About

Tetiana Yashvili is a Ukrainian composer, singer and teacher, who was fleeing from the russian war in Ukraine. Her thematic interests include the spiritual life of humanity, work with biblical texts, canonical, and sacred poetry. She has written for chamber music, vocal music, ensembles and choral groups.

 Born in 1980 into a musical family in the eastern region of Ukraine, Tetiana Yashvili graduated from Sergei Prokofiev Higher Music School in choral singing and vocals with honours, as well as music theory. During this time, she wrote her first compositions including songs based on her own poems, piano miniatures, arrangements of folk songs, and medleys for two pianos on the themes of well-known works. She was twice the laureate of the First Prize at the regional historical and theoretical Olympiads in 1994 and 1995. Teachers she studied under during this time include M. Turchanina. (solfeggio), T. Dugina (composition, harmony, polyphony, analysis of musical works), A. Strus (instrumentation), and V. Yudilevich (piano). Since 1998, Tetiana has sung in the Orthodox Christian Church.

 In 2003, Tetiana Yashvili co-founded the Pokrov Choir at the Holy Intercession Church, which she directed with conductor Olena Radko. The repertoire consists of modern Orthodox music (including her own works) and ancient liturgical hymns. In 2006, she wrote the “Divine Liturgy” according to St. John Chrysostom, which premiered with the blessing of Archbishop Augustyn of Lviv and Galicia in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv- Pechersk Lavra. Four years later, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr, a film was created about the holy reverend fathers of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, in which her music was performed.

From 1999-2005, she studied composition at the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music, formerly Kyiv Conservatory, under Igor Shcherbakov, H. Lyashenko (polyphony), Yu. Ishchenko (history of orchestral styles), L. Kolodub (instrumentation), N. Kovalinas (harmony and analysis of musical works), H. Gavrilets (choral arrangement), and D. Bolharsky (liturgy). Her compositions during this time include Piano Sonata No. 1 (2001), String Trio “Glimpses” (2001), “Songs of Tenderness” for a cappella choir (2002), “Sofia!” for piano (2003), “Time” for string orchestra (2003), a symphonic poem (2005), “Time” for symphony (2005), and some canticles for canonical liturgical texts.

 Since 2009, Tetiana Yashvili has been a member of the Union of Composers of Ukraine. Today, her music is performed in many countries in concerts, competitions and education programmes. As a composer, singer and arranger, with particular interest in ancient sacred music of all times and nations, she is a regular participant in the projects of early music Vox Animae, Open Opera Ukraine, Music Mission Kyiv, artist of the choir of the National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine, and artist of the choir of the National Radio and Television company Suspilne:UA. Today, her music is performed at national and international festivals and competitions, in concert and educational programmes in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Australia, France, Canada, USA, Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Other noteworthy Compositions

“Music of wanderings and love” for chamber orchestra (2011)

Mixed choir cycle “9 prayers” (2011)

Female choir cycle “Songs of Love and Tenderness” (2011)

Music for the animation film “Birds” (2013), performed at the International Open Night Festival which won Best Music Prize

 “Divine Liturgy”, for female voices (2015), premiered in the Tabernacle Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra at the opening of the “Season Premieres” International Festival

 “And still dreaming”, based on Taras Shevchenko’s poetry for mixed choir, chamber orchestra and soloist (2022) 

“Songs of the Bombshelter” (2022) for voice and chamber ensemble with the support of the European Cultural Foundation