Ivan Pokrovsky is a Russian violinist. He was born in Saratov and spent the

first eight years of his musical journey in the class of the Honored Artist of

Russia Galina Kurgayeva. Ivan was admitted to the Moscow State P.I.

Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he studied with the National Artist of the

USSR, Professor Eduard Grach (Violin), Honored Artist of the RF,

Professor Galina Shirinskaya (Chamber Music) and National Artist of the

RF, Professor Alexander Korchagin (Quartet) and later completed his

postgraduate studies under the same professors. As a part his

postgraduate program, Ivan wrote a qualifying thesis titled Successful

Development of a Musician’s Personality as the Main Task of the

Instrumental Music Teacher, under the supervision of Professor of Art

Criticism Vasily Kisunko. Ivan Pokrovsky won the Second Prize at the

Russian A. Korsakov Open Violin Competition in Tver, the First Prize and

the Special Prize at the Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition in Fermo (Italy). He also received a Diploma of the 2nd International Bogodar Kotorovich Violin Competition in Kharkiv (Ukraine).

Ivan Pokrovsky, who along with his wife, violinist Julia Pokrovskaya, form

the Pokrovsky Duo, was a prize-winner at Plovdiv International Chamber

Music Competition, Bulgaria. The Duo was awarded the Bronze Medal,

Eugene Ysaye Special Prize and one more Special Prize for “brilliant

talent” – “Orpheus” (created by the prominent Bulgarian artist Valchan

Petrov). The Pokrovsky Duo also received the Second Prize at the 2nd

International Alisa Gitsba Competition in Sukhum (Abkhazia). As a

Mosconcert soloist, Ivan Pokrovsky has given numerous performances. He

has participated in the International Contemporary Music Festival called

Moscow Autumn and the annual Classics in Kuskovo Music Festival

(Moscow, Russia). Ivan Pokrovsky serves as the Director of the

Instrumental Music Department at G.P. Vishnevskaya College of Music and

Theatre Arts. He is the artistic director and conductor of the College

Student Symphony Orchestra. Ivan Pokrovsky has initiated Playing with

the Orchestra Competition and Festival for young performers, which is held

every second year. He is the organizer and a jury member of the Moscow

K.K. Sarajayeva Competition of Young Harpists (v-arfa.com). Ivan

Pokrovsky is also the director of Ivan Pokrovsky School, the independent

nonprofit culture and art development organization.

Born into a family of musicians in Almaty (Kazakhstan), Diyar started

learning to play the violin at the age of 6, at K. Baiseitova Specialized

Music School for gifted children. From 2002 to 2013 he studied in Moscow.

Diyar graduated from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and

completed a postgraduate course under Prof. Sergey Girshenko. Diyar

Kassenov is a prize winner of various international competitions and

festivals. He worked in the Russian State Symphony Orchestra (Svetlanov

Symphony Orchestra), Gaziza Zhubanova State String Quartet of the

Republic of Kazakhstan, at the Elena Kamburova Theatre of Music and

Poetry. Diyar also collaborated with the Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra

and Gnesin Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.

At present, Diyar Kassenov performs with the Kazakh State Symphony

Orchestra. He combines his performing career with teaching at the

Kazakh National University of Arts.

Diyar has been a member of jury at various music competitions in the

Republic of Kazakhstan. He enjoys performing actively as a soloist and

chamber musician in many countries, including Italy, Germany, England,

the Czech Republic, Austria, Russia, Kazakhstan, etc. Diyar is a guest

concertmaster with the Night Serenades Orchestra (Georgia), Hungarian

Szirom Orchestra, German WorldPeacePhilarmonic, Westfalen

Philharmonie, and Philharmonie der Nationen Orchestra.

Diyar Kassenov is a certified facilitator of the open dialogue method and a

member of the professional Association of Open Dialogue Facilitators. He

is also the author of Emotional Sensitivity Course teaching to express

emotions through sound.

As a young musician, Lorena Correa was granted a scholarship for

emerging talent from the Colombian Bank of the Republic. Lorena

graduated from the Tchaikovsky Academic Music College at the Moscow

State Conservatory, the Music Conservatory at the National University of

Colombia and Departmental Institute of Fine Arts (IDBA) in Cali, Colombia.

Lorena has also studied violin pedagogy at Escuela de Violín Greco in

Ecuador, singing at Opera Breve Studio (Colombia) and music therapy at

the National University of Colombia. She practices as a music therapist.

Khanafina is a laureate of Russian and international competitions, she has

taken part in numerous international festivals: The Return festival

(Moscow, Russia), Hiiumaa (Estonia), the World’s Young Musicians in

Khakassia festival (Аbakan, Russia), Moscow Meets Friends festival

(Russia) Моscow; Morges Music Festival (Switzerland), Gstaad Menuhin

Festival (Switzerland).

As a part of the Russian Chamber Orchestra, Eliza gave concerts in

Germany, the USA, Austria, Turkey, Mexico and South Korea. As a part of

The Kremlin Chamber Orchestra, she spent five years touring across

Russia, the USA, Mexico, South Korea and Germany. Eliza Khanafina is a

guest artist at the Bern Symphony Orchestra (BSO), at Luzern’s City Light

Concerts, Zürcher Kammerphilharmonie (Zurich) and others.

