Biography and creative path of Valery Semin
Valery Vladimirovich Semin - a domestic virtuoso accordion player, author of music for many musical compositions, singer, arranger, television and radio broadcast presenter - was born on May 19, 1966 in the city of Syzran.
In 1985, Valery graduated with honors from the Syzran Music School (now the Syzran College of Arts and Culture named after O.N. Nostsova) in the button accordion class, as well as orchestra conducting. After which he continued his education in the same specialties at the Gnessin State Musical and Pedagogical Institute (now the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music).
In 1990, Semin created a musical group called “White Day”. The ensemble included students from the Gnessin State Musical and Pedagogical Institute, who became laureates of the IV All-Union Competition of Performers on Russian Folk Instruments held in the city of Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod). The repertoire was based on classical works of domestic and foreign composers, Russian folk songs, and in addition, modern compositions arranged by Valery or other authors.
The group "White Day" became one of the first musical groups that performed pop music on Russian folk instruments, such as the balalaika. In 1996, the group released an album called “Balalaika in Rock”, which was recorded at the Soyuz studio. This album includes musical compositions of such foreign groups as “Beatles”, “Boney-M”, “Deep Purple”, “Eagles”, “Metallica”, excerpts from the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar”, performed in Russian folk instruments.
In 1999, on the basis of the White Day group, Valery Semin, together with Elena Verkhovskaya, founded a new vocal project.
In the same year, the first album of the project was released, called “I cooked fish soup.” The songs “Ay-ay-ay”, the music for which was written by Valery, and the lyrics by Lena Vasilek, and the student folk song “Oh, how I like you” (also called “Nightingale”) performed by the group became real hits.
The most successful album for the group was “Start Up, Countrymen!”, recorded in 2005. The hit song of this album was the composition “Galina”, the words and music for which were written by Lena Vasilek.
Elena Vasilek
Lena Vasilek Author and performer of songs, actress.
Full name
Elena Vasilek was born on March 29, 1970 in Moscow
Family
Lena's parents were simple employees.
Childhood and youth
The future singer spent her childhood in a small village near Voronezh. When Elena was only eight years old, she composed her first poem. And the love of Russian song was instilled in his granddaughter by grandfather Ivan, who masterfully played the balalaika and knew hundreds of folklore works, jokes, tales, and ditties. The girl especially liked it when the whole village gathered for gatherings, and people sang folk songs together. The love for choral singing led fourth-grade student Lena Vasilek to the Big Children's Choir of Central Television and All-Union Radio under the direction of Viktor Popov. There she performed as a soloist until receiving her secondary education certificate. Frequent tours of the Soviet Union and even foreign countries did not prevent the gifted girl from graduating from school as a gold medalist. After the prom, Lena said: “I only have one life, and I intend to devote it to music!” Soon the girl became a student at the Ippolitov-Ivanov Moscow Music College.
Creation
During her student years, fate brought the girl together with the beginning accordion player Valery Semin. Soon they became husband and wife. Their union was not only family, but also creative - together they created the group “White Day”. At first, the group’s repertoire consisted mainly of folk songs and compositions by other authors: the artists had no original material. During the years of perestroika, the team actively gave concerts around the globe. At a prestigious competition in Italy, the guys won first place by performing The Beatles songs... on Russian folk instruments!
An experienced impresario became interested in the nuggets and, having concluded a contract with him, Elena Vasilek and the White Day group toured the world for many years. During that period, their famous program “Balalaika in rock” appeared, which included cover versions of Western hits. However, this project did not take off at home, and Lena began to think about creating her own repertoire.
In 2001, the debut album “Village” was released. The record, as they say, fired. In the wake of success, Elena recorded four more albums over the next three years. Many compositions became very popular and were included in the rotation of various radio stations. In total, Elena Vasilek’s creative biography currently includes eight original albums recorded on the Classic Company record label, and three concert films released on video. In 2005, Elena composed for a family friend, artist Mikhail Evdokimov, a song dedicated to his wife, Galina Nikolaevna (“Galina lives, lives in this house”). However, sudden death prevented Mikhail Sergeevich from performing the composition. Shocked to the core by what happened, on the day of his premature departure, Lena wrote the song “Izba Without a Master.” She decided not to give these works to anyone, but to sing them herself. Nikolai Gnatyuk heard “Galina” performed by her. As a result, they sang the hit song as a duet at the Slavic Bazaar festival. To this day, this piece remains one of the most beloved by listeners. At concerts, the audience invariably sings along and demands to perform the composition as an encore. In the fall of 2012, the marriage of Lena Vasilek and Valery Semin broke up. Despite the everyday drama, the singer did not stop composing and continued to work with the White Day group. She leads an active creative life, works on new songs, shoots videos and constantly tours around Russia and abroad. In 2013, a new concert program “I love you, mom!” was presented to the public. Personal life The singer is raising her son Ivan, whom she named after her beloved grandfather, who taught her to find a way out of the most difficult life situations.
Achievements and awards
First prize at the Citta di Castelfidardo competition in Italy (1994). In 2005, Elena Vasilek became a laureate of the All-Russian Festival of Patriotic Songs in the “Author of Music” category. First prize in the competition “Best Song about Moscow” (2006).
Do you know what.
Lena Vasilek writes almost all her songs while driving a car. Lena can perfectly operate almost any large agricultural machinery, from Belarus tractors to modern Caterpillar tracked vehicles. The energetic actress adheres to a complete monotrophic raw food diet in her life. Lena is seriously involved in yoga practices, constantly improving her knowledge about cleansing and healing the body. The singer loves swimming and skiing. He calls his easygoing nature the most useful trait of his character. Values kindness, faith, willpower, and determination in people. Does not tolerate selfishness, betrayal, cowardice, or the desire to constantly hide behind someone else's back.
