Nazar Tabachyshyn is one of Hong Kong’s most uplifting, skilled and expressive musicians. He was born in Zbarach, a city in the western part of Ukraine, and as a small boy, first played the accordion at the tender age of 5. A year later he enrolled in music school, picked up the accordion and drums and was known by many in his community as a child prodigy. At one children’s karaoke, he was unexpectedly discovered as a singer and since then was invited to perform at schools, events, music festivals and competitions at the municipal and regional levels, and once even across the border in Poland. Nazar loved music so much that as a teenager, he chose to enter vocational music studies at Ternopil Music College of Ukraine for four years. He then moved to the capital city of Kyiv and studied his undergraduate and masters degrees in music at the world renown Tchaikovsky Academy of Music.
During this immensely musically productive period of his life in Ukraine, Nazar taught and conducted traditional European folk instrument orchestras at his music college and academy. As a testament to the sacredness of vocals and song, he also founded and was the conductor for the Ukranian Catholic Cathedral Vocal Ensemble in Kyiv. Nazar’s talent as a skilled accordionist was also marked by the awards and prizes he won at every music competition. He grabbed 1st place three times at the International Music Competition in Czech Republic, Lithuania and Estonia between 2011 to 2013 as part of the Gold Accordion Ensemble. He also won 1st place in the the International Music Contest in Erbezzo, Italy in 2010, and the Ukraine Music Contest in 2008.
Seeking to spread the magic of accordion around the world, Nazar packed his bags for Hong Kong in 2014. He started off in Ocean Park, as one of the theme park’s mainstay entertainment (Ghostbusters anyone?) He then delved into Hong Kong’s music scene where he met soulmates with whom he began a series of creative collaborations. His first love was the sound of traditional Chinese instruments as he played with erhu player Chan Pik Sum, and yangqin player Yanki Ma. He also collaborated with local artists such as the cellist Trey Lee. Nazar’s proudest accomplishment is when he founded Hong Kong’s first tango band “Café 852” in 2016 performing tango, Balkan folk and gypsy jazz. The band was an instant success, performing at the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and Hong Kong Museum of Art, as well as livehouse venues, music festivals and private events. They released their first full-length album “Camino de Tango” in 2017.
As an enthusiastic and versatile performer, Nazar’s illustrious track record as an accordionist spans solo concerts with the City Chamber Orchestra and the Greater Bay Area Philharmonic Orchestra and solos at French May Festival and Musicus Fest. He also performed with his band at Jazz on the Lake and Freespace Jazz Festival. An indispensable part of Hong Kong’s cultural scene, Nazar has played in Tai Kwun’s Laundry Steps music series as well as K11 Musea and K11 Artus Hotel events. Brands, investors, and sporting events regularly seek out Nazar as they look to evoke a sense of timeless tradition through the sound of the accordion. He also expresses his pedagogical streak by teaching and sharing his knowledge of music at universities in Hong Kong and Macau.
Nazar’s band involvement in world music is especially prolific. As a founding member of “Jennie & Nazar Duo”, the duo hosts ceilidh (Scottish social dances) at the British Consulate, Fringe Club and Taipei’s British Chamber of Commerce. Nazar is also key member of “Kitchen Ceilidh”, a folk band which plays traditional Irish, Scottish and Canadian music, most notably at St. Andrew’s Balls at Hong Kong Football Club and Hong Kong Masonic Lodge. He is also part of “Salvaje”, Hong Kong’s first Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble, often seen at Freespace and Jockey Club.
On a more personal note, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Nazar has acted as a cultural ambassador for Ukraine abroad. Against Russia’s destruction and theft of Ukraine’s culture, Nazar advocates for the preservation of Ukranian music and song as a counterforce to Russian cultural imperialism. He is regularly invited by the EU office to perform and present the Ukranian cause, and has also acted as a source for media interviews on Ukraine in Hong Kong. He is a member of the Ukranian Society of Hong Kong.
Amongst his kaleidoscopic endeavours, Nazar has also served as music director for IFC mall’s Christmas “Oriental Express” concert series, post-Art Basel parties and various private events. He is committed to organising heartfelt and unforgettable musical journeys under his event production company “Nazario Music”, bringing together musicians, dancers, performers and audiences to connect deeply together. What best encapsulates Nazar’s philosophy to music is the expression “From Heart to Heart” – a message of hope, love and peace from his heart to yours.
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