Vasily Shcherbakov (Russian: Василий Фёдорович Щербаков, romanized: Vasily Fyodorovitch Shcherbakov; born June 19, 1969) is a Russian pianist, professor and composer.
Vasily Shcherbakov is a grand-nephew of the Russian composer Dmitry Kabalevsky and one of the leading performers and popularisers of Kabalevsky's music in the world.[3]
Vasily Shcherbakov studied classical music from his early age. He graduated from the state school No. 875 in Moscow. He joined the Moscow Conservatory in 1989 and studied in the class of Prof. Elena Richter until 1994 when he graduated with excellence (magna cum laude).
He participates in organising and running multiple state-wise and international music festivals, and he's often being invited to be a part of music competitions' jury. He played a role in such events as:
"Assembly in Mikhailovskoye" (Russian: "Ассамблея в Михайловском", "Assambleya v Mikhailovskom") (Pushkinskiye Gory, Russia);
"International Shostakovich Chamber Music Competition" (Russian: "Международный конкурс камерных ансамблей им. Д. Д. Шостаковича в Москве", "Mejdunarodniy konkurs kamernyh ansambley imeni D. D. Shostakovicha v Moskve") (Moscow, Russia);
"DSCH, Dmitri Shostakovich International Festival of Chamber Ensembles" (Russian: "DSCH, Международный фестиваль камерных ансамблей имени Д. Д. Шостаковича в Москве", "DSCH, Mezhdunarodny festival kamernyh ansambley imeni D. D. Shostakovicha v Moskve") (Moscow, Russia);[17]
"Playing Music Together With Friends" (Latvian: "Muzicējam kopā ar draugiem") (Dobele, Latvia);[18]
"International Guitar Festival of the Island of Re; Festival Romantic Nights" (French: "Festival international de guitare de l’île de Ré; Festival Nuits Romanes") (Island of Re, France);[21][22][23]
Vasily Shcherbakov performs solo or as a part of a chamber ensemble. Previous chamber performances included, in addition to a piano, on various occasions, instruments such as strings, wind instruments, a theremin,[28] an organ as well as vocal.[29] Vasily Shcherbakov experimented with audio-visualisations.[30]
Occasionally Vasily Shcherbakov makes an appearance on Russian radio and TV-channels on the shows designated to classical music.[31][37]
The performances of Vasily Shcherbakov are well received by listeners, critics, musicians and composers.[8][11][38]
Kabalevsky
Vasily Shcherbakov plays an important role in popularising the works of his grand-uncle Dmitry Kabalevsky. He often includes compositions written by Kabalevsky in his programs. Some of Kabalevsky's works were premiered by the musician.[10]
He serves as a head of jury of the "Kabalevsky Open International Music Competition" (Russian: "Открытый Московский международный конкурс имени Д. Б. Кабалевского", "Otkrytyi Moskovsky mezhdunarodny konkurs imeni D. B. Kabalevskogo").[3]
He received a Candidate of Pedagogic Sciences title in 2010 by protecting a thesis based on Kabalevsky's works in pedagogy.[39]
Vasily Shcherbakov is the president and a co-founder of the non-commercial Kabalevsky Fund founded in 2013.[40] The fund is designated to promote professional music education, music culture and art.
Discography
Vasily Shcherbakov recorded and published two studio albums under the Moscow-based Classical Records label.
2007 — Three Centuries of Piano (Russian: Три века фортепиано)[44][45]
Family
Vasily Shcherbakov is married to Anna Shcherbakova (Russian: Анна Иосифовна Щербакова, Anna Iosifovna Shcherbakova) who is a Doctor of Pedagogic Sciences, a Doctor of Culturology, and the Dean of Alfred Schnittke Moscow State Institute of Music.[46] Anna Shcherbakova occasionally takes part as a master of ceremonies for Vasily Shcherbakov concerts.[12] She is also one of the co-founders of the Kabalevsky Fund.[40]