Eliza is also a cello teacher.

She was granted scholarships from the President of Bashkortostan

Republic (Russia), the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation,

Elsy Meyer Foundation (Switzerland). Eliza’s name is in the Golden Book

of Bashkortostan Republic “The 20th Century to the 21st Century”.

Eliza plays a cello made in the 18th century by an English master,

generously on loan from a private Swiss foundation.

Batyrkhan Khassenov was born in Pavlovdar region of the Republic of

Kazakhstan. He started learning to play the double bass at A. Zhubanov

republican secondary school specialized in music, in the class of Prof. K. K.

Narbekov (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Batyrkhan continued his music education

at Kazakh National Academy of Music, in Astana (class of S. Dairov)

In 2004 Batyrkhan Khassenov entered the Moscow Tchaikovsky

Conservatory, where he studied with Prof. Е. А. Kolosov.

In 2009 he started his postgraduate studies at the Conservatory under Prof.

Е. А. Kolosov.

In 1999 Batyrkhan Khassenov became a laureate of A. Zhubanov Young

Musicians Festival (Almaty)

In 2001 he won a Grand Prix at the XXIInd Republican Competition of

Young Performers (Astana, Kazakhstan)

In 2002 Batyrkhan was awarded the 3rd Prize at the IVth International

Symphony Competition of Young Musicians (Volgograd, Russia).

In 2007 he won the 1st Prize of the Ist International Zagir Ismagilov

Competition for performing musicians (Ufa, Russia).

Batyrkhan Khassenov’s performances are characterized by virtuosity,

finesse and distinctive expressiveness.

Batyrkhan gives numerous concerts. At present, he is a member of the

Astana Opera Theatre Symphony Orchestra.

Оksana Sushkova is a prominent Russian harpist. She has been the

winner of international competitions and the 1st All-Russian Music

Competition. In 2013 she was awarded the First Prize at the 25th Nippon

Harp Competition (Тоkio, Soka City), thus becoming the first and, so far,

only Russian harpist to have received such a prestigious award in Japan.

Her solo performances have taken place in the USA, Finland, Norway,

Germany, Hungary, Japan and China.

She started learning to play the harp in Saint Petersburg and continued in

Moscow, where she obtained her Master’s Degree in Performing Arts from

the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music (Prof N. Shameyeva’s class).

At present, Oksana is the leader of the harp section in two orchestras –

E.V. Kolobov New Opera Theatre Orchestra and the Galina

Vishnevskaya Opera Centre orchestra (Moscow). She combines this with a

solo career and regularly gives harp concerts in the best Russian concert

venues. Oksana has performed in Saint Petersburg’s Academic Glinka

Capella, the Beethoven Hall of the Bolshoi Theatre, the Concert Hall of the

Mariinsky Theatre, Moscow International House of Music, the Small Halls

of the Moscow Conservatory, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, Pushkin

State Museum of Fine Arts; in Philharmonic Halls of Ryazan, Yaroslavl,

Samara, Chelyabinsk, etc. In some cities, such as Vladimir, Cheboksary

and Miass, the audience heard solo harp music for the first time, and it in

Oksana’s performances.

Evgeni Finkelstein is an outstanding Russian guitarist, laureate of

numerous international competitions, professor of the Maimonides

Academy (Moscow). Evgeni’s playing is marked by wonderful sound,

extraordinary fineness and intense musical expression. He performs an

exciting and exquisite repertoire.

Evgeni Finkelstein has given solo concert performances in such

internationally renowned concert halls, such as the Wiener Konzerthaus,

the Gasteig in Munich, the Madrid Royal Conservatory, the Great, Small

and Rachmaninov Halls of the Moscow State Conservatory, the Great Halls

of Saint Petersburg’s Academic Capella and Philharmonic, the Holywell

Music Room in Oxford, the Moscow International House of Music. Evgeni

Filkenstein regularly collaborates with Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow

Soloists Chamber Orchestra. Vivaldi’s D-minor double concerto for viola,

guitar and strings performed by Evgeni Filkenstein and Yuri Bashmet in the

Small Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory, was a great success.

Еvgeni Finkelstein was born in Moscow in 1972, his teachers were

outstanding Russian musicians Alexander Frauchi, Nikita Koshkin, Kamill

Frauchi and Alexander Gitman. Evgeni has won prizes at international

classical guitar competitions: in 1995 in Moscow and Voronezh – Guitar in

Russia competition, in 1996 in Belgium – Printemps de la Guitare

competition.

The German Acoustic Music Records label has released five CDs by

Evgeni Finkelstein. The first one, The Fall of the Birds. Russian Guitar

Music contains works by contemporary Russian composers and guitarists:

N. Koshkin, S. Rudnev and G. Belyaev. The second CD is called Sonata

and presents works by J.S. Bach, S.L. Weiss, G. Muffat and M. Giuliani.

