Born in L'viv (then Poland, now Ukraine) on July 13, 1938. He came from an educated Ukrainian family (his grandmother was a sister of an eminent opera singer Solomea Krushelnyts'ka). He began learning music at music school in L'viv in 1945. In 1947 the Skoryks were repressed on political grounds and deported to Siberia. After J.Stalin's death they were allowed to return to L'viv, where he studied at the L'viv State V.Lysenko Conservatoire (now L'viv Music Academy) under Professors Stanislav Ljudkevych, Roman Simovych and Adam Soltys (composition class of A.Soltys, music history and theory class of S.Ljudkevych) in 1955-1960.

1960-1963 he made his post-graduated studies in composition at the Moscow State P.I.Tchaikovsky Conservatoire with Prof. D.Kabalevsky.

Since 1963 he has lectured at L'viv Conservatoire and since 1966 at Kiev State P.I.Tchaikovsky Conservatoire (now National Music Academy of Ukraine), lecturing music theory and composition (since 1971 as a Docent, since 1985 as a Professor). He has taught a number of well-known composers.

His output includes various musical genres: an opera, a ballet, a “Requiem”, concertos (1 for orchestra, 1 for cello with orchestra, 3 piano concertos and 2 violin ones), pieces for orchestra, various ensembles, solo piano etc. (in particular, 7 partitas for various instrumentations); music to numerous films and theatre plays; jazz and popular music.

He edited Ukrainian classic operas “Na Rusalchyn Velykden'” by Mykola Leontovych, “Kupalo” by Anatol' Vakhnjanyn, “Roksoljana” by Denys Sichyns'kyj.

Stylistically he has continued traditions of the L'viv composers' school, organically united with various primary genres; he has given an individual modern vision of the Ukrainian, especially Carpathian folklore, L'viv urban and salon music as well as contemporary popular music, first of all jazz.

His works have been regularly performed in Ukraine, in other countries former Soviet republics, in Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Great Britain as well as in the USA, Canada and Australia. He has often performed his own works as conductor and pianist.

PhD in musicology (1967). The author of the monographies “S.Prokofiev's Modal System” (Kiev, “Muzychna Ukrajina”, 1969), and “Structure and Expressiveness of Accordics in the 20th-Century Music” (Kiev, “Muzychna Ukrajina”, 1984).

He was awarded many titles and awards: Honoured in Arts of Ukraine (1969), People's Artist of Ukraine (1988), Ukrainian Republic Komsomol M.Ostrovsky Prize (1968), Ukrainian State (now National) T.Shevchenko Prize (1987), “Sign of Honour” Soviet Order (1971), and Ukrainian President's “For Merits” Orden (3rd degree, 1998).

Member of the Ukrainian Composers' Union and its Secretary (1968-), Head of the Board of the L'viv Branch (1988-).