Biography
Who is Sofia Rotaru?
Early life and real name
Sofia Rotaru was born on August 7, 1947, in the village of Marshyntsi in Ukraine. Her full birth name is Sofiia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru. She grew up in a large family as the second child among six siblings. Her father, Mikhail Rotaru, worked as a brigadier of wine-growers and served as a heavy machine gunner during World War II.
During her childhood, Sofia spoke Romanian at home and participated in regional sports like pentathlon and running. She joined her school choir and church choir from an early grade. Despite facing restrictions from school officials regarding church singing, she pursued drama and vocal classes. She also practiced playing the bayan and searched for melodies inspired by Moldavian songs.
How Sofia became famous
Sofia Rotaru began her formal music training at the Chernivtsi Art School after graduating from high school. She entered vocal and conducting departments and took lessons from Sidi Tal at the Chernivtsi Philharmonic. Her early victories in regional and republican amateur talent reviews in Chernivtsi and Kyiv helped launch her professional path.
In 1968, Sofia performed at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Bulgaria, winning first prize in the folk songs category. Bulgarian media outlets praised her performances of Ukrainian and Moldavian folk pop songs. International recognition expanded further when she won first prize at the Golden Orpheus in 1973 and second prize at the Sopot International Song Festival in 1974.
Career highlights
Sofia Rotaru starred in the 1971 musical film Chervona Ruta, which brought her significant success across the Soviet Union. Following the film, she joined the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Society and worked with the backing ensemble Chervona Ruta, where her husband Anatoliy Yevdokymenko served as artistic director. She collaborated with composer Volodymyr Ivasyuk to record numerous popular songs.
Over her decades-long career, Sofia has recorded more than 40 albums and 400 songs in multiple languages. She topped the Moscow airplay in 2008 with the song Ya nazovu planetu imenem tvoim. Her extensive list of honors includes the title of People's Artist of the USSR and the high rank of the Hero of Ukraine, which was awarded by the president of Ukraine in August 2002.
Family and personal life
Sofia Rotaru married Anatoliy Yevdokymenko in 1968 while he was a student at Chernivtsi University and a trumpet player in a student pop band. Together they had one child, a son named Ruslan Yevdokymenko. Her late husband also worked closely with her professional career as an artistic director before his passing.
Her sibling Aurica Rotaru is also part of her family, alongside other brothers and sisters. Sofia maintains her main residence in Yalta and owns homes in Moscow, Kyiv, and Baden-Baden. Due to a passport office error that listed her birthdate as August 9, she reportedly celebrates her birthday twice.
Birthday and age
Sofia Rotaru was born on August 7, 1947, which makes Sofia 79 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Sofia shares the date with 34 other famous people.
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