Peter Kytasty

Peter Kytasty passed away peacefully at his home in Livonia on September 12, pre-deceased by his wife Lydia (Korol) in 2011. Peter is survived by his children Julian, Alexander (Stacey), Irene, John and granddaughters Alina, Teryn and Maya.

Peter was born in Mykhajlivka, Ukraine (near Poltava) in 1928. As a young child, he and his family endured the Stalinist purges of the 1930’s, later to be caught in the crossfire between the Soviets and Nazis throughout the Second World War along with many other Eastern Europeans. Through the war, Peter and his family found solace and hope in the songs and traditions of Ukrainian music and the Bandura. A small group of bandurists, including Peter’s father and uncle Hryhory, came together in wartime Kyiv. This group, which would later be known as the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus allowed Peter to join as an apprentice. He became their seventeenth member at age fourteen. Soon after, the group was forcibly sent to Germany, initially to a labor camp in Hamburg, and later mandated to perform in other German labor camps where their music brought some sense of hope and comfort to the thousands of forced laborers uprooted from their homeland.

After the conclusion of World War II, Peter with his family and the rest of the Bandurist Chorus remained in Germany for four years in the displaced persons camps. Peter finished his high school education, while the ensemble continued rehearsing and performing. 

In 1949, the Bandurist Chorus, along with Peter and his family emigrated to the United States where they settled in Detroit. Soon after arriving in the United States, Peter enlisted in the US Army where he served as a translator during the Korean War. Following his Army service, Peter enrolled at Wayne State University where he received a degree in Civil Engineering. He made his career with the US Army Corps of Engineers as a civilian, where he specialized in geotechnical projects, working on harbors, break walls, and other infrastructure vital to the Great Lakes region such as the shipping locks in Sault St Marie.

It was during this time, he met his wife Lydia, whom he married in 1955. Lydia also came from a family of talented Ukrainian singers. They both sang in the choir at St. Mary The Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church, led by Peter’s father, Ivan. The circle of friends they made during the 1950’s stayed close as they completed their education and started their families. These same friends became active in their church and other Ukrainian organizations to ensure their children could grow up in a thriving Ukrainian community and embrace their culture and heritage. 

As the youngest member of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, Peter felt compelled to create opportunities for the diaspora born youth to learn and continue the bandura tradition. His efforts extended outside the Detroit area. In cooperation with like minded people in other communities, this led to the creation of musical groups and bandura ensembles throughout the US and Canada. Peter was ultimately able to realize his vision of establishing summer music camps for youth from across North America to gather and learn the Ukrainian musical tradition.

 In 1976, after the passing of his father, Peter took over as conductor of the church choir and would continue in that role for over 30 years. All the while, he continued performing with the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, in numerous concert tours of North America, a tour through Western Europe in 1958, and Australia in 1981. His career with the Chorus culminated in a return to Ukraine in 1991. The first concert of that tour was on the same stage of the Kyiv Opera, where Peter made his performing debut as a soloist with a youth ensemble 50 years earlier. 

As a soloist he enthralled audiences throughout the US and Canada, and in 1988, South America. With his mastery of the bandura and his soulful tenor voice, he performed original repertoire and many of his own arrangements. A highlight of these performances were the beautiful duets with his wife Lydia.

Peter’s rich legacy to the bandura tradition continues on through his family and countless students. His community and loved ones will remember him for his gentle disposition, genuine humility, kindness.

Visitation

Friday September 19, 2025

3:00pm - 7:30pm

Service 7:30pm

St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church

21931 Evergreen Road Southfield, Michigan

Liturgy

Saturday September 20, 2025

10:00am

In Lieu of flowers, Peter has requested that a donation be made in his honor to support Bandura Education programs or Saint Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral.

A donation to Bandura Education programs will support summer bandura programs of Bandura at Bobriwka and Kobzarska Sich, both of which continue Peter’s legacy of promoting bandura and Ukrainian song to new generations of musicians.

A donation to St Mary’s will support the ongoing needs of the Church and parish community that was an integral part of Peter’s life.

To make a donation to Bandura Education

http://weblink.donorperfect.com/FriendsofUBC_inmemoryofPK

To make a donation to St Mary the Protectress:

https://www.protectress.org/