Laima Vaikule realized that she was doing the right thing. Creative biography Zinchuk group

Victor Zinchuk photography

Started playing guitar at the age of 11.

Until the age of 16, he plays in school groups.

From 1976 to 1980 studies at the Musical Pedagogical College named after. October Revolution in classical guitar and conducting an orchestra of folk instruments.

In 1978 he was invited to the Variety Symphony Orchestra of the All-Union Radio and Central Television under the direction of Yu.V. Silantyeva.

In 1979, while playing in an orchestra, he received the state qualification of “artist of the highest category.”

While studying and after graduating from college, he worked in the most famous musical groups in the country and toured extensively in the USSR and abroad.

In 1987 he begins his solo career. He also continues his studies and in 1994 graduated with honors from the Moscow State University of Culture.

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For achievements in the field of guitar music, in 1995 he was awarded the degree of Honorary Master of the International Academy of Sciences of the Republic of San Marino, and in 1996, the regional branch of the Academy awarded Victor the title of Associate Professor.

Victor Zinchuk is a versatile musician: virtuoso guitarist, composer, arranger. Contributes to the promotion of the guitar on the domestic stage, revealing this musical instrument in a new way. In addition to his music and songs, he made many arrangements of classical music: J. S. Bach, N. Paganini, M. Glinka, G. Verdi, G. Gershwin.

His guitar sounds in the songs of the country's most famous performers: Alla Pugacheva, Yuri Antonov, etc. His collaboration with Alla Pugacheva - the song "Mary" takes leading places in various charts.

Currently, Victor is deservedly recognized as the best guitarist in Russia. His concerts attract full houses in the most prestigious halls of Moscow and in many cities of Russia. The musician's hands are insured by the Principal company for $500,000. dollars.

1980 - successfully graduated from music school.

1981-1982, working in the Arsenal jazz ensemble, attracted the attention of critics and won the sympathy of the public as an improviser in the fusion and flamenco style. As part of the ensemble, he tours around the country and abroad, improving his skills.

1983 - works in the Quadro quartet, becomes a laureate of the Moscow and Leningrad jazz festivals, receives 1st prize at the festival. Valifa Mustafa-Zadeh in Baku.

1985-1987 works as musical director of Yuri Antonov's group. As an arranger and lead guitarist, he participates in the recording of the giant disc "From Sorrow to Joy".

1987 - the beginning of a solo career. His arrangements and recordings of J. S. Bach's Chorale Prelude in F minor and a number of classical works immediately put him at the top of the charts and brought him fame as a guitarist-performer. He is recognized as the best guitarist in a survey of the youth channel of the All-Union Radio.

1988 - The Central Documentary Film Studio about him made the film “Victor the Winner”. In the same year, Viktor Zinchuk organized his own group “Chorus”. He writes music for the Tsentrnauchfilm studio film "Polar Bridge" (Polar Bridge) and for a series of films about the North.

1989 - laureate of the international festival "Interchance-89".

1990 - tries himself as a vocalist and becomes a laureate of the international television festival "Step to Parnassus". He tours extensively around the country, promoting classical music with modern adaptations. He is a frequent participant in the television programs “Steps”, “50/50”, “Morning Mail”, etc. His music is often heard on the radio. Invited to film a television program in Turin (Italy). Since that time, his name has become well known in Europe.

1991 - enters the Moscow State University of Culture with a degree in Variety Musical Art. Successfully tours cities in Switzerland. Becomes a laureate of the international festival in Friborg.

1992 - goes to Italy to record guitar parts in the disc "Rock, Rock, Rock" of the group "Fil Di Ferro".

1993 - represents Russia and the SNC company at the international festival "Bratislava Lyre", a successful performance in the festival program together with Chuck Berry and the group "Feif No Mo". His arrangement and performance of J. Gershwin's lullaby (Summertime) was especially noted. He writes music for the feature film "A Short Breath of Love".

1994 - concerts in the city of Zaindhoven (Holland), in the cities of the south of France, gives master classes, was awarded a medal by the mayor of Pontchard, participates in the international rock festival Key-Brothers in the vicinity of Turin (Italy). In the same year, Viktor Zinchuk’s CD “Mix No One” was released by SNC-Records, and his compact cassette was released by Soyuz. The arrangement of Paganini's 24th Caprice, for which a video clip was filmed, makes Victor the most popular guitarist in Russia. Two television programs "Jam" are dedicated to him.

