Tragedy: Eminent composer and her husband are killed in road crash

News has come in of the death of Julia Gomelskaya, Ukraine’s most successful composer, together with her husband Sergei, an instrumental player. They had been together since student days, a devoted couple.

The pair were killed in a two-car smash on the Odessa-Nikolayev road three days ago while on their way to a concert marking the 80th birthday of Julia’s teacher, Alexander Krasotova.

Julia and Sergei were 52.

Julia, originally from Saratov in Russia, won a 1990s scholarship to the Guildhall in London, where she studied with Robert Saxton and received her first commissions, from the Spitalfields Festival and the Wigmore Hall.

In 2002 she wrote a chamber opera, The Divine Sarah, for BBC Radio 3.

In all, she leaves about 90 works.

A friend, in shock, describes Julia as ‘excellent personality, enormous talent’.

May she and Sergei rest in peace.

Our condolences to their daughter.