Sergei Michailovitch Kolobkov passed away on March 8th 2007. During his artistic life he was a soloist, musical director of bayan ensembles and conductor of the Russian folk orchestra ‘Ossipov’. He taught a bayan class, which included Juri Vostrjelov, Friedrich Lips and Alexander Skljarov among his students. From 1963 to 1966 he was head of the chair for folk instruments, later he became Professor and Rector (18 years) of the Gnessin Institute (nowadays the Russian Gnessin Academy of Music), People’s Artist of Russia (1991) and from 1981 to 1984 he was Vice Minister of Culture in Russia. In 1995 he was conferred the ‘Silver Disk’ of Moscow’s festival ‘Bayan and Bayanists’ for special achievements in music.

He recorded the First Concerto for Bayan and Orchestra by F. Rubzov, was the author of transcriptions for bayan and bayan ensembles and was editor of ‘Bayan and Bayanists’, with scientific articles dealing with the bayan. On the international scene he took part in the CIA international accordion confederation events several times and also became CIA Vice-President.

In 2002, Sergei Kolobkov was awarded the CIA Merit Award in Copenhagen, Denmark for his many years of service and achievement towards the development of the accordion.

Celebrity Interview

For further information email: herbert@accordion-cd.co.at