1995 - Graduates with honors (honours) from the Moscow State University of Culture. The International Academy of Sciences of the Republic of San Marino awards Victor Zinchuk an Honorary Master's degree for his achievements in the field of guitar music.

1996 - receives the title of Associate Professor from the regional branch of the Academy. At the international festival "Golden Deer" in Transylvania (Romania) in the "video clip" category, she takes 3rd place with the video "Caprice © 24 N. Paganini" (46 participating countries).

1997 - finishes work on the new album "Neoclassics", for the composition from which "Oginsky's Polonaise" shoots a video clip. Since that time, Victor Zinchuk's group has been called "Neoclassic". Moscow artist S. Kuzin paints a portrait of Victor (oil on canvas, 200 x 100 cm), included in the catalog of the gallery "Yakimanka Collection". The insurance company "Principal" signs an agreement according to which the musician's hands are insured for $500,000. dollars. At the end of November, the maestro's solo concerts are held with great success at the Variety Theater.

1998 - with the football team of pop stars "Fortuna" travels to London to participate in a match with the team of the ITV channel, won with a score of 7: 0. In London, together with the team, he was invited to a reception at the Russian embassy, ​​visited the famous Abbey Road, talked with members royal family, took part in a concert at Freddie Mercury's String Falloyz club. During the trip, he lost his passport and plane ticket, and was sent home thanks to the assistance of the Russian consul.

1999 - release of the new album "Lonely in the Night" on compact cassettes. With the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets" he travels to Tel Aviv, where he participates in a charity concert for veterans of the Second World War on May 9. Performs in Italy, in the resort town of Lido DI Dante. In November, the Variety Theater hosts a concert with the participation of the Celtic music ensemble "Dwellers of the Hills" and the string quartet "Crescendo".

Today the whole world knows the name of the virtuoso guitarist, composer and arranger Viktor Zinchuk. He is deservedly considered the Golden Guitar of Russia. The halls of France and Italy, Holland and Ireland, Switzerland and other countries applaud him. The International Academy of Sciences of the Republic of San Marino awarded Zinchuk the title of Honorary Master and Associate Professor (Associate Professor). Victor is the Guinness Book of Records record holder as the most technical guitarist in the world.
The guitar captivated Victor with its enchanting expressiveness even in childhood. Victor was born on April 8, 1958 in one of the old districts of Moscow. He started playing guitar at the age of 11. Until the age of 16, he played in school ensembles. Realizing that the guitar is a vocation and requires real professional training, in 1976 Victor entered the Musical Pedagogical School. October Revolution, where he studied classical guitar and conducting a folk instrument orchestra until 1980. At the same time (in 1978), the aspiring guitarist was invited to the Variety Symphony Orchestra of the All-Union Radio and Central Television under the direction of Yu.V. Silantyeva. Already in 1979, Zinchuk was awarded the qualification of “artist of the highest category.”

After graduating from college, Victor works in different directions - from jazz to pop, participating in such famous groups as the Arsenal jazz ensemble and the Quadro quartet. He leads the group of Yuri Antonov, participating as an arranger and solo guitarist in the recording of the album “From Sorrow to Joy.” Collaborates with Alla Pugacheva (in particular, they record the hit song “Mary”).

But working with certain performers, Zinchuk could not fully realize his own musical ideas, break out of the given framework. In 1987, Victor begins a solo career. He begins to rework classical works, turning to such unsurpassed authors as J.S. Bach, N. Paganini, J. Gershwin, introducing the author's vision into their creations. Zinchuk strives for a qualitatively new interpretation of long-known things, introducing into them the spirit of modernity and freshness.

In the same year, Victor became the best guitarist, according to a survey of the youth channel of the All-Union Radio.

In 1988, the film “Victor the Winner” was shot. The name speaks for itself and has not lost its relevance for decades, because Victor is a laureate of numerous international festivals and competitions.

Back in 1983, working as part of the Quadro quartet, Victor received the 1st prize at the Valif Mustafa-Zadeh Festival in Baku.

In 1989, he became a laureate of the international festival “Interchance-89”, and in 1990 – of the television festival “Step to Parnassus”.

In 1991, Victor toured extensively in Switzerland and became a laureate of the international festival in the city of Friborg.

