Halyna’s teaching career started over forty years ago in Ukraine in the Kyiv Lysenko Music School, a renowned Ukrainian school specialising in promoting young musical talent. Having graduated from this school herself, she then taught composition and piano, lectured in music theory and history of music there, before going on to head the Music Department of the Sumy Pedagogical University. 

 

After her move to the UK to complete her PhD at the University of Bristol, Halyna continues teaching piano, music theory and composition in the UK and abroad, for over 15 years at Bristol Grammar School and from 2007 and up to the present day at King’s Hall School in Taunton. Halyna has also taught specialist composition coursers at prestigious summer schools, such as the Encore International Summer School, where students flew from across the world to participate in the course. Her students have described her as "dedicated", "passionate" and "innovative in her methods".

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In 1992 Halyna won the Ukrainian National Contest for her composition for choir. Her two ballets were successfully performed at the West End in London and at the Ljubliana National Opera and Ballet. Her Composition Invocation Of Rain was chosen by the SPNM (Society of Promotion of New Music) as one of the best compositions in the United Kingdom in 2004. Halyna worked as a Composer in Residence at the Visby International Centre for composers in 2005, Sweden. Her works are highly acclaimed by professional critics in the national and international press.

 

Halyna believes in nurturing and encouraging young talents in their creative work and achievements and she sponsors a composition trophy at the Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare Music Festivals. She has published works, including a series of piano duet books published by Oxford University Press and Spartan Press. The music books feature original compositions by Halyna as well as some popular classical music arranged, for all levels of performers to play in duet in order to make complex classical pieces accessible to learners of all levels and in particular younger learners to combine professionalism and fun.

 

Halyna plays an active role in raising funds in support of Ukrainian orphans who lost their parents bravely defending their homeland. Halyna’s arrangement and creative take on the traditional Christmas song We Wish You A Merry Christmas performed by the Grimethorpe Brass Band raised over £1,000, while performance by international choirs of Halyna’s original composition Over the River a Cuckoo Cried raised nearly £500 through audience donations.

 

“… Halyna Ovcharenko’s colouristic, through-composed score for small orchestra gives the undertaking a fierce professional gloss, ranging from plangent folktunes to terrifying brass climaxes worthy of Prokofiev. There were moments when, with realistic campfire blazing, the stage thick with battle-smoke and mastering armies, and another orchestral pile-up brewing, you had pinch yourself to believe this was a children’s show”.

                                                            The Independent on Sunday, 21 May 2000 (The last Battle, ballet)

 

“…composer Halyna Ovcharenko has a ballet full of beauty and breath -taking excitement which brings to life the final book of C.S Lewis’s epic Chronicles of Narnia.                                                                                                                                 Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s Wells in the West End, London

 

"Her piano instruction is of a rare command and perception of a kind arising from her training as a composer. Emphasis is placed on an 'orchestral' understanding of the score leading to an appreciation of all 'voices in the piano texture. She urges the student to look upon a piece as depicting an appropriate story, action or message as an aid to an effective communication of the music to an audience. Looking at a piece with Halyna that is already familiar or even over familiar leads the piano student into such new depths of enlightenment that one feels that a completely new piece is being studied!" 

                                                                                                                      Christopher Richards, student.

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"The main trend in Halyna Ovcharenko’s work is determined by rural folklore and folk music forms, which inspired many of her compositions. In her endeavour to breathe symphonic life into folksong, she has encountered the problem of amalgamating folk sources and frequently complex contemporary techniques." 

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                                   Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Second Edition Volume 18, page 817.