Mykola Leontovych

Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych (1877 - 1921) was a Ukrainian composer, choral conductor, and teacher of international renown. Leontovych is recognized for composing Shchedryk in 1916, known to the English speaking world as Carol of the Bells or as Ring Christmas Bells.  At the school, Leontovych mastered singing, and was able to freely read difficult passages from religious choral texts.  From 1892 until 1899, Mykola Leontovych attended the theological seminary in Kamianets-Podilskyi, where he sang in choir, began to study Ukrainian music, and commenced choral arranging.