Childhood and Education Journey of Vasyl Slipak in Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Vasyl Slipak. From birth to education, explore key events.

Vasyl Slipak was a Ukrainian baritone opera singer who gained international recognition for his performances in France, including at the Paris Opera and Opéra Bastille. He received awards for his operatic work, notably for his rendition of the Toreador Song. Slipak volunteered in the Ukrainian army and was killed in action during the war in Donbas near Luhanske. Posthumously, he was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine for his service as a volunteer soldier.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

December 1974: Vasyl Slipak was born in Lviv

In December 1974, Vasyl Slipak was born in Lviv. He began singing early and developed a love for melodies, particularly the song "Tysha navkrugy".

December 1974: Vasyl Slipak's Birth

In December 1974, Vasyl Yaroslavovych Slipak was born. He later became a Ukrainian baritone opera singer and a volunteer in the Ukrainian army.

1974: Birth of Vasyl Slipak

In 1974, Vasyl Slipak was born in Lviv. He liked to sing since his childhood.

1981: Started at Lviv School No. 46

In 1981, Vasyl Slipak began his education at Lviv School No. 46.

1991: Finished at Lviv School No. 46

In 1991, Vasyl Slipak completed his studies at Lviv School No. 46.

1992: Studied under Maria Yakivna Baiko

In 1992, Vasyl Slipak began studying in the solo singing class of Professor Maria Yakivna Baiko, where he mastered a significant repertoire and performed roles such as Alkid and Lebed.

1993: Organization of spiritual retreats for young people

In the summer of 1993, Vasyl Slipak, along with his brothers and a team from the International Federation of Larch from Canada, helped organize spiritual retreats for young people led by Henry Nouen. He also sang in the choir of the church of St. Volodymyr and Olga.

1994: Organization of spiritual retreats for young people

In the summer of 1994, Vasyl Slipak, along with his brothers and a team from the International Federation of Larch from Canada, helped organize spiritual retreats for young people led by Henry Nouen. He also sang in the choir of the church of St. Volodymyr and Olga.

April 1996: Participation in Chornobyl Anniversary Event at Notre-Dame

On April 20, 1996, Vasyl Slipak, along with the "Dudaryk" Choir Chapel, participated in a UNESCO-invited requiem concert at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. The event was attended by heads of diplomatic missions and staff of foreign embassies in France.

1996: Invitation to perform at Opéra Bastille

In 1996, Vasyl Slipak received an invitation to perform at Opéra Bastille in Paris after participating in a vocal contest in Clermont.

1997: Graduation from Lysenko Music Academy

In 1997, Vasyl Slipak graduated from the Lysenko Music Academy in Lviv and was subsequently invited to the Paris Opera.

1999: Creation of "Crossing Europe" Association

In 1999, the association "Crossing Europe" (A travers l'Europe) was created to connect Ukrainian and European journalists, scientists, sociologists, and public activists. Since the beginning of the war, the association has been helping children, widows, and families of soldiers.

2004: Participation in the Orange Revolution

In 2004, Vasyl Slipak was an active participant in the Orange Revolution.

November 2013: Leadership in volunteer movement for Euromaidan

In November 2013, with the beginning of Euromaidan, Vasyl Slipak led a volunteer movement to support Ukraine in France. He coordinated public actions, sent humanitarian aid, and arranged charity concerts. On November 24, an action in support of the Euromaidan in Ukraine was held in Paris on the Trocadero Square opposite the Eiffel Tower, at which about 300 people came to the rally.

January 2014: Solidarity Rally for Euromaidan in Paris

On January 12, 2014, Vasyl Slipak held a solidarity rally in Paris in support of Euromaidan.

February 2014: Organization of Artmaidan-manifestation

On February 16, 2014, Vasyl Slipak organized and held the Artmaidan-manifestation, accompanied by performances from musicians, singers, artists, and actors supporting Ukrainian protesters.

February 2014: Commemoration of those shot on Instytuska Street

On February 19, 2014, near the Ukrainian embassy, Vasyl Slipak was among the activists who organized a commemoration of the people shot on February 18, 2014, on Instytuska Street.

February 2014: Participation in support campaign for TV channel "Rain"

On February 9, 2014, Vasyl Slipak participated in a campaign in Paris in support of the Russian TV channel "Rain".

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March 2014: Public demonstration against Russian aggression in Paris

On March 5, 2014, Vasyl Slipak held another public demonstration against Russia's aggression in Paris. Ukrainians picketed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, urging diplomatic intervention to stop Russia's interference in Ukraine.

June 2014: Participation in a charity concert

On June 27, 2014, Vasyl Slipak participated in a charity concert held at the Cultural and Information Center of the Embassy of Ukraine in France where he performed the song "Be happy".

June 2014: Protest against Putin's visit to Paris

On June 5, 2014, Vasyl Slipak led a protest near the National Assembly of France against Putin's visit to Paris. The protest was organized by the Paris "Euromaidan" activists, joined by Syrian and Russian activists.

July 2014: Creation of "Opera Performers for Children" Foundation

On July 12, 2014, Vasyl Slipak, along with colleagues Gosha Kovalinska, Guillaume Dussault, and Thierry de Marsley, created the Foundation "Opera Performers for Children", a humanitarian non-profit organization to help children of war victims in Ukraine.

