Roman Kofman

Roman (Avraham) Isaakovych Kofman (, 15 June 1936 – 24 February 2026) was a Ukrainian conductor, violinist, composer, music educator and People's Artist of Ukraine. He was internationally known as concertmaster, co-founder and later artistic director of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra, and as Generalmusikdirektor of the Beethoven Orchester Bonn from 2003 to 2008, when he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He was principal conductor of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine from 2012.

Life and career Roman (Avraham) Isaakovych Kofman was born on 15 June 1936 in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR.

As a conductor, he performed with more than 70 orchestras and ensembles from around the world, in Italy, Austria, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Between 2003 and 2008, Kofman worked in Germany as the Generalmusikdirektor in Bonn, leading the Beethoven Orchester Bonn and the Bonn Opera, He led the symphony orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine from 2012.

Awards Kofman was awarded the titles of Merited Artist of Ukraine and People's Artist of Ukraine. He was also awarded the Officer’s Cross First Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He received the Echo Klassik award in 2007, and in 2011 was shortlisted for the Shevchenko National Prize.