Ihor Yosypovych Bilozir (March 24, 1955 â May 28, 2000) was a Ukrainian composer, musician, performer, People's Artist of Ukraine, and leader of the Vocal-Instrumental Ensemble "Vatra".
Ihor Bilozir was born on March 24, 1955, in the town of Radekhiv, Lviv Oblast, Ukrainian SSR. He studied at Radekhiv Secondary School No. 1. His first musical compositions were performed by the school's vocal-instrumental ensemble, and his first professional recording took place in 1969 on Lviv Radio's program Wandering Meridian.
Later, he moved to Lviv, where he lived at 4 Fredra Street. A memorial plaque now hangs on the building, and his apartment has been converted into a museum dedicated to the composer. Bilozir studied at the Lviv Music and Pedagogical College and the Lviv Conservatory. He also trained in the United States and Canada.
From 1977, he was the leader of the vocal-instrumental ensemble "Rhythms of the Carpathians" at the Lviv Bus Factory. From 1979, he served as the artistic director and soloist of the Vatra ensemble under the Lviv Regional Philharmonic, which continues to perform many of his songs. Bilozir wrote songs for his wife, vocalist Oksana Bilozir, and performed some of his compositions himself.
On May 8, 2000, Bilozir was assaulted in the "Tsarska Kava" café on Shevchenko Avenue in Lviv. The attack occurred because his songs were deemed disruptive by a group of patrons, including Dmytro Voronov and Yurii Kalinin, who were singing and listening to Russian chanson. Due to the injuries sustained, he died on May 28, 2000, in a Lviv emergency hospital. He was buried at the Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv (Field No. 2).
On August 7, 2002, the Lviv Oblast Appellate Court sentenced Dmytro Voronov, accused of Bilozir's murder, to 10 years in prison. Yurii Kalinin, charged as an accomplice, was sentenced to eight years. The court also ordered an internal investigation at the medical facility where Bilozir died.
Bilozir was a composer of pop songs, chamber-instrumental compositions, orchestral works, and music for theatrical productions. His notable songs include:
His work gained recognition in the United States, Canada, Germany, Poland, and Russia. In 1996, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of Ukraine.
"August 19 is the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and Ihor, his life, and his mission were one of suffering and devotion. It is like the transformation of an ordinary person into God's design, God's providence, and God's plan. His death also became a tremendous shock for many Ukrainians, prompting them to reflect on who they are and why they are here."