifference

to serious contemporary music of an experimental, avant-garde nature. Respect – for his conviction of the importance of this

work, and for the energy and enthusiasm which are embodied in his every endeavor”.                                 -- Politics and Culture