August 2014: Organization of "Smileys for Ukraine" action in Paris

On August 24, 2014, Vasyl Slipak organized and held the action "Smileys for Ukraine" in Paris, a photo session of participants in Ukrainian national clothes, on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day.

September 2014: Protest against the sale of Mistrals to Russia

On September 4, 2014, Vasyl Slipak participated in a protest on Trocadero Square in Paris against the sale of Mistral warships to Russia.

October 2014: Name change to "Opera friends for children" Association

On October 10, 2014, the name of the "Opera Performers for Children" Foundation was changed to "Opera friends for children" Association, per the legislation of the French Republic.

November 2014: First concert to help Ukrainian children

On November 9, 2014, Vasyl Slipak and the "Opera friends for children" Association held their first concert in the cathedral of Saint-Jean-Laval, France, to benefit Ukrainian children. The concert featured Requiem in D minor by Gabriel Faure, accompanied by Andrii Shevchuk on piano.

December 2014: Commemoration of fallen soldiers and creation of charity organization

In December 2014, Vasyl Slipak and his friends commemorated 17 fallen soldiers of the 40th battalion of the Armed Forces in Paris. They attached blue and yellow ribbons with the names of the fallen heroes to a Christmas tree and created the charity organization "Ukrainian Brotherhood/Fraternité Ukrainienne", which helps Ukrainian defenders.

2014: Participation in Euromaidan

In 2014, Vasyl Slipak returned to Ukraine and participated in the Euromaidan protests.

January 2015: Joining the "Crossing Europe" Organization

In January 2015, Vasyl Slipak joined the organization "Crossing Europe" (A travers l'Europe), which helps children, widows, and families of soldiers.

April 2015: Participation in a charity exhibition-fair

On April 19, 2015, Vasyl Slipak participated in a charity exhibition-fair on Ukrainian culture in Vincennes, France, in cooperation with two Ukrainian-French associations, "ART culture and creativity" and "Ideas without borders".

May 2015: First deployment to war

In May 2015, Vasyl Slipak went to war for the first time, staying for over a month. He fought in Pisk near the Donetsk airport, participated in the Battle of Avdiivka as part of the 1st separate assault company of the 7th separate battalion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps, and was wounded. His call sign "Myth" appeared immediately.

July 2015: Charity concert for war orphans

On July 14, 2015, Vasyl Slipak, under the auspices of "A travers l'Europe", organized a charity concert for the benefit of orphans of the war in Ukraine and children of soldiers at the Cultural and Information Center of the Embassy of Ukraine in France.

September 2015: Second deployment to the front

In September 2015, Vasyl Slipak went to the front for the second time, in the village of Vodiane near Mariupol, on the front line, and returned to Paris in October.

October 2015: Organization of "Stop Putin's War In Ukraine" campaign

In October 2015, Vasyl Slipak, along with Iryna von Burg and Volodymyr Kogutyak, organized and held the anti-war campaign "Stop Putin's War In Ukraine".

December 2015: Cancellation of Russian film "Crimea. The Way to the Motherland"

In December 2015, Vasyl Slipak, as part of the "Euromaidan Bordeaux" initiative, successfully petitioned for the cancellation of the showing of the Russian film "Crimea. The Way to the Motherland", which promotes the annexation of the peninsula.

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2015: Joining the fights against pro-Russian separatists

In 2015, Vasyl Slipak joined the fights against pro-Russian separatists as a member of the 7th Battalion of the Volunteer Ukrainian Corps of the Right Sector, taking the military call sign Mif.

2015: Continued volunteering after returning from war

In 2015, after returning from the war, Vasyl Slipak continued volunteering. He gave charity concerts at the Ukrainian Center in Paris and helped orphans who lost their parents in the war.

January 2016: Participation in a charity concert

In January 2016, Vasyl Slipak participated in a charity concert held at the Cultural and Information Center of the Embassy of Ukraine in France as part of Ludmila Chychuk's ART project "The Power of Art".

February 2016: Participation in rally against Russian aggression

On February 28, 2016, Vasyl Slipak took part in a rally in Paris protesting Russian aggression in Ukraine, marking the second anniversary of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.

March 2016: Protest demanding embargo on Russian oil

On March 8, 2016, Vasyl Slipak joined around 30 Ukrainian, Russian, and French activists outside the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand an embargo on Russian oil and the blocking of the SWIFT system.

June 2016: Preparation for children's recreation in Rose

In June 2016, a week before going to the front, Vasyl Slipak spent several days in Rose, France, helping to prepare the territory for the recreation of children who died in the Heroes' War in the East of Ukraine. He also translated documents for the visa center.

June 2016: Organization of International March "Stop Putin War in Ukraine!"

On June 10, 2016, Vasyl Slipak organized the International March "Stop Putin War in Ukraine!", in which about 30 countries participated. The action had a great impact on the decision to extend European Union sanctions against the Russian Federation.

June 2016: Protests against lifting sanctions against Russia

On June 8, 2016, Vasyl Slipak organized a protest by Ukrainians in Paris in front of the French Senate and on June 9, 2016, in front of the National Assembly during a discussion on the need to lift sanctions against Russia.

2016: Orphans invited to vacation in Ukraine

In the summer and fall of 2016, war orphans were invited to vacation in Ukraine, thanks to funds raised from a charity concert organized by Vasyl Slipak in July 2015 under the auspices of "A travers l'Europe".