About the Artists
Vadim Kolpakov is one of the most prominent and renowned Roma (Gypsy) 7-string guitarists in the world. He was a lead musician of the famous Theatre Romen in Moscow, where he performed as a guitarist, composer, vocalist, dancer and dramatic actor. To this day, his original guitar compositions are performed in many prominent plays at the theater as part of the vibrant oral tradition of the Russian Roma culture. Hailing from Saratov, Russia, Vadim graduated from the Roma performing arts school Gilori and studied guitar with his uncle Alexander Kolpakov, the virtuoso Russian 7-string guitarist who served as the musical director of the Romen Gypsy Theatre for over a quarter of a century. At the age of 15, Vadim began work at the Romen Gypsy Theatre, where he worked for 8 years and was the leading guitarist for 7 years.
In 2008, Vadim as a member of the Kolpakov Trio, went on the world tour "Sticky & Sweet" with Madonna. They performed in many European and South American countries, as well as in North America and Mexico, including venues such as Wembley stadium in London, Madison Square Garden in NYC and Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
ANTON BELOV is a classically trained baritone who enjoys a diverse career spanning from opera to oratorio and song recital. His voice has been called “rich and mellifluous” by the New York Times, while his appearance as the soloist in Carmina Burana was described by Florida Weekly as “captivating in every way, casting a mystical spell over the audience.” Mr. Belov is a winner of eight vocal competitions and has performed throughout the United States appearing with Boston Lyric Opera, Portland Opera, Opera Boston, Opera Delaware, Connecticut Grand Opera, Tacoma Opera, Opera New Jersey, Eugene Opera, as well as Boston Baroque, Opera Orchestra of New York, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (at Carnegie Hall), the California Symphony, The Oregon Symphony, The Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Rhode Island Philharmonic and Colorado Symphony. Anton holds a Doctorate of Music degree from Boston University, a Bachelor of Music Degree from The New England Conservatory, an Artist’s Diploma, and a Master of Music Degree from The Juilliard School.
Oleg Timofeyev is a musicologist, guitarist, composer, and documentary film director. The world authority on the Russian 7-string guitar tradition, he has recorded and released over twenty solo and ensemble albums to critical acclaim worldwide. The recipient of two IREX Fellowships, two Fulbright Research and Teaching Fellowships, he has won the coveted Noah Greenberg Award for his CDs “Music by Princesses at the Court of Catherine the Great.” His book, which will be the definitive work on the history of the Russian guitar tradition. is forthcoming with Cambridge Scholars in 2022. Oleg Timofeyev holds an M.A. in Early Music Performance from the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D. from Duke University. He has taught at universities and conservatoires in the US, Russia, and Ukraine.
