The legendary rector Mykhailo Poplavskyi, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday, gave his first candid interview to the popular TV presenter Hryhoriy Reshetnik. In this exclusive interview, Poplavskyi shared his personal experiences and revealed some of the secrets of his long-term success.
In an interview with Hryhoriy Reshetnik on YouTube, the permanent rector of KNUKiM Mykhailo Poplavskyi, who has been the head of the university for more than 30 years, frankly talked about his time and himself, about the difficult path to success, creating the university's brand, national projects and key stages of his life. The presenter did not spare sharp questions, and Mykhailo Mykhailovych surprised with unexpected answers, opening the veil of his personal life and sharing his plans for the future.
As always, in the frame, as well as every day at work, Poplavskyi looks flawless: every detail is thought out to the smallest detail, an unchanged hairstyle, a perfect suit. By the way, the rector orders them, like concert images, exclusively from Ukrainian designers.
Become successful. Mykhailo from the village of Mechyslavka in the Kirovohrad region dreamed of this. After graduating from school, he entered Vocational and Technical School No. 25 in the city of Horlivka, Donetsk region, majoring in "electric locomotive driver in a mine".
"What are bursaks? Blue coat, kurze boots, robe. But I always took care of my appearance: I was ironed, neat, combed. Appearance is one of the steps on the way to success.
I always believed that I would become a successful person. And faith is magic that opens the way to a dream," says Poplavskyi.
Student of vocational school No. 25 in Horlivka, Donetsk region. 1968
After serving in the army and working as the director of a cultural center in the village of Velyki Troyany, Kirovohrad Region, 25-year-old Poplavskyi became a first-year student at the Kyiv State Institute of Culture in 1975, graduating with honors. And in 1993, he already headed a then little-known institution that produced librarians and directors of rural houses of culture, becoming the youngest rector in Ukraine.
Student of the first year of KDiK . 1975
While building the University, Poplavsky surprised with bold, non-standard and even outrageous decisions. He shocked the Ukrainian show business by launching the PR project "The Singing Rector as a Technology" to promote the Kyiv University of Culture, when he first appeared on stage with the song "Young Eagle".
The youngest rector of the country . 1994
"It was very difficult to enter the image of a "young eagle", and even more difficult it ," the rector admits.
During his creative career, Poplavsky released more than 50 bright clips, more than 200 songs of various genres and more than 150 large-scale concert shows that gathered full halls.
Clip images of Mykhailo Poplavskyi
The "Singing Rector" project fulfilled its mission - it drew attention to the University, to important things that Poplavskyi always emphasized: the preservation and development of Ukrainian song and traditions, the importance of educating patriotic youth.
During the thirty years of rectorship, Mykhailo Poplavskyi turned "Kulok" into the leading art educational institution of the country - according to the "Osvita.ua" resource, the university is ranked first for the fourth year in a row in the TOP rating "The best art institutions of higher education of Ukraine".
Currently, the university has eight powerful faculties. Students study in innovative laboratories equipped with the latest multimedia equipment, where they can implement various projects and implement bold creative ideas.
Mykhailo Poplavskyi's master class for students at the university
"Traditionally, I personally meet with students. In September, I will hold master classes for freshmen. I always tell students that their career and happy future depends only on them. To be successful, you need to row from the first course. And we provide students with opportunities and tools, create a creative atmosphere for the realization of their creative, healthy ambitions", says Mykhailo Mykhailovych in an interview.
In addition, Mykhailo Poplavskyi over the years has implemented a number of creative projects aimed at popularizing Ukrainian songs and supporting young artists.
1997 year. On Ukrainian television, children's programs occupy only 3% of the total broadcast. The Russian "Morning Star" is broadcast. Poplavsky radically changes the situation by founding the legendary all-Ukrainian children's television contest "Step to the Stars". It became the only Ukrainian nationwide and social project, which provided an opportunity for all willing children from different parts of the country to realize their creative abilities. The only condition is that the songs must sound Ukrainian and performed live. In fact, in 1997, Mykhailo Poplavsky launched the children's creative industry of Ukraine.
All-Ukrainian children's television contest "Step to the Stars"
In 2004, when the information space of Ukraine was completely filled with Russian content, Poplavsky founded the powerful patriotic project "Our Song" - a platform for legendary stage masters and young performers who had the opportunity to present new Ukrainian music of various genres to a wide audience. This year, the project, which over time transformed into the "Ukrainian Song of the Year", celebrated its 20th anniversary.
"Ukrainian song is what unites us, it is our soul and strength. Each song contains deep meanings, the history of our country, its traditions, the desire for self-determination and freedom, love for the native land, optimism and faith in the great future of Ukraine ," says Mykhailo Poplavskyi.
National Music Award "Ukrainian Song of the Year-2021"
Mykhailo Poplavsky presented the Ukrainian song to the whole world. On April 2, 2012, the rector's team entered modern world history by implementing an unprecedented musical telethon "Song unites us!". For the first time, the musical triumph of our country was watched on all continents, the marathon was watched in 150 countries.
The marathon was included in the Guinness Book of World Records in the category "Longest live musical television marathon of the national song". It lasted 110 hours, 3 minutes and 27 seconds.
A telethon of a Ukrainian song entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. 2012
Mykhailo Poplavsky admits that he feels happy: he is engaged in his life's work - the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, he has a wonderful family.
"Currently, in our conditions, waking up alive in the morning is already happiness. I am a happy person, a happy rector, a happy father. I recently became a grandfather again, I have three grandchildren, and I am proud that the Poplavsky family, which I have researched up to the eighth generation, continues," says Mykhailo Mykhailovych.
Every day, he goes to his favorite work with inspiration, is inspired by his students, their creative successes, experiments and courage. Poplavsky is already working on new projects, recorded a new song "Ukraine forward!" and is preparing for the 75th anniversary.
He says that he dreams of organizing the grand show "Ukraine forward!", which Ukraine has never seen before, the National Music Award "Ukrainian Song of the Year 2024: Songs Born of War", the new season of the All-Ukrainian television children's project "Step to the Stars - 2025" and a charity tour America and Europe "Ukraine forward!"
Actively helps the Armed Forces, although he does not like to talk about it. In particular, he transferred 1 million hryvnias, bought armored cars for border guards and other units of the Armed Forces.
Armored vehicles for the Armed Forces
"I dream that Ukraine will become a European, prosperous country. For peace to come, for us to win and feel like a great united nation," the rector shared.
KNUKiM is the most important thing in Mykhailo Poplavskyi's life
