Ivan Romanoff (April 10 1908 – January 23 1997) was a Russian‑born Canadian conductor, composer, arranger, and folk‑music specialist. Born in Białystok, then part of the Russian Empire (now Poland), Romanoff emigrated to Canada in 1928. He became a prominent figure in Canadian broadcasting, serving as a staff conductor and music director for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) from the 1930s through the 1960s.
Romanoff founded “Ivan Romanoff and His Orchestra,” which performed a repertoire that blended traditional Slavic folk melodies with contemporary orchestral arrangements. The ensemble recorded several albums for the CBC and commercial labels, notably the LP “Moscow Nights” (1958) and “Russian Folk Songs” (1960). He also composed original works that incorporated folk elements, such as the suite “Cossack Country.”
In addition to his conducting and recording activities, Romanoff was an educator, teaching orchestration and folk music history at various Canadian institutions. He received a 1962 Juno Award nomination for “Best Instrumental Album” for his recording “Songs of the Russian People.” Romanoff remained active in music until his death in Toronto, Ontario, in 1997.
