Ukrainian Poet and Bandurist Yaroslav Chornoguz Passes Away

Yaroslav Chornoguz, a celebrated Ukrainian poet and bandurist, passed away on April 8, 2023, at the age of 63. His creative contributions have left a profound impact on Ukrainian culture, as the texts he penned have formed the foundation for numerous songs that resonate on Ukrainian stages.

The sad news was shared by his daughter, Yaryna Chornoguz, a defender and poet herself. In a heartfelt message on social media, she expressed her feelings, noting that her father was not only a talented poet and bandurist but also an exceptionally educated and multifaceted individual who made a significant contribution to Ukrainian culture through his love for folk music, kobzar art, and history.

“A poet, bandurist, artist, and an extraordinarily educated and versatile creative person, who contributed to Ukrainian culture with his love for folk music, kobzar art, and history,” Yaryna Chornoguz wrote, emphasizing her father's dedication to his path and his support for her own creative endeavors.

According to Yaryna, Yaroslav Chornoguz had expressed a wish to be buried at Baikove Cemetery in Kyiv, next to his father, the Ukrainian writer Oleg Chornoguz. In light of this, Yaryna has reached out to the Kyiv City Council, requesting assistance in fulfilling her father's final wish.

“I am currently at the front in Kherson, but I will travel to Kyiv, ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure he is buried there,” Yaryna stated, extending her condolences to her mother, Raisa Chornoguz, with whom Yaroslav shared 36 years of marriage.

Yaroslav Chornoguz was born on July 20, 1963, in Vinnytsia, but at the age of one, he moved with his family to Kyiv. From 1980 to 1985, he studied at the Faculty of Journalism at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. After graduating, he began working at a magazine in 1985, where he held the position of editor for the section on libraries, museums, and music. Throughout his career, he became the author of hundreds of publications in periodicals.

In December 2002, Yaroslav Chornoguz was granted the status of soloist-bandurist with the National Honored Bandurist Capella of Ukraine named after H. I. Maiboroda, marking a significant milestone in his musical career.

Throughout his life, Yaroslav Chornoguz authored seven poetry collections, with the first published in 1995 and the last in 2023. In addition to poetry, he also wrote a historical essay titled “Kobzarska Sich” and co-authored several anthologies. His poems have been set to music by various Ukrainian composers, including Oleksandr Bilash, Vitaliy Kyreiko, and many others, highlighting his influence on contemporary Ukrainian music.

The death of Yaroslav Chornoguz represents a tremendous loss for Ukrainian culture, as his creative legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of those who cherish the Ukrainian language and music.