And in 1993 he represented Russia at the international festival “Bratislava Lyre”, where the internationally recognized musician Chuck Berry performed on the same stage with our guitarist.

In 1994, Zinchuk took part in the Key-Brothers rock festival held in Italy. And in 1996 he took 3rd place (among almost 50 participants) at the international festival “Golden Deer” in Transylvania (Romania) in the “video clip” category with the video “Caprice No. 24 N. Paganini”.

Zinchuk combined his triumphant conquest of Europe with a very busy work schedule. Constant tours, both in Russia and abroad - in Holland, France, Italy, Switzerland. Participation in numerous radio and television programs. In 1988, Zinchuk recorded music for a whole series of films about the north at the Tsentrnauchfilm studio “Polar Bridge”. And in 1993 - for the feature film “A Short Breath of Love”.

In 1992, the recording of the album “Rock, Rock, Rock” by the group “Fil di Ferro” took place in Italy, where Zinchuk performed guitar parts. And in 1994, already in Russia, Viktor Zinchuk’s first solo album, “Mix No One,” was released, on which arrangements of classical works coexist with completely original compositions.

Despite such a busy life, Victor finds time to improve his education. In 1991, he entered the Moscow State University of Culture, where he studied in the specialty “Variety Musical Art”. After graduating from the university in 1995, Victor received a honors diploma. In the same year, for achievements in the field of guitar music, the International Academy of Sciences of the Republic of San Marino awarded Zinchuk an Honorary Master's degree, and then the title of Associate Professor.

Unable to calmly rest on the laurels of recognition and fame, Victor does not stop there, but continues to work, promoting classical music. In 1997, the album “Neoclassics” was released, which contains arrangements of classical music from Bach to Vivaldi, Oginski’s polonaise, Rossini’s tarantella, and of course, original compositions. The release of the album was accompanied by a whole series of concerts, held to constant sell-outs.

In the same year, one of the Russian insurance companies signed a contract, according to which the guitarist’s hands were insured for half a million US dollars. The signing of such an agreement was a gesture of recognition of the maestro’s virtuoso playing.

In 1999, the album “Lonely in the Night” was released. In 2000 - “Neolyrics”.

In 2001, Zinchuk set a world record for the fastest guitar playing, reaching a speed of 20 notes per second. The performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” at such incredible speed was recorded by the Guinness Book of Records.

In 2002, the next album “Amadeus 146” was released. In the compositions of this CD, motives of authentic music of the Renaissance are visible.

Interest in variations on the theme of ethnic music brought Victor to Ireland, where he gave a number of joint concerts with the masters of this trend, which is so relevant today. From the trip, Zinchuk brought, in addition to new impressions, new compositions of his own composition, created under the influence of the spirit of Celtic music.

Today, Zinchuk, as before, constantly participates in various festivals, where his performances enjoy constant success. So, in 2003, Victor represented Russia at the international festival “Slavic Bazaar” in Vitebsk. Another outstanding concert was a performance at a festival in Frankfurt am Main, held in May 2004 in connection with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster, as part of the international music exhibition “Music Messe”.

As a sign of admiration for the musical talent of Victor Zinchuk, the American company Fender and the Japanese company Ibanez provide the maestro with guitars and musical equipment every year. Such an act of support is a very honorable and rare sign of universal international recognition for a musician.

In 2005, Viktor Zinchuk was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist of Russia. In the same year, the album “12 Guitars of the Master” was released.

In 2006, Victor became a Knight of the Order “For Service to Art” of the Patrons of the Century charity foundation. In July of the same year, Zinchuk was invited to St. Petersburg to speak at the G8 Summit.
In order to lead such a busy lifestyle, you need strength and health. Football helps Zinchuk stay in excellent physical shape. Victor plays in a team of stars consisting of artists, musicians and other public figures in show business. In 1997, the Fortuna football team, in which Zinchuk played, was invited to a friendly match in London. The Russian team won with a score of 7:0. In addition, Victor visited the sights of London, communicated with members of the royal family at a gala reception, and also performed at Freddie Mercury's famous String Falloyz club.

Having once chosen the path of a missionary, bringing music to people, Victor remains true to himself today. He is full of creative ideas and energy. In 2005, the video school “Master Class by Viktor Zinchuk” was published - a unique guide to playing the guitar, useful for both beginning guitarists and those who have already mastered the basic principles of the game and want to master virtuoso techniques. In addition to the lessons, the video school also includes backing tracks that allow students to perform karaoke-style pieces.

