Andrei Bondarenko

Background

Bondarenko was born in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine.

Career

He trained at the National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music in Kiev and at the Kiev Conservatory. In 2007 he joined the Mariinsky Academy of Young Singers and has studied in Kiev with Valery Buimister. Bondarenko appeared in the Salzburg Festival in 2009, and in 2011 represented Ukraine in the British Broadcasting Corporation Cardiff Singer of the World competition, winning the Song Prize and getting through to the final for which he became hot favourite.

Interviewed by Josie Doctorate"Arby for BBC2 immediately following his performance in the final, he stated that he would award himself only "70 per cent", and he was defeated by Valentina Nafornita for the main prize.

Bondarenko is married to the Ukrainian soprano, Eleonora Vindau.

Achievements

• He won the "Art in the 21st Century" competition in Vorzel, and was a prize-winner at the 2006 International Rimsky-Korsakov competition in Street St. Petersburg and the 2008 Nadezhda Obuhova Young Vocalists´ Festival.