hiː stˈʌdid ˌɛndʒɪnˈɪɹɪŋ æt ðə kˈɑːɹkɪv pˌɑːlɪtˈɛknɪk, ænd ˈɔːlsoʊ vˈɔɪs æt ðə kˈɑːɹkɪv kənsˈɜːvətˌoːɹi wɪððɪ ɪtˈæliən pɹəfˈɛsɚ fˈɛdɚɹɪkˌoʊ bjˌuːɡɐmˈɛli ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪntiːn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti.
He studied engineering at the Kharkiv Politechnic, and also voice at the Kharkiv Conservatory with the Italian professor Federico Bugamelli in 1919–1920.