The third CD, Lachrimae, includes lute music by J. Dowland, R. De Visée,

G. Zamboni, arranged for classical guitar by Evgeni Finkelstein. On the

fourth CD called Le Baroque there are pieces by French and German

composers of the 17th-18th centuries – М. Marais, А. Forqueray, М. de

Sainte-Colombe, K. F. Abel. The works composed for viola da gamba were

performed on classical guitar for the first time in music history. The fifth CD,

Russian Guitar Music. Unknown Masterpieces, presents works by Russian

composers of the 19th – 21st centuries: N. Makarov, I. Lyakhov, V. Morkov,

N. Aleksadrov, V. Shebalin, S. Rudnev, N. Koshkin, Y. Finkelstein, G.

Belyayev, E. Finkelstein.

Еvgeni Finkelstein is often invited to be on the jury of international and

Russian competitions: Alexander Frauchi Competition (Moscow), Guitar

Virtuosi (Saint Petersburg), competitions in Nicosia (Cyprus), Riga (Latvia),

Tallinn (Estonia) and many more.

Recordings of works performed by Evgeni Finkelstein are broadcast by

Orpheus radio station (Russia), Bayerischer Rundfunk (German radio and television broadcaster, based in Munich), Kultura Radio station and Kultura

TV Channel, Radio Rossii, City FM Radio station (Russia), Federal

Television of South Korea. In addition to his concert appearances, Evgeni

Finkelstein gives master classes in conservatories, both in Russia and

abroad.

At present, Evgeni performs in Russia, Germany, France, the Czech

Republic, the UK, Austria, Spain, South Korea, Cyprus, China, Ukraine,

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus and other countries.

Anton Silverstov is a soloist with the Tchaikovsky Bolshoi

Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev. He is also

Associate Professor at the Moscow State P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

In 2010 Anton graduated from the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied

with the Honored Artist of RSFSR, Professor А. М. Golyshev. Anton moved

on to the postgraduate studies and continued to master his performance at

the Moscow Conservatory under the same professor. While studying he

received scholarships of the governor’s program named The Young

Talents of Tver Region and of the M. Rostropovich Charity Foundation (D.

Shostakovich scholarship). He became a laureate of several international

competitions and took part in master classes of the most prominent flutists -

András Adorján, Ransom Wilson, Felix Renggli, Juliette Hurel, and others.

In his third year of study at the Conservatory he became the soloist and

leader of the flute section at the Moscow State Conservatory Concert

Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Prof. A. Levin. Since 2008, he has

been working as a soloist with the P.I. Tchaikovsky Grand Symphony

Orchestra under the baton of V. Fedoseyev. Anton has been actively

involved in concert and teaching activity; he has performed as a soloist with

various ensembles. He gives master classes throughout Russia

(Sirius Educational Centre, projects of Saint Peterburg House of Music and

the New Names Foundation, etc.) and is frequently invited to be a member

of jury at music competitions. Anton Silverstov has performed with the

Tchaikovsky Grand Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre Symphony

Orchestra, Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Moscow

Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, and others. As a soloist, he has worked

with the world’s major conductors – V. Fedoseyev, Jean-Claude

Casadesus, A. Lazarev, T. Currentzis, A. Rudin, Y. Bashmet, V.

Chernushenko, V. Ponkin, F. Korobov, A. Sladkovsky, T. Sanderling, and

many others.

From 2012 to 2015 Anton Silverstov taught flute at the Moscow F. Chopin

State College of Music Art. Since 2013, he has been teaching at the

Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. In 2023 he was appointed

Associate Professor.

Dmitry Kolupayev graduated with distinction from the Gnessin Russian

Academy of Music (Prof. I. F. Pushechnikov’s class), then continued his

studies at the University of Music and Theatre

(Hochschule für Musik und Theater) in Hamburg, in the class of Prof. A.

Gürsching. Dmitry is a laureate of the Russian National Competition of

Woodwind Players (Saint Petersburg, 1995). He has won scholarships from

Villa Musica and Oskar und Veva Ritter Stieffung foundations (Germany).

Dmitry has taught oboe and recorder at Waldorf school and Moscow State

Culture and Arts University. He has worked at the orchestras under the

baton of Т. Мynbayev, М. Каzhlayev, V. Ponkin, М. Gorenstein. From

2000 to 2002 год Dmitry was a soloist with the Young Russia Orchestra. As

a member of Наrmonie-Oktett wind ensemble, he recorded a number of

original works broadcast by BBC radio station. Dmitry received special

acknowledgement from the RF Ministry of Culture. Since 2002, he has

been an artist with the Russian Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra under the

baton of V. Yurovsky. Dmitry Kolupayev also teaches at the G.P.

Vishnevskaya College of Music and Theatre Arts.

Yulia was born in Saint Petersburg (Russia), where she received her first

clarinet lessons at the age of eight at the M. Rostropovich Music School.

After she graduated from the Mussorgsky Music College (A. Tikhonov’s

class), she continued her studies at the Rimsky-Korsakov

Conservatory (Prof. A. Kazakov’s class).

