At what age did you begin playing a musical instrument?
My musical career started probably when I was born in 1973 in Kiev, USSR, to a Jewish Family.
Having both parents being professional musicians, my mom is a violinist and my dad is a pianist, my grandmother (being a doctor) was the most musically talented, singing to me all the best opera arias and Yiddish songs. My career was predictable and very much expected. At age 5 I started my musical journey with violin and piano lessons. I am very grateful to my dear family for that.

Name an unforgettable moment with the IPO
Prague, September 2019, Maestro Zubin Mehta, Mahler 3.

Did you acquire any new skills during the pandemic?
I did acquire new skills during the pandemic. We, I and my spouse and colleague Dima Ratush, started to design special interior things from simple everyday materials, such as carton and wood.
I enjoy cooking, spending time with my beautiful masculine family and having the possibility for self-education.

How can we keep classical music and live performances relevant in the digital era?
I am very skeptical about the classical music future in the digital era. I am 100% sure that performing LIVE to the public, exchanging human energy with real people, and getting the reactions and applauses from the hall are the most important targets of our “BUSINESS”. I wish to get to this moment soon: Orchestra, Public, and Music Hall.