Roman Kofman

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Roman Kofman
Роман Кофман
Roman Kofman.jpg
Background information
Born(1936-06-15)15 June 1936
Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR,
Soviet Union
Died25 February 2026(2026-02-25) (aged 89)
Genres Classical music
Occupations
  • Composer
  • Conductor
  • Music educator
InstrumentViolin [1]
Formerly of
Awards

Roman Avram Isakovych Kofman (Ukrainian : Роман Аврам Ісакович Кофман, 15 June 1936 – 25 February 2026) was a Ukrainian composer, conductor, music educator and People's Artist of Ukraine (2003). Kofman was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2008 and was the winner of the ECHO Klassik Prize (2007). He was nominated and entered the short list of Shevchenko National Prize in 2011. Since 1990 he was the Principal Conductor of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine.

Contents

Life and career

Roman Avram Isakovych Kofman was born on 15 June 1936 in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR. [1] He graduated from the State Conservatory (now The Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music) with a degree in violin, and a degree in conducting. [1] As a conductor he performed with more than 70 orchestras and ensembles from around the world, in Italy, Austria, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United States. [1]

He conducted the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, the Bern Symphony Orchestra, orchestra of the Bayerischer Rundfunk, and the Munich Philharmonic. [2]

Between 2003 and 2008 Kofman worked in Germany as the music director at the Beethoven Orchester Bonn. [3] and led the Bonn Opera  [ de ]. [1]

Kofman was the principal conductor of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine from 1990 until his death in 2026. [4] He led the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine from 2012. [1]

Kofman composed film music. In 2011, he published his literary book containing two short autobiographical novels. [1]

Kofman died on 25 February 2026, at the age of 89. [1]

Awards

Kofman was awarded the titles of Merited Artist of Ukraine and People's Artist of Ukraine. He was also awarded the Officer’s Cross First Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. [1]

He received the Echo Klassik award in 2007, and in 2011 was shortlisted for the Shevchenko National Prize. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Renowned Ukrainian Conductor Roman Kofman Passes Away". Mezha. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "Тиждень високої класики з Романом Кофманом" [Week of High Classics with Roman Kofman]. Relax (in Ukrainian). Premium Group Ukraine. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  3. ↑ Hartmann, Bernhard (1 November 2017). "Beethoven Orchester spielt erstes Konzert in der Bonner Oper" [Beethoven Orchestra plays its first concert at the Bonn Opera]. General-Anzeiger (in German). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Київський камерний оркестр" [Kyiv Chamber Orchestra] (in Ukrainian). National Philharmonic of Ukraine. 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2025.

Further reading

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