Oleg Galakhov (1945–2023) was a Soviet and Russian composer. He was born in Horlivka and died in Moscow at the age of 78.
Galakhov graduated from the Moscow Conservatory. He studied composition with Rodion Shchedrin, musical form analysis with Yuri Kholopov, and score reading with Alfred Schnittke. He chaired the Moscow Composers’ Union, served as vice president of the Authors’ Council of the Russian Authors’ Society, and led the annual Moscow Autumn International Festival of Contemporary Music.
His works include the oratorios and cantatas Historical Songs, Twenty-Six, Song of Our Land, and Voice: An Address to Anna Akhmatova; the Concerto for Orchestra; and the symphony New Garden. He also wrote the vocal cycles From Japanese Poetry and Festivities, two string quartets, a sonata for cello and organ, Little Triptych for piano, and Northern Triptych for harp. His other music included scores for films and television, the fairy-tale opera The Most Beautiful, and Five Pictures for children's choir, titled The Golden Ball. The latter work won first prize at the International Choral Meetings in Tours, France.
Galakhov was named an Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1986. In 2016, he received a Certificate of Merit from the President of the Russian Federation for his contribution to national culture and the arts and his many years of work.