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Hits “Galina”, “Why are you married?”, “Sleigh”, “Autumn”, “Village”, “Cranes”, “The Cossacks were driving home”, “Mom”, “Birthday girl”, “I believed, I believe”, “Ay -yay-yay”, “Mother-in-law”.
Other projects
Valery Semin was a close associate and co-host of the popular artist and singer Mikhail Evdokimov. In Evdokimov’s programs “Enjoy Your Bath!” (published from 1999 to 2002) and “Don't get bored” (published from 2002 to 2004) Valery participated as an accordion player.
Valery Semin took part in the filming of the following films:
- “Wedding” - in the image of an accordion player-clergyman;
- “Oligarch” - as a singer;
- “Hot Saturday” – in a cameo role.
Since 2013, Valery has been releasing video versions of popular Soviet songs.
Since March 2013, he has been the permanent host of the “Gatherings in the Kitchen” program aired on the “White Day – TV” channel.
In 2014, Semin, as chief conductor, collaborated with the Penza Russian Folk Choir named after O.V. Grishina.
In 2020, in tandem with accordion player Sergei Voitenko, he organized a music festival program called “Bayan Gathers Friends,” in which many Russian pop stars took part.
He hosted the program “Play, Bayan” on Online TV. Valery's co-host was Sergei Voitenko.
Lena Vasilek and the group “White Day”
While still a student, the singer met her future husband. Together they created not only a family, but also a creative tandem. The couple organized the musical group “White Day”, which soon became famous throughout the country. The group's repertoire included folk songs, works by other authors and some compositions of their own. The band captivated their fans with their wonderful energy and unique presentation of material. The group members appeared in the films “Wedding”, “Oligarch”, “Hot Saturday”. The ensemble's discography began with the album "Russian Songs" in 1991. Over the twenty years of its existence, the first members of the group have implemented a dozen and a half projects, in which Lena Vasilek played the main solo role. “Galina” is the last album recorded in 2011 together with her husband. One of the artist’s leading songs was written at the request of Mikhail Evdokimov, who wanted to perform it for his wife, but did not have time due to the tragic death.
Musician's wife
Elena Verkhovskaya studied at the music school named after M.M. Ippolitov-Ivanov (now the State Musical Pedagogical Institute named after M.M. Ippolitov-Ivanov). The girl met Valery Semin during a joint performance. In 1990, Semin and Verkhovskaya became laureates of the IV All-Union Competition of Performers on Russian Folk Instruments. Elena became one of the first members of the team created by Valery, called “White Day”.
Semin's virtuoso playing of the accordion and personal charm aroused universal admiration. Valeria and Elena, who by that time had become the soloist of “White Day,” could not resist the male charm. Soon the couple’s relationship went beyond the scope of a creative union, and the singer and accordion player got married. The couple had a son named Ivan.
In 1999, the couple created a new vocal project on the basis of the White Day ensemble. It was then that composer Alexander Morozov, who collaborated with the ensemble, suggested that Elena take the creative pseudonym Lena Vasilek. It was under this pseudonym that the singer became widely known to the public.
Despite the fact that the group “White Day” enjoyed success with the audience, Lena Vasilek decided to leave the project and pursue a solo career. The singer's first solo album was released in 2001.
Divorce
The creative differences that arose between Lena Vasilek, who decided to develop a solo career, and Valery Semin, who wanted to keep his wife in the White Day group, had an extremely negative impact on their family life.
As a result, the marriage, which lasted almost twenty years, was dissolved in 2012. Despite the fact that the former spouses currently perform with different musical groups, both of these groups are called “White Day”. As Verkhovskaya states, in a situation where a family is falling apart, each of the former spouses must leave with the baggage with which they once entered the family. But the singer considers “White Day” to be the fruit of joint efforts and believes that she and Valery have equal rights to use this name.
It is worth noting that Elena speaks extremely negatively about her ex-husband, trying in every possible way to discredit Valery. Answering questions from fans on her official website, the singer stated that her ex-husband never behaved as a man should.
It is not surprising that with such an attitude on the part of his wife, Valery left the family.
Personal life
Lena was married to Valery Semin for almost 20 years. Together with him, she experienced the ups and downs in the process of building a career. The couple has a son, Ivan. The boy received this name in honor of Elena’s beloved grandfather.
Despite having a child together, the couple divorced in 2012. Both Lena and Valery continue to perform. Each has its own team, and both groups are called “White Day”.
Our heroine tries to do everything: take care of her son, record new compositions, star in videos and participate in various television shows. In the summer, the singer visits the pool, and in the winter she goes skiing. Lena does yoga several times a week. The girl understands: to stay afloat in show business, you must always look great.
In 2013, she presented the concert program “I Love You, Mom!” to the audience. It includes new and already known compositions (“Svekrovushka”, “Cranes” and so on).
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Valery Semin now
After the divorce proceedings were completed, Valery Semin recorded his first solo album, released in 2013. The album includes Soviet songs sounded in various animated films and films.
There is currently no information about Valery Semin’s personal life in open sources. The accordion player actively tours, hosts the “Guests” program broadcast on the radio station “Our Moscow Region”, and together with Sergei Voitenko hosts the “Play, button accordion” program broadcast on “ Online TV ”.
Watch the video: Valery Semin's Big Concert:
