The Ukrainian-born, American conductor Taras Krysa is establishing a reputation for innovative and thoughtful music-making throughout the United States and Europe. In addition to serving as the Director of Orchestras at UNLV, Mr. Krysa serves as the Music Director of Las Vegas Sinfonietta and just finished his tenure as the Music Director of Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra. Taras Krysa guest conducted orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, New World Symphony, Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Symphony, Moscow Soloists, Slovak Sinfonietta, Spoleto Festival USA Chamber Orchestra, Kiev Chamber Orchestra, the Lublin Philharmonic Orchestra, Las Vegas Philharmonic and many others. In addition, Mr. Krysa led the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra and the Slovak Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra on several European and Asian tours.

Mr. Krysa recently concluded his ninth season as the Artistic and Music Director of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra in Nevada. Under his leadership, the ensemble has seen its audience expand ten-fold and its concerts recognized as a treasured part of the cultural life of the greater Las Vegas community.

Mr. Krysa actively promotes new music and has made three critically acclaimed recordings for the Brilliant Classics label.

An accomplished violinist, Taras Krysa was a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony Orchestra, and continues to maintain an active career performing chamber music.

Taras Krysa was born in Kiev into a dynasty of professional musicians. His father, Oleh Krysa, is a prominent concert violinist. His mother, Tatiana Tchekina, was as concert pianist, and his grandfather, Pavel Tchekin, was a tenor at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

Mr. Krysa attended the Gnesin School of Music in Moscow before emigrating with his family to the United States 1989 where he continued his studies in conducting  and violin  at Indiana University and Northwestern University with Victor Yampolsky, Sylvya Rosenberg and Nelli Shkolnikova. Mr. Krysa was recipient of fellowship the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Music Festival, where he studied with Jorma Panula and David Zinman.