In 2011 Yulia started studying in Germany with Prof. W. Meyer at

Karlsruhe’s University of Music (Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe), in 2015

moving on to Prof. Norbert Kaiser’s class at the State University of Music

and Performing Arts in Stuttgart (HMDK Stuttgart). In 2018 Yulia started her

postgraduate studies (soloist class), which she completed with distinction in

2021

During her studies, first in Russia and then in Germany, Yulia took part in

various master classes – with Professors H. Swimberghe, H.D. Klaus, R.

Manno, S. Meyer, R. Wehle, C. Neidich, S. Kam, L. Ruiz-Ferreras and

others. She has been awarded scholarships from St. Petersburg’s Federal

State Music House, the Live-Musik-Now Karlsruhe, the Gesellschaft der

Freunde Stuttgart, the Lions Club Ettlingen.

Yulia Drukh has won numerous prizes at international competitions, such

as the 1st International Weber Clarinet Competition in Petrozavodsk,

Russia (First Prize 2006), ZeitGenuss – international contemporary music

competition, Germany (as a member of trio, First Prize, 2015),

International Brahms Competition, Austria (Special Prize, 2015), Plovdiv

International Chamber Music Competition, Bulgaria (Special Prize, 2017),

Max Reger European Chamber Music Competition, Germany (Special

Prize, 2017), the 14th Saverio Mercadante International Clarinet

Competition, Italy (Third Prize, 2018), International Online Orchestra

Auditions Awards Competition, Samnium University of Music, Rome (Third

Prize, 2020), the 3rd International Online Vienna Music Competition (First

Prize in the First Great Awards category, 2021), International Anton

Rubinstein Competition in Düsseldorf (Third Prize, 2021), DEUTSCHE

MUSIKWETTBEWERB 2021 Competition, Germany (with Trio Y, awarded

a scholarship in the Contemporary Music category), and the 7th Rising

Stars International Competition, Berlin, Germany (Second Prize, 2022).

As a guest artist, Yulia has performed with various German orchestras

such as the Young Tonkünstler Orchestra in Bayreuth, the Orchestra of

the Badisches Staatstheater in Karlsruhe, the Badische Philharmonie

Pforzheim, the Philharmonie Reutlingen, the Nationaltheater Mannheim,

the Heilbronn Chamber Orchestra and the Bochum Symphony Orchestra.

Among other things, in 2019-2020 she was an intern with the internationally

acclaimed SWR-Symphony Orchestra (Chief Conductor –

Teodor Currentzis), in 2020-2021 had a temporary contract as deputy

principal clarinetist with the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra (2020-2021),

worked as principal clarinetist in the Osnabrück Symphony

Orchestra (2021-2022) and as bass clarinetist with the Dortmund

Philharmonic Orchestra (2022-2023). In addition, she was involved in

several projects of the renowned NDR, WDR and SWR radio symphony

orchestras. Since August 2023, she has been employed as deputy principal

clarinetist at the Neue Philharmonie Westfallen.

Yulia performs locally and abroad as a soloist and chamber musician. She

is a member of the Zeitlose Musik Ensemble, the Trio Y and the Fin de

Siècle Ensemble.

Yulia was actively involved in the founding, organization and

implementation of the Festival Zeitlose Musik (2015-2020) and taught

Praxis Neue Musik at the HMDK Stuttgart (2021-2022).

Since 2021, the German publisher CEFES C. F. Schmidt Musikverlag has

been publishing Yulia’s clarinet arrangements.

In 2023 she released her first solo-album Poesie der Luft with German

GENUIN music label.

Yulia Drukh plays both clarinet systems – French and German – at the

highest level of performance.

Ilya Kashtan was born in Tambov, Russia.

From 1998 to 2002 Ilya studied at the S. Rachmaninov music college in

Tambov (I. N. Smekalin’s class). In 2007 he graduated with distinction from

the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory (the class of the National Artist

of Russia Prof. V.S. Popov; in 2010 Ilya completed his postgraduate studies

with distinction.

From 1999 to 2002 Ilya was a soloist of Tambov Symphony Orchestra. In

2005 года he became the soloist of the Russian State Academic Symphony

Capella under the direction of Valery Polyansky.

From 2011 tо 2022 he taught Wind Ensemble Performance at the Moscow

Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Ilya Kashtan has won numerous scholarships and awards. He is a scholarship

holder of the Russian Performing Art Foundation, a laureate of the Kazan

regional competition (2000), the winner of regional competitions in Tambov

and Voronezh (2001), a laureate of the Diffwinds International Music Festival

in Differdange (Luxemburg, 2004), a laureate of the 3rd Moscow International

Noble Seasons Festival (2005), the winner of the Russian National

Competition of Wind Ensembles held in Kazan (2004), the winner of the 4th

International Henri Tomasi Competition of Wind Quintets (Marseille, France,

2007), a laureate of the First International Competition of the Moscow State

P.I. Tchaikovsky for the wind and percussion musicians (Моscow, 2009).

