Taras Krysa

The Ukrainian-born, American conductor Taras Krysa has a well-established reputation for innovative and inspiring music-making and leadership throughout the United States and Europe. Taras Krysa is currently serving as the Director of Orchestras at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Music Director and Conductor of the Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to these appointments, Maestro Krysa has been guest conductor with several orchestras including the Las Vegas Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Symphony, Moscow Soloists, Slovak Sinfonietta, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Kiev Chamber Orchestra, Lublin Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others. In addition, Maestro Krysa led the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, the Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra and the Slovak Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra on several European and Southeast Asia tours including appearances at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw Hall. More recently, Maestro-Krysa concluded his ninth season as the Artistic and Music Director of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra in Nevada. Under his leadership, the ensemble has seen its audience expand ten-fold and its concerts recognized as a treasured part of the cultural life of the greater Las Vegas community.

Mr. Krysa actively promotes new music and has made three critically acclaimed recordings for the Brilliant Classics label. An accomplished violinist, Taras Krysa was a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony Orchestra, and continues to maintain an active career performing chamber music.

Taras Krysa was born in Kiev into a dynasty of professional musicians. His father, Oleh Krysa, is a prominent concert violinist. His mother, Tatiana Tchekina, was as concert pianist, and his grandfather, Pavel Tchekin, was a tenor at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Mr. Krysa attended the Gnesin School of Music in Moscow before emigrating with his family to the United States 1989 where he continued his studies in conducting and violin at Indiana University and Northwestern University with Victor Yampolsky and Nelli Shkolnikova. Mr. Krysa was recipient of fellowship the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Music Festival, where he studied with Jorma Panula and David Zinman.