Igor Shamo was a Ukrainian Soviet composer. Born Isai Naumovich Shamo in Kyiv on February 21, 1925, he studied composition at the music school attached to the Kyiv Conservatory, graduating in 1941. His teachers included Lev Revutsky and Borys Lyatoshynsky, with whom he studied at the conservatory from 1946 until graduating with honors in 1951. He joined the Union of Composers of Ukraine in 1948, while still a student.
Shamo wrote more than 300 songs, including “How Can I Not Love You, My Kyiv!”, which became the anthem of Kyiv, and songs such as “Autumn Gold,” “Three Pieces of Advice,” and “Enchanted Desna.” His works also include three symphonies, quartets, choruses setting poems by Ivan Franko, vocal cycles on poems by Robert Burns and Andriy Malyshko, ten romances on poems by Taras Shevchenko, piano music, and the cantata “Ukraine Sings.” Among his other works are suites including “Hutsul Watercolors” and ten concert pieces for bandura. His chamber works include the choral opera “Yatran Games.”
He composed music for more than 40 films and more than 40 theater productions, including the tragedy “Uriel Acosta.” His music for accordion and symphony orchestra was first performed by accordionist Volodymyr Besfamilnov.
Shamo was named Honored Art Worker of the Ukrainian SSR in 1964 and People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR in 1975. In 1976, he received the State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR named after Taras Shevchenko for several songs, including “My Kyiv,” “Ballad of Brotherhood,” and “Enchanted Desna.” He died in Kyiv on August 17, 1982.