Ilya Kashtan has participated in multiple festivals of contemporary music, such

as Territory (Kazan, 2012); Gaudeamus Muziekweek (Аmsterdam, Utrecht,

2013), etc.

Ilya Kashtan has also taken part in such international music festivals, as the

Kremlin Festival (Моscow, 2002, 2003, 2004), Orpheus Radio Presents

Festival (Моscow, 2010), Russian Soirees (Moscow, 2011, Tarusa, 2013), the

Seasons Festival (Моscow, 2012), Art November (Моscow, 2013), etc.

Ilya Kashtan is regularly invited to be a jury member of international

competitions: the First International “Nota Bene!” Solo Performance Youth

Competition (Saint Petersburg, 2016), the First International Moscow Wind

Competition (Моscow, 2019).

Ilya Kashtan teaches bassoon to the students of the Tambov S.V.

Rachmaninov Institute of Music and Pedagogy. He is the author of a series of

master classes for wind musicians held in Tambov (Russia). Ilya is also the

author of instructional programmes for the P. I. Tchaikovsky Moscow State

Conservatory. He has written a number of scientific and educational articles

(Orchestra Journal, 2013).

Ilya Kashtan has participated in the performances of Musica Viva Chamber

Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra of P. Slobodkin Theatre and Concert

Centre and others.

Ilya is a permanent member of the Modus Vivendi wind quintet. He has

received awards and special acknowledgments from leading public, social and

cultural institutions (Russian State Library, International World Music Heritage

Association of professional music competitions, “Nota Bene!” Artistic

Association.

In 2021 Ilya Kashtan received Special Acknowledgement from the RF Ministry

of Culture for the great contribution to the development of culture,

longstanding and fruitful work.

Ilya Kashtan is involved in intense concert activity. He has performed as a

soloist, orchestra and chamber ensemble member in the largest Moscow

concert halls, in many Russian cities and overseas.

Starting from 1998 Alexey studied at the Moscow Conservatory Music

College in the French horn class of R.P. Matikyan.

From 2001 to 2006 he continued his studies at the Gnessin Academy of

Music in the class of the Honored Artist of Russia Professor V.S. Shish. in

2010 he completed his internship and assistantship. In 2013 he received a

Master’s Degree with Distinction in Producing.

In 1998 he was admitted to the stage orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater of

Russia. In 2002, he was appointed the French horn section leader at the

main orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia. From 2000 to 2004, he

was a soloist with the Russian National Orchestra under the direction of

M.V. Pletnev, and from 2004 to 2007 with the Russian National

Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of V. T. Spivakov.

In 1997 he became the Laureate of the international competition of young

wind instrument players.

Alexey Rayev received a scholarship from the International Foundation

directed by the Honored Artist of the USSR, pianist Professor Nikolai

Petrov.

In 2000 he became the First Prize winner of the All-Russian Rimsky-

Korsakov Open Competition of Wind and Percussion Players (St.

Petersburg).

In 2003 he became the recipient of the Yamaha Music Scholarship.

In 2012 he won an award of the Board of Trustees of the Bolshoi Theater of

Russia.

At present, Alexey Rayev is a professor at the Moscow Tchaikovsky

Conservatory.

Vladimir Ustyantsev was born on August 8, 1992 in the town of Kachkanar

of the Sverdlovsk region. In 2011 he graduated with distinction from

Moscow Regional Music College (class of saxophone). In 2015 году

Vladimir received a Bachelor's Degree from the Gnessin Russian

Academy of Music. He went on to study there with the National Artist of

Russia, Professor M.K. Shaposhnikova, and obtained a Master's Degree

in 2017

Vladimir is proud of his teachers who had a tremendous impact on his life

and music career: P.V. Yevtushenko, G.A. Chizhikova, S.V. Kolesov, M.K.

Shaposhnikova, S.A. Plekhanov, G.Y. Veksler, V.R. Khudoley, V.M.

Khalilov.

While studying at the Academy, Vladimir started teaching. He is known to

be a knowledgeable, talented teacher committed to music performance and

education. Vladimir Ustyantsev has worked at the Ivanteyevka Music

School, Moscow Region (2010-2011), Kamerton Music School, Moscow

(2011-2014), М. А. Balakirev Music School, Moscow (2014-2016).

In 2013 Vladimir returned to the college where he had studied. He became

one of the leading saxophone teachers. He has brought up many promising

musicians. Vladimir directs and conducts the Prokofiev College Saxophone

Quartet where he also plays alongside his students. The Quartet performs

extensively both in and outside the college.

Vladimir Ustyantsev is a brilliant performer, he gives many concerts in

Russia (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Ulyanovsk, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg)

and abroad: in Prague (the Czech Republic), Bratislava (Slovakia), Banská

Bystrica (Slovakia), Baku (Аzerbaijan), Vientiane (Laos), Hanoi (Vietnam).

