Ostap Stakhiw

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Ostap Stakhiw is a renowned Ukrainian bandurist who holds the honorary title of People’s Artist of Ukraine, awarded for outstanding contributions to the development of the performing arts.

As a graduate of the Lviv Philarmonic where he studied the bandura under Vasyl Herasymenko, he began his professional career in 1981 as a soloist with the Lviv Philharmonic and as a performer with the vocal-instrumental ensemble “Vatra.” In 1985, he became the leader and soloist of the folk ensemble “Drymba,” also based at the Lviv Philharmonic. By 1988, he had founded and begun directing the "Ostap Stakhiw Folklore Theater" at the Hnat Hotkevych Palace of Culture in Lviv. Around the same time, he developed several theatrical concert programs, including “Play, My Bandura” and “Hey, You, Riflemen of Sich.” Ostap Stakhiw was a leading professor of bandura and vocal arts at the Lviv State Conservatory named after Mykola Lysenko.

Since mid-1980s and on, Ostap Stakhoiw actively represented Ukraine on stages across Europe and Asia. In 1992, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine and toured the United States and Canada. He performed at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, where he received gold and silver medals for singing and bandura performance.

For over ten years, Ostap Stakhiw served as the national director of the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, organizing annual Ukrainian delegations and showcasing top Ukrainian talent in singing, dance, instrumental performance, modeling, and arts. Under his leadership, Ukrainian participants consistently achieved top honors.

Throughout his career, Ostap Stakhiw has focused on revitalizing traditional Ukrainian music by giving well-known melodies a modern interpretation. In 2007, he founded an orchestra of modern folk music, whose repertoire includes programs such as “Christmas in Lviv” and “Spirit of Ukraine,” along with contemporary arrangements of carols and folk compositions.

He has also been featured in numerous video productions, including “Bandurist Ostap Stakhiw,” “Hey, There on the Mountain Sich Is Coming,” and “Carols and Christmas Songs.” In the 1980s, he recorded Ukrainian folk music for Radio Kyiv’s “Golden Reserve of Ukraine.” Additionally, he has released recordings of works by prominent Ukrainian composers such as Volodymyr Ivasyuk, Ihor Bilozir, and others.

Ostap Stakhiw has frequently served as a jury member for major festivals and competitions, including “The Black Sea Games,” “Golden Trembits,” and “On the Waves of Svityaz.” 

Revered for his mastery of the instrument and his commitment to cultural advocacy, Ostap Stakhiw has dedicated his life to elevating Ukrainian bandura, its music, culture and performance on the world stage. In 2025 he established BandurArts to create a dedicated home for the bandura community in the U.S. and abroad - one that promotes this unique instrument, supports Ukrainian tradition, and bring the sound of the bandura to audiences everywhere.