While critics argue about what genre and style to classify Zinchuk’s work, Victor simply plays good music, avoiding strict compliance with one or another framework that can satisfy researchers, but dry up the very spirit of the music. The master turns to different styles (from fusion to hard rock), playing techniques and instruments, using not only the usual classic acoustic and electric guitars, but also such rare instruments as the lute guitar, banjo, ukulele... And when the music plays, the controversy subsides . After all, real art knows no boundaries or limitations.

Childhood and youth of Viktor Zinchuk

A five-year school musical “career” was enough for Viktor Zinchuk to understand that the guitar is his calling, and he intends to connect his future exclusively with music. Wanting to receive professional training, Zinchuk entered the Musical Pedagogical School named after the October Revolution, specializing in classical guitar and conducting an orchestra of folk instruments.

As a student, Victor received an invitation to the Variety Symphony Orchestra of the All-Union Radio and Central Television. Here he worked under the leadership of Yuri Silantiev. Literally a year after starting work in the Orchestra, Viktor Zinchuk became an artist of the highest category.

The beginning of the career of Viktor Zinchuk

In 1983, Victor received his first music award in Baku at the Valif Mustafa-Zade festival.

All this time, Zinchuk did not stop searching for his musical “I”. In 1987, he decided that collaboration with other artists was preventing him from realizing his own creative potential. Therefore, he left joint projects and went solo.

Solo career of Viktor Zinchuk

His first steps into a solo career in 1987 were highly acclaimed. According to a survey by the youth channel of the All-Union Radio, Zinchuk became guitarist of the year.

In 1988, the film “Victor the Winner” was made about the life and work of the famous musician. In the same year, he acted as a composer for the series of documentaries about life in the North “Polar Bridge”.

Victor Zinchuk - Oginsky's Polonaise

Zinchuk continues to perform successfully at various music competitions and festivals. So, in 1989 he became the winner of the International Festival “Interchance”. In 1990 – laureate of the television festival “Step to Parnassus”. At the same time, Victor Zinchuk is very actively touring the Soviet Union and Europe - the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy. In 1991, during a tour of Switzerland, Zinchuk received an award at an international competition in Friborg.

In 1993, Viktor Zinchuk had the honor of representing the country at the international music festival “Bratislava Lyre”. Together with him, world-famous musicians then performed on the same stage, in particular, Chuck Berry.

In 1993, he wrote the music for the feature film Brief Breath of Love.

Despite his busy creative life, Zinchuk’s debut album was released only in 1994. It was called "Mix No One". In it, Victor Zinchuk combined adaptations of famous classical works with his own original compositions.

In 1995, Victor graduated from the Moscow State University of Culture. Here he received higher education with a degree in Variety Musical Art. He graduated with honors.

Victor Zinchuk - Lonely in the night (live 2012)

In 1997, Zinchuk’s new album “Neoclassics” was released, which also included his own compositions with “remixes” of classics. And a couple of years later the album “Lonely in the Night” was released. Neolirica (2000) and Amadeus 146 (2002) were released every two years.

World record of Viktor Zinchuk

Victor Zinchuk - Flight of the Bumblebee: world record for fastest guitar playing

Victor performed Rimsky-Korsakov’s composition “Flight of the Bumblebee.” This result was recorded by the Guinness Book of Records.

Victor Zinchuk today

Fender and Ibanez companies highly appreciated the abilities of the Russian musician; every year they provide the guitarist with musical equipment completely free of charge. In 2005, Victor Zinchuk released a unique video tutorial on playing the guitar for beginners.

Victor Zinchuk and Yuri Antonov “From sadness to joy”

In 2010, Victor’s new disc “Celtic Album” was released. In it, the musician paid tribute to Irish folk music. And two years later, fans heard the new acoustic album “Positive Formula”.

In his free time, Zinchuk likes to play football.

Personal life of Victor Zinchuk

It is known that the musician’s first child from his first wife died at the age of two and a half years, drowning. The marriage did not last long after the tragedy.

Victor has been living with his second wife for about 20 years. They are raising their son Maxim. Now he is studying at the university, studying to become a lawyer. The musician's wife does not work and takes care of the house.