Potapenko, Petro, b 1914 Berezivka, Korostyshivskyj region, Zhytomyr gubernia, d 2 February 1998 in Detroit, Michigan. After completing his primary education Potapenko entered the Kyiv Music-Theatre Tekhnikum. Here he studied the violin but switched his studies to choral conducting. He also began playing the bandura here and joined a student's ensemble which quickly grew in popularity. His performance in Moscow was noted by famed pianist O. Holdenweiser. While completing his studies Potapenko also conducted the Vinnytsya Red Army Barracks Women's Bandura Emsemble. Petro Potapenko conducted the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus from 1959 through 1963.

August 21, 2003