(Credit: UNN)

On Feb. 25, 2026 Ukrainian conductor, violinist and composer Roman Avram Isakovych Kofman 89.

Born on June 15, 1936, Roman Avram Isakovych Kofman graduated from the State Conservatory with a degree in violin, and a degree in conducting. He went on to work at the Soviet Union and went on to be a frequent guest at the Warsaw Opera, but was restricted from work in Western countries from 1973 to 1989.

From 1963 Kofman worked as a concertmaster of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra that he co-founded. Later, as a conductor, he went on to lead 70 orchestras around the world in Italy, Austria, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United States. Among the orchestras he conducted were the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, the Bern Symphony Orchestra, orchestra of the Bayerischer Rundfunk, and the Munich Philharmonic.

Between 2003 and 2008 Kofman was the Generalmusikdirektor in Bonn, leading the Beethoven Orchester Bonn and the Bonn Opera. He was also the principal conductor of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra from 1990 until his death.

For his accomplishments in music he was recognized with the 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 and won the Echo Klassik award.