Vitaliy Zhdanov

In the choir since 2019

Vitaliy Zhdanov is a Candidate of Art History as well as an active choir conductor, singer, vocals teacher, and author of solfège textbooks for intensive studies of notation and sight-reading.

Vitaliy Zhdanov graduated with honours from the Schnittke music college and Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory (department of choir conducting). In 2014, he completed his postgraduate studies at Moscow State Conservatory (department of history and theory).

He has extensive experience in working with choirs and vocal ensembles of varying professional levels: from youth troupes (the “Lastochki” choir, the senior choir of music classes at school №6 in Zhukovskiy, a choir ensemble course with students of the instrument department at “Vdokhnovenie” children’s art school) to

professional, semi-professional and amateur ensembles (the MSPU amateur choir, the Higher School of Economics choir, the student choir of the adults’ department at the Prokofiev music school) as well as church vocal ensembles (the school of sacred music of Martyr Tatiana’s Cathedral at MSU, the kliros of the Holy Trinity women’s monastery in Abkhazia).

Ensembles directed by Vitaliy Zhdanov have become laureates of numerous Russian and international competitions.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A MUSICIAN?

It was all by chance. I was studying at an English language school and could have become a professional linguist. My family moved at some point, so I had to switch schools; at the new one, music was taught along with the core subjects. I got interested in music and chose to enter music college after school. Although it wasn’t until my third year at college that I finally realized what I was doing.

DO THINGS OFTEN HAPPEN BY CHANCE IN YOUR LIFE?

I guess not. I’m a very rational person and my life has mostly been going just as planned — to the point that I’ve spent the past few years focusing on my intuition and trying to make more spontaneous decisions. That’s how musicAeterna came into my life: it was all spontaneous. I had been in a rut for a few years professionally, so I wanted to make a change. With no real plan in mind, I came to the auditions and suddenly got accepted.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO MASTER IN LIFE?

I’m currently studying to become a psychotherapist. I felt the need to do that at some point — but I don’t put any extra pressure on myself and just want to keep learning as long as it interests me.

WHAT MAKES MUSICIANS DIFFERENT FROM PEOPLE OF OTHER PROFESSIONS?

Patience does, I think. Patience and perseverance are crucial for success as a musician. The less talented one is, the more perseverance they need. But other than that, each musician is different — just like anyone else.

WHY DO PEOPLE LISTEN TO MUSIC?

Everyone can find something for themselves in music. To me, as I now realize, listening to music has always been a way to explore myself. There are many ways to do that: through self-reflection, dialogue or writing, for example. Listening to your favourite music is another valid means.

WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?

Bach’s Cantatas are probably the dearest to me. I love Mahler’s works and Schubert’s instrumental pieces as well. I’m also interested in modern minimalist and neo-Romantic composers such as Pēteris Vasks.