In 1945, as a result of Operation Vistula, his family found itself in Lviv, where he grew up and spent his school years.

After graduating from the Lviv Specialized Music School in 1960, Oleh Krysa entered the Moscow Conservatory.

From 1960 to 1967 he studied there under David Oistrakh, who said of him: "Oleh has brilliant natural gifts, unusual musicality, vivid artistry, and great charm."

Six years later, he again headed for Moscow, becoming Oistrakh's assistant and joined the renowned Beethoven Quartet as the first violinist.

As an advocate of modern music, Mr. Krysa has been privileged to premier works of such composers as Alfred Schnittke, Valentin Silvestrov, Myroslav Skoryk, Virko Baley, Vyacheslav Artyomov, Larry Sitsky, Sydney Hodkinson, Vera Ivanova and Nataliya Rozhko.