About

Yakiv Tsvietinskyi is one of the leading voices of the modern Ukrainian jazz scene. A Fulbright scholar, Focusyear Basel alumnus, and a graduate from the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance in Los Angeles, Yakiv wears many hats as a trumpeter, composer, and educator. His vibrant creative palette fuses the complexity of modernist music, the spontaneity of jazz, and the melancholy of Ukrainian folk song, telling the story of the beauty and struggles of his homeland.

Born in a Ukrainian village, Yakiv grew from a self-taught jazz trumpet player into an internationally recognized artist. His journey began with classical trumpet studies at the Dnipro Music Academy, where, despite limited opportunities for jazz education and a challenging post-Soviet academic environment, he nurtured a deep passion for jazz. Yakiv went on to become one of the first students in the academy’s new jazz department and later its first jazz trumpet instructor. Committed to inspiring the next generation, he created an innovative curriculum that now serves as the foundation of the academy’s jazz program.

Yakiv’s educational background has been shaped by institutions worldwide. As a Fulbright scholar, he earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance at Western Michigan University, mentored by acclaimed musicians Scott Cowan, Andrew Rathbun, and Keith Hall. In 2020, he was selected for Focusyear, a year-long ensemble residence program led by renowned guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel in Basel, Switzerland. The program further honed his skills as a musician and composer through collaborations with modern jazz visionaries and mentorship from artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jorge Rossy, Lionel Loueke, Guillermo Klein, Jeff Ballard, Miguel Zenon, and Ambrose Akinmusire, who served as Yakiv’s private mentor. From 2023 to 2025, he studied at the Herbie Hancock Institute at UCLA, where he continued his work with Ambrose and toured internationally with Herbie Hancock as a member of the Institute’s ensemble.

In 2024, Yakiv participated in the International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert in Morocco, sharing the stage with legendary artist Femi Kuti. This milestone further solidified his reputation as a prominent figure in the global jazz community.

The full-scale Russo-Ukrainian war deeply affected Yakiv’s life. Taking a break from music, he joined a community of volunteers in Lviv, aiding refugees and delivering humanitarian supplies. In May 2022, Yakiv’s cousin, Mykola Tsvietinskyi, who had dedicated his life to the Ukrainian army since 2014, was killed in action. This profound loss brought Yakiv back to music, inspiring him to compose Mykola, a 20-minute-long piece that premiered at The Festival of New Trumpet Music, directed by Dave Douglas. The composition reflects both Yakiv’s personal grief and the collective trauma of the Ukrainian people, many of whom have been deeply affected by the Russian invasion.