Vladimir was awarded GRAND PRIX at the First International Odessa’s

Golden Saxophone Competition of young performers (2013), GRAND PRIX

at the Open Moscow Regional Competition of Saxophonists (Pushkino,

Moscow Region, 2014). Vladimir is the winner of the International

Competition for Classical Saxophone in Lübeck (Germany, 2014), he won

the Third Prize at the 2nd International competition called The Voice of

Saxophone in the Contemporary World (Моscow, 2015). Vladimir is also a

prize-winner of Russia’s Delphic Games.

Alexey Kornilyev is a laureate of T.A. Dokshitser Competition and Moscow

International Trumpet Festivals (1995, 1997).

In 1998 Alexey graduated from the Moscow Conservatory Music College

where he studied with Professor Y.A. Usov. In 2003 he became a graduate

of the Moscow State P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory (class of Professor

V.A.Novikov).

In 1999 Alexey Kornilyev was admitted to the Russian Bolshoi Theatre

Orchestra. One year later he became a soloist.

In addition to the main artistic activity at the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and

his teaching work, Alexey Kornilyev participates in various competitions

and festivals both as a soloist and ensemble musician.

In 2005 Alexey Kornilyev started teaching at the Moscow Conservatory

Music College.

In 2006 he became an assistant to Prof. V.A. Novikov at the Moscow State

Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Since 2007, Professor Alexey Kornilyev has been working as a trumpet

instructor at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Arkady Starkov is an Associate Professor at Moscow State P.I. Tchaikovsky

Conservatory, a teacher at the Moscow Conservatory Music College and the

G.P. Vishnevskaya College of Music and Theatre Arts.

Arkady Starkov graduated from the Moscow State P. I. Tchaikovsky

Conservatory in 2005 and pursued postgraduate studies until 2008, with the

great Russian trombonist and pedagogue, National Artist of Russia, Professor

A.T. Skobelev.

From 2002 to 2007 Arkady Starkov worked at the New Russia State

Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Y. Bashmet. From 2007 to the

present Arkady has been principal trombone of E.F. Svetlanov State

Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist and chamber musician, he regularly

performs in the Grand, Small and Rachmaninov Halls of the Moscow

Conservatory. Arkady Starkov has frequently participated in major

international festivals, such as Moscow Autumn, the Return Festival, the Bach

Festival. He is the founder and artistic director of the A.T. Skobelev

International Trombone Music Festival. Arkady Starkov is also the founder

and artistic director of the trombone choir at the Moscow Conservatory. He is

a prize-winner of numerous Russian and international competitions.

Fyodor Shagov was born in Moscow. In 2014 he graduated from the

Gnessin Russian Academy of Music (class of Prof. Alexander

Kazachenkov). Fyodor continued his studies at the Universtät Mozarteum

(Salzburg, Austria) with Professor Andreas Martin Hofmeir. In 2016 he

embarked on internship/assistantship at the Russian Academy of Music

(under the supervision of Alexander Kazachenkov). Fyodor Shagov has

taken part in master classes by Mel Culbertson, Roger Bobo,

Roland Szentpali, Jens Bjørn-Larsen, Øystein Baadsvik, Daniel Perantoni,

and others. He was awarded a special prize at the Tuba Competition in

Brno (Czech Republic, 2010), the First Prize at the Citta di Treviso

International Competition (Italy, 2014), the Second Prizes at the

International Competition for Wind Performers in Chambray-les-Tours

(France, 2015), and the Michal Spisak International Music Competition

(Poland, 2015). Mikhail also received the First Prizes at the 2nd A.A.

Nesterov All-Russian Music Competition of Performers on Woodwind,

Brass and Percussion Instruments (Nizhny Novgorod, 2015) and the All-

Russian Music Competition (Moscow, 2016 and 2020). In 2019 he was

awarded the Second Prize and the Silver Medal at the P.I. Tchaikovsky

International Competition (Moscow – Saint Petersburg).

Mikhail worked at the State Wind Orchestra of Russia (2014–2017) and at

the Russian Philharmonia Symphony Orchestra based in Moscow (2016–

2017). In 2017 Mikhail Shagov became an artist of the State Symphony

Capella of Russia. He is the founder (2020) and artistic director of the

Moscow Symphony Brass quintet, a member of the Brass Soloists of

Russia ensemble and Boom Brass Band cover group. Mikhail is the

director of the Trumpet Aura Art Festival and a regularly participant of the

Brass Days International Music Festival.

He has toured in Russia, Germany, France and Malaysia, performed with

Saint Petersburg State Capella Symphony Orchestra, New Russia State

Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra, P.I.

Tchaikovsky Grand Symphony Orchestra, Baden-Baden Philharmonic

Orchestra. Fyodor has performed with such conductors as Valery Gergiev,

Yury Bashmet, Vladislav Lavrik, Pavel Baleff, Stanislav Kochanovsky,

Pavel Smelkov, Valery Platonov and others.

Fyodor Shagov taught at the I.F. Stravinsky Music School (Moscow). At

present, he teaches at the F. Chopin Moscow State College of Musical

Performance, Moscow Culture Institute, V.M. Blazhevich Music School

(Moscow), Jazz Academy (Moscow) and in the network of education

centres called “Yury Bashmet to the Gifted Youth of Russia”. Fyodor Shagov is an artist of the Buffet Crampon Company and a representative of

the B&S company (manufacturer of brass instruments).

