Among connoisseurs of classical music Herman Makarenko is well known as the Ukrainian conductor - philosopher, who gave a new lease of classical music from different eras due to his tireless work. Herman Makarenko was born on 29 June 1961 in the city of Lviv in the family of musical theater artists. Beginning his study at the Kiev music specialized school named after Mykola Lysenko in 1976, Herman graduated from the piano faculty of this Academy in 1986. In 1985, during his study, he became a student of conducting faculty of the Department of opera and symphony conducting. Among the mentors who had a great influence on the formation and fate of a young musician were national actors of UkraineRoman Kofman and Oleg Ryabov, and principal conductor of the National Opera of Ukraine - Stephen Turchak. It was he who in 1987 invited, then a young intern at the Opera House, where Herman, as well as all new conductors, went through all the stages of formation - from assistant-trainee to the lead conductor. He has toured with various symphony orchestras and opera theaters around the world, including United States, Canada, France, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovakia, Iran, Cyprus, Russia and others. Headed by Herman Makarenko "Kyiv-Classic" Symphonic Orchestra has been widely recognized in Ukraine as well as abroad. High professional status of the collective in many aspects supported by his exclusive music projects, including "Concert Premiere", "New Year’s Strauss Concert", "Declaration of love". The program of the orchestra includes a large number of works by composers of different eras and nations. The musical compositions by Ukrainian composers such as S. Gulak-Artemovsky, N. Lysenko, V. Gubarenko, M. Skoryk, E. Stankovich, M.Chemberdzhi, I. Shcherbakov, Y. Shevchenko etc. take a special attention in the creative portfolio of "Kyiv-Classic" Orchestra. Maestro Makarenko efficiently combines an active conductor's practice activities with the theoretical comprehension of the philosophical and aesthetic essence of the musical art form, the phenomenon of the complex and multifaceted problem of creativity and, in particular, the creativity of opera and symphony conductor. The writing of his PhD thesis " The Irrational Aesthetics of the 19th Century: The Musical Point" became the consequence of symbiosis of theory and practice, the defense of which was held at the Philosophical Faculty of Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, and Doctoral thesis - "Creativity in the context of a conductor’s integrative approach ", the defense of which was held at the National Music Academy of Ukraine. Professor Makarenko has been efficiently transmitting his experience to rising generation of young conductors during the last 25 years.
Awards
Order of Merit of the Third Degree - for significant personal contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of Ukraine
The People's Artist of Ukraine - for a significant personal contribution to state construction, socio-economic, scientific, technical, cultural and educational development of Ukraine, significant labor achievements and high professionalism
