The Violinist
From my first public debut at the age of 5, I dreamt of playing for people all over the world. I believe that music is a universal way to connect people regardless of their political or geographical belonging. Till date, I’ve played over 3,000 concerts and am glad to have spread the joy of music making with audiences around the globe.
Depending on repertoire, I play on different instruments and bows, but most of the time I bring to concerts my faithful companion that has been with me since 1998 – the legendary 1727 “Kreutzer” Stradivari.
I’m proud to be deeply rooted in the tradition of Franco-Belgian and Russian violin schools. My favorite violinists are Fritz Kreisler, Eugène Ysaÿe, George Enescu, David Oistrakh and Jascha Heifetz to name a few.
The Conductor
A violin has four strings, while an orchestra has hundreds. Being a conductor has deepened and expanded my horizons in music. Having a solo career as a violinist can be lonely at times. That’s why it is such a fulfilling way to share the music making process with colleagues from orchestras.
To be a conductor is to be a “musical chef,” the man behind the scenes, who must acknowledge the fact that the only instrument of the conductor is the orchestra, and each member has its distinct voice with which you must instantly build an almost telepathic connection. That challenge is an extremely humbling experience that I enjoy.
Both of my conducting teachers, Vag Papian and Yuri Simonov, are rooted in the German-Russian conducting schools. It was a true pleasure learning from these great Maestros and it is my goal to pass on their teachings to the next generation.
The Educator
There are many exceptional talents in the world. However, only a few of them are lucky to find teachers that would help them realize their full potential, and open doors into the wonderful world of music. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have found the greatest teachers in violin playing, conducting and other musical disciplines.
Since the age of 26, I feel obliged to give back and to pass on the torch to my younger colleagues, all the precious knowledge I have received from my musical gurus.
Being a teacher comes with a great responsibility as anything you say will affect your students not only in music, but also in their lives.
The Recording Artist
I have always been fascinated by recordings as a child. For my sixth birthday, my father gave me a tape recorder which greatly motivated me to practice because when I recorded myself, it was as if I was indirectly playing for others. I would play over and over again, listening back until I became satisfied with the results.
When I was 10, I received an invitation from the Russian label Melodia to record my first LP. After two days of recording I felt I was a different violinist. With the help of the recording producer, I was learning how to make studio recordings sound not only perfect, but also to make it sound as if I was playing a live concert.
Having witnessed the evolution of recordings from LPs to CDs and now in digital format, we are lucky to have a wide selection of materials to study from and enjoy. I am truly fortunate to be a part of this generation!