He is a senior teacher at the Department of Percussion Instruments at the

Gnessin Russian Academy of Music and a teacher at the Gnessin Moscow

Specialized Secondary Music School. He is an artist of Svetlanov Russian

State Symphony Orchestra. Mikhail is the artistic director and soloist at

Percarus Group и Vibes Trio ensembles. He’s also an expert at Vladimir

Spivakov’s Charity Foundation and Laureate of numerous international

competitions. Mikhail Putkov is the winner of the Moscow Masters 2022

Pedagogical Competition and an artist of the Yamaha, Marimba One, Forte,

Agner, Black Swamp, and Schlagkraft companies. Mikhail is involved in active

concert activity both as a soloist and ensemble performer. He has organized a

number of percussion festivals and cycles of concerts for percussion

instruments and has been frequently invited to be a jury member at

international competitions in Russia and abroad.

Mikhail’s pupils and students are scholarship-holders and regular participants

of concert programs and festivals of Vladimir Spivakov Foundation as well as

laureates of prestigious international and Russian competitions, such as the

Nutcracker International Competition for Young Musicians, the Moscow

Mayor's Grant Competition, Drum Wave, Drum Time Competition, and

others.

Sergei Voronov is a professor of the Moscow Tchaikovsky State

Conservatory. He finished the Central Music School in Moscow (K. A.

Shashkina’s class), graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory

and completed there his postgraduate studies (Prof. E.K. Virsalidze’s class).

Sergei also completed a postgraduate course in Chamber Music Performance

(under Prof. G.S. Shirinskaya). Sergei performs actively as an ensemble

pianist.

From 2008 to 2020 S. Voronov and National Artist of Russia I.V. Bochkova

performed as a duo.

Since 2002, Sergei has been teaching Chamber Music Performance at the

Central Music School. In 2022 he became the Head of Chamber Music and

Piano Performance Department at the Central Music School and Academy of

Performing Art (СMS-APA). Since 2005, Sergei has also been working at the

Chamber Music and String Quartet Department of the Moscow Tchaikovsky

Conservatory. In 2009 he became the Assistant of Professor E. K. Virsaladze

at the Conservatory’s Piano Department.

Аlexander Tsygankov was born in the Siberian Omsk city where he received

the primary and secondary music education with pedagogues G.A. Lanin and

V.G. Patrashov.

In 1967 Alexander successfully passed entrance exams for admission to the

Gnessin Musical and Pedagogical Institute (at present the Gnessin Russian

Music Academy) where he studied domra performance with Prof. R.V. Belov.

In 1976 he completed the Institute’s assistantship and internship program,

which made it possible to successfully combine the career as a solo performer

with teaching, both within the walls of the Gnessin Music Academy.

The success at the international competition of the 9th World Festival of Youth

and Students (Bulgaria) in 1968 and the victory in the 1st Russian National

Competition of Performers on Folk Instruments (Moscow) in 1972 (1st Prize)

paved the way for the intensive solo career. Alexander started performing

together with his wife Inna Shevchenko who is a pianist, diploma-holder of the

Russian National Competition and the Honored Artist of the Russian

Federation.

At the same time, Alexander Tsygankov took part in concerts of the N.P.

Osipov National Orchestra of Russia’s Folk Instruments as a soloist and the

leader of the section of small domras. Alexander’s talent in composing also

flowered in that period. He created a concert repertoire for domra and piano,

composed orchestra works, pieces for voice and various instruments.

In 2012 Alexander was admitted to Moscow Composers Organization. He has

been a member of the Moscow Union of Composers for twelve years.

In 1982 году Аlexander was admitted to Mosconcert (concert philharmonic

association). Alexander has been involved in concert activity for 40 years,

performing throughout Russia and abroad. His virtuoso performance was

heard and seen by music lovers in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany,

Ecuador, France, Japan, Turkey, the USA and other countries.

At present, the musician is involved in active cultural and social activity. He is

a member of two Expert Artistic Councils at the Russian Ministry of Culture, a

member of the Principal Certification Commission of the Board of Culture and

Arts Education Programs at Moscow’s Culture Department, expert with the

National Cultural Foundation, president of the jury at a number of music

competitions.

In 2004 Professor А.А. Tsygankov received the Order of Friendship. In 2008

he was awarded the RF Government Prize for Achievement in Culture.

Server Abkerimov is an accordionist, Laureate of the All-Russian Music

Competition, composer.

He was a soloist with MOSCONCERT (Moscow Concert Philharmonic

Association) and Moscow Kuzminki Regional House of Arts. Server

Abkerimov also worked as a teacher at the Gnessin Music College and

Moscow Regional Art College until 2011

From 1980 to 1984 Server Abkerimov was a student at the Gnessin State

Music College where he studied with pedagogue A.F. Sukhanov (Honored

Culture Worker of the Russian Federation). From 1987 to 1992 he was a

student of Professor Y. Dranga (National Artist if the Russian Federation) at

the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music where he also completed a

postgraduate course.

