Overview
- Vasyl Zinkevych’s Biography
- The Smerichka Ensemble
- Ukraine’s First Musical
- The Svityaz Vocal-Instrumental Ensemble
- Personal Life
Vasyl Zinkevych’s Biography
On May 1, Vasyl Zinkevych, a People’s Artist of Ukraine and a Hero of Ukraine, marks his 81st birthday. He was born in the village of Vaskivtsi in the Khmelnytskyi region. His mother, Hanna Prokopivna, worked on a collective farm, while his father, Ivan Kharytonovych, served as a veterinarian and led a church choir. After finishing school, Zinkevych studied at the V. Yu. Shkriblyak Vyzhnytsia College of Applied Arts, specializing in artistic metalworking. In 1966, he was drafted into the army.
Following his military service, Zinkevych took the helm of the folk dance ensemble Smerichyna, whose choreographic works became part of Ukraine’s Golden Fund of Art. The costumes he designed were showcased at exhibitions in Paris, and one of the ensemble’s most famous productions was ‘Bukovynska Mozaika’ (Bukovinian Mosaic).
The Smerichka Ensemble
In 1966, Levko Dutkovsky founded the musical ensemble Smerichka at the Vyzhnytsia District House of Culture, which featured three electric guitars, a drum set, and an electric organ. Vasyl Zinkevych became the first male soloist of the Smerichka vocal-instrumental ensemble. Nazariy Yaremchuk joined the group alongside him. The trio of Zinkevych, Ivasyuk, and Yaremchuk gained fame after performing ‘Chervona Ruta’ (Red Rue) in the final of the 1971 ‘Song of the Year’ competition in Moscow.
Ukraine’s first musical film—a television musical titled ‘Chervona Ruta’—was directed by Roman Oleksiv. Filming took place in Yaremche, with music composed by Volodymyr Ivasyuk. In the film, Sofia Rotaru played the role of Oksana, while Vasyl Zinkevych portrayed Borys. Together with Alla Dutkovska, he also created the stage costume collection ‘Horyanka’ (Highland Girl) for the soloists of the Smerichka ensemble. Zinkevych designed costumes for Sofia Rotaru, the Virsky Ensemble, the Kyiv Music Hall, and the groups Smerichka and Svityaz.
At the height of its popularity, the Smerichka ensemble performed up to four concerts per day. In 1975, Estonian television produced a TV film titled ‘The Smerichka Ensemble Performs.’ However, after facing harassment, Zinkevych left the ensemble and moved to Lutsk.
The Svityaz Vocal-Instrumental Ensemble
In Lutsk, Vasyl Zinkevych became a soloist with the Svityaz vocal-instrumental ensemble, led by Valeriy Hromtsev. He appeared in concert films such as ‘Melodies of the Blue Lakes,’ ‘Chervona Ruta,’ and ‘Music of Spring.’ In 1986, Zinkevych studied directing at the Rivne Institute of Culture. He is an honorary citizen of Lutsk, a laureate of the Shevchenko State Prize, and has a star on the ‘Walk of Stars’ in Kyiv.
Vasyl Zinkevych has two sons: Bohdan and Vasyl. The younger Vasyl, together with Sashko Polozhynsky, founded the band Tartak, while Bohdan (under the pseudonym Zinchek) was a keyboardist for the band Osnovnyi Pokaznyk (The Main Indicator).
Personal Life
Zinkevych last appeared publicly in March at the birthday celebration of Volodymyr Ivasyuk. He toured with the project ‘Two Legends’ alongside People’s Artist Ivan Popovych, performing six joint concerts, most of which took place at the Lviv Opera House.
Levko Dutkovsky noted: ‘Vasyl originally had no idea about singing. What Zinkevych achieved in vocal performance over his lifetime is a striking example of hard work for self-affirmation. For that, I bow my head low before him.’
When asked about the future, Zinkevych remarked: ‘It’s not time yet.’
Vasyl Zinkevych stands as a prominent figure in Ukrainian musical culture, with a career spanning several decades. His contributions to Ukrainian art—particularly through the Smerichka and Svityaz ensembles, as well as his role in creating Ukraine’s first musical—have secured his place in history. As he celebrates his 81st birthday, it is important to recognize the impact he has had on Ukrainian music and cultural heritage at large.