Mykhailo Kravchenko

Mykhailo Stepanovych Kravchenko (Ukrainian: Кравченко Михайло Степанович; 1858-1917) was regarded as one of the most outstanding kobzars of Poltava province of the late 19th early 20th century.

Literature states that he spent 9 months studying under Fedir Hrytsenko-Kholodny, but in his discussion with Hnat Khotkevych, Kravchenko made no mention of this.

This was a common occupation for the blind, but one which negatively influenced the art of the kobzar - "When you weave a ropes for a month - Kravchenko stated - from your fingertips 20 layers of skin would come off - how can you play?"

Professor Mykola Sumtsov who was also involved with the organization of the conference wrote that the best performers were Terentiy Parkhomenko, Pavlo Drevchenko and Ivan Kucherenko.

Mykhailo Kravchenko's last bandura was given to Opanas Slastion who gave it to the Myrhorod ethnographic museum where it lies today.