Server Abkerimov has given numerous solo concerts within various music

groups both in Russia and overseas: in Finland, Germany, Austria, Poland,

Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Malta, Egypt,

China, Japan, Thailand, India, Lithuania, Latvia, and other countries. He

has taken part in many international festivals (in Germany, Finland, Latvia,

Lithuania, Russia, etc.)

At present, he works as a piano and accordion teacher at Bushtegrad (the

Czech Republic) and also continues his concert activity.

Server Abkerimov is regularly invited to conduct master classes and serve

as a jury member at international competitions for piano and button

accordion performers.

Nana Cherkeziya was born on April 9 in Sukhumi (Аbkhazia). In 1997 she

became the soloist of the choir of the State Capella of Abkhazia. In the

period from 1997 to 1999 she became the winner of multiple regional and

republican pop/jazz singing competitions. She graduated from the Piano

Department of the A. Chichba Sukhumi Music College and Solo Singing

Department of the S.V. Rachmaninov State Conservatory in Rostov-on-

Don (2008). While studying at the Conservatory, she sang the part of

Brigitta from Tchaikovsky’s opera Iolanta and the part of Chio-Chio-San

from Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly.

From 2008 to 2010 Nana participated in the internship program at the

Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Centre (Moscow, Russia), where she sang the

part of Iolanta in P.I. Tchaikovsky’s opera of the same name and performed

in numerous concerts of the Centre.

In 2019 she completed assistantship and traineeship at the Moscow

Tchaikovsky State Conservatory. Her teachers were the National Artist of

the RSFSR Professor I.I. Maslennikova, the National Artist of the USSR

G.P. Vishnevskaya, the Honored Artist of the RF, the Bolshoi Theatre

soloist B.D. Maisuradze, the National Artist of USSR Professor M.F.

Kasrashvili.

Nana Cherkeziya won the Third Prize at the R. Shchedrin Musica Classica

International Festival and Competition

(Ruza, Russia 2007). Nana is a diploma holder of the 23rd All-Russian

Vocal Competition (Saint Petersburg, 2008). She was a participant of the

International Rising Stars in the Kremlin festival for young classical

musicians from the CIS countries (2009). Nana Cherkeziya is also a

laureate of the 7th International Moscow Meets Friends Festival (2010). She

participated in the 2nd tour of the annual ARMEL Opera Festival and

Competition in Hungary (2010). Nana also took part in the annual Hibla

Gerzmava Invites Festival (2007-2010).

Nana Cherkeziya is a laureate of the annual Kammeroper Schloss

Rheinsberg festival for young opera singers (Germany, 2011).

She has taken part in masterclasses with Silvana Bazzoni Bartoli, Mirella

Freni, Eugene Kohn, Sherrill Milnes, Sergei Leiferkus, Michail Jurowski. At

present, Nana Cherkeziya is a soloist at the Abkhazian R. D. Gumba State

Philharmonic and the State Chamber Orchestra of Abkhazia.

Alisa Mandrik is a singer, instrumentalist and composer.

She was born in Kursk, Russia. Alisa devoted a part of her life to instrumental

performance. She graduated from the Russian Gnessin Academy first as an

instrumental performer, then as a pop/jazz singing teacher. She started

developing her voice as an instrument and completed Bob Stoloff’s courses in

singing and jazz improvisation. Then she studied with N. Trikhleb, E.

Beriashvili, K. Cooper.

At present, her professional activity is closely related to the S.V. Obraztsov

Theatre. She is a vocal coach and gives voice to the performance

Who Killed Frida Kahlo.

Alisa is a laureate of numerous competitions, held in Russia and abroad. She

composed music for a number of adult and children’s plays (The Crane, Peter

Elena Veremeyenko is the Honorary Education Worker of the Russian

Federation, Winner of the Moscow Government Award, Honored Education

Worker of Moscow Region. Elena finished G.A. Struve Pioneriya Music and

Choir School. She graduated with distinction from the Moscow College at the

Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where she studied with I.M. Usova,

and then from the Moscow Conservatory (Prof. L.Z. Kontorovich’s class). As a

member of the Moscow Conservatory Chamber Choir directed by B. Tevlin,

she worked with the world’s leading conductors. She has participated in

numerous international competitions and master classes – in Italy, Germany,

Finland, France, Austria, Poland, the USA, etc. In 1998 Elena was appointed

the conductor of the Senior Choir at G.A. Struve Pioneriya Music and Choir

School, and in 2004 she became the Head of the Choir Department and Chief

Conductor. Under her direction the Senior Choir has frequently been the

winner of international competitions. Since 2014, the choir has been

continuously working with the New Opera Theatre (Moscow). In 2006 E.

Veremeyenko was awarded a special diploma “For the High Level of

Professionalism” at the 4th International Brahms competition in Germany.

Since 2002 Elena has been working at the Music and Poetry Theatre under

the direction of E. Kamburova. In 2006 she became the laureate of the

The Ohrid Summer Festival (Macedonia) in the Best Actress category (for