The University of Wisconsin Russian Folk Orchestra

Victor Gorodinsky, Music Director / Founder

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The conductor/founder (and his assistant)

           

Victor Gorodinsky is a Slavic Languages Librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Libraries.
Read the recent University Library article on Victor.

Originally from Moscow, Russia, Victor immigrated to the United States in 1982. He holds a Master's Degree in Music (classical guitar and orchestral conducting) from Gnesin College of Music in Moscow. Before moving to Madison in 1995, he worked at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where, in addition to being a Slavic Studies Librarian, he was Assistant Director (under the late Professor John Garvey) and later, Music Director of the University of the Illinois Russian Folk Orchestra, the official School of Music performing and touring ensemble. Under Victor's baton, the 40-piece orchestra was performing several times a year at the University of Illinois' Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and toured around the Midwest.

In 1996, with the generous financial help from CREECA, Victor was able to purchase authentic Russian folk instruments, domras and balalaikas, and rehearsals began in the fall of 1997.

When Victor happens to have free time, he likes spending it with his lovely cat Asya, reading, listening to other music, traveling, and performing magic.  And occasionally, he enjoys doing rather goofy things (see photo below)

Quartet for certain folk instruments and a lawn mower

The members

The Orchestra's current members:
* denotes an original member

See the list of Orchestra's past members.

The soloists, present and past