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Raisa KirichenkoFamous Ukrainian singer (mezzo-soprano)
Date of Birth: 14.10.1943
Country:  Ukraine |
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Biography of Raisa Kirichenko
Raisa Kirichenko was a well-known Ukrainian singer (mezzo-soprano) born on October 14, 1943 in the village of Zemlyanky, which is now part of the Globinsky District of the Poltava region in Ukraine. She was born into a peasant family, and her maiden name was Korzh.
Early Life and Career
Kirichenko initially worked in a collective farm and later as a controller at the Kremenchug Automobile Plant, where she completed her secondary education through correspondence. Despite not having received formal musical training, she enrolled in the Kharkiv Institute of Arts and graduated in the late 1980s.
One day, the choir of the Kremenchug Automobile Plant came to perform in her village, and their conductor, Pavel Ochenash, heard Raisa Korzh's singing and invited her to join their ensemble. From 1962, Raisa sang in the "Veselka" ensemble of the Poltava Philharmonic and it was there that she met her future husband, bayan player Nikolai Kirichenko. Upon the invitation of Anatoly Pashkevich, the director of the "Lenok" ensemble, the Kirichenko family moved to Zhytomyr. When Pashkevich took over the Cherkasy Folk Choir in 1968, the Kirichenko family became members of his ensemble.
Rise to Fame
In 1979, Raisa Kirichenko was awarded the title of People's Artist of Ukraine. In 1983, a folk vocal-instrumental ensemble called "Rosava" was created for her in Cherkasy. However, due to misunderstandings with the Philharmonic management, she returned to Poltava in 1987 and formed her own group called "Churaivna." With the success of her song "Pane Polkovnyku," her repertoire increasingly included popular hits, and she recorded in the studio of the band "Freestyle." Two of her albums, "Sudby Moey Selo" and "Tsvetet Cherymukha," were released.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1999, Raisa Kirichenko was awarded the Order of Princess Olga for her dedicated work, high professional skills, and active civic position. After a prolonged illness, she moved to Kyiv in 2000. On October 31, 2003, she was awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine" and received the Order of the State for her outstanding personal contribution to the preservation and enhancement of Ukraine's national song heritage.
Raisa Kirichenko's songs, such as "Churaivna," "Kozachka," "Stremeno," "Zhinocha Dolya," and "Mamina Vishnya," became popular and beloved not only in Ukraine but also in countries such as Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, the Philippines, Algeria, Tunisia, and others. She captivated listeners with her performances at the United Nations headquarters as well.
Raisa Kirichenko passed away on February 9, 2005 at the age of 61 due to a heart condition. She was buried in the village of Koreschina in the Globinsky District of the Poltava region, next to her mother's grave, as she had requested. Her legacy includes being awarded the titles of Hero of Ukraine and People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, as well as receiving orders in recognition of her contributions to Ukrainian culture. She will always be remembered as a talented and beloved singer who brought joy to audiences around the world.
