Ihor Saienko

Ihor Saienko is a Ukrainian accordion performer, a soloist of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, whose work bridges academic performance tradition with contemporary repertoire and active ensemble practice.

From 2002 to 2023, he was a member of the Mykola Rizol Bayan Quartet of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, and served as the ensemble’s artistic director from 2016 to 2019. He is a co-founder of the KYIV CLASSIC ACCORDION duo, with which he develops concert and media projects, including a recording for French national television in the program Au Bonheur de Nacre.

As a soloist, he collaborates with leading Ukrainian orchestras and chamber ensembles, performing both in Ukraine and internationally. In 2023, he made his UK debut in Glasgow with a chamber ensemble of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

His repertoire includes works by Ukrainian and international composers, including Maksym Berezovsky, Myroslav Skoryk, Yevhen Stankovych, Viktoriia Poleva, Volodymyr Zubytskyi, Zoltan Almashi, Oleksandr Shymko, and Astor Piazzolla. He has also made recordings for the Ukrainian Radio archives.

He is the author of over 100 arrangements for bayan ensembles, bayan and chamber orchestra, as well as original compositions. In his concert practice, he performs not only on the bayan, but also on the bandoneon and accordion.

Honored Artist of Ukraine. Jury member of national and international competitions, including serving as Ukraine’s representative in the World Confederation of Accordionists and a permanent jury member of the Trophée Mondial de l’Accordéon.