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Baltic International Accordion Quintet "Excelsior"
Vladimir Ushakov (St. Petersburg, Russia), Svetlana Stavitskaya (Daugavpils, Latvia), Gennady Savkov, Eduardas Gabnis (both Vilnius, Lithuania), Sergei Likhachov (St. Petersburg, Russia) 
Program https://www.youtube.com/user/Excelsiorlover The idea of creating the accordion quintet came into being in the autumn of 1999,
in the course of the International festival of music for bayan and accordion in Chelyabinsk (Russia).
It was at that time when the two accordion duets - the duet of Vladimir Ushakov and Sergej Likhachov and that of Eduardas Gabnis and Gennady Savkov - met.
The musicians played some piece of music together - two ensembles were participating - at one of the festival concerts. By that time they had already known each other for about five years.
The musicians were so satisfied with playing together that they decided to create the repertoire for their collective. Later on meetings of
the members of the ensemble took place in different countries and in various circumstances.
The original idea crystallized: it was decided that five more participants should join in the ensemble - thus Svetlana Stavitskaya, the accordionist from Latvia - by that time a soloist of the St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble - became a member of the ensemble.
Eduardas Gabnis was born in Panevezhys (Lithuania) in 1952. He started to study music in his native town, continued studying it in the Vilnius conservatoire. In 1976 he graduated from the Lithuanian Music Academy - from the grade supervised by the professor A. Baika. From 1983 till 1986 he was educated in P. Tchaikovsky Ukrainian National Music Academy under the direction of professors N. Davydov and N. Rizol. At present E. Gabnis successfully combines concert activity with teaching. He is a professor and rector of Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Since 1978 E. Gabnis has been playing in the duet with the accordionist Gennady Savkov. This ensemble appeared in many countries of the world, ensemble gave more than 800 solo concerts.
Gennady Savkov was born in Omsk (Russia) in 1952. He studied playing the accordion in his native town under V. Yepifanov. He then graduated from the Lithuanian Music Academy in the class of professor V. Furmanavichius. He continued his education in Kiev, in P. Tchaikovsky Ukrainian National Music Academy in the class of professor I. Yashkevich. G. Savkov often performs with known Lithuanian vocalists, with chamber and symphonic orchestras, with variety group "Retro" (art-director Thomas Leiburas). He is also the teacher in the children Vilnius music school №2 and in the Lithuanian Music Academy. Since 1978 G. Savkov plays in the duo with the accordionist Eduardas Gabnis. The Ensemble became laureate of several international contests, group activity lasts and at present.
Vladimir Ushakov was born in Leningrad (former St. Petersburg, Russia) in 1968. From four years old he began to play on the accordion by ear. He graduated from the Leningrad children music school in the class of teacher V. Belyaev (1983), M. Mousorgsky music college in the class of teacher V. Gerasimov (1987) and State Academy of Culture (1994). Since 1984 he plays in the duo with the accordionist Sergei Likhachov. Since 1987 occurred tests, and in 1989 to the duo is definitively joined rhythm-section: guitar, bass-guitar, and drums. The new collective became known as the St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble. In 1999 the ensemble became a laureate of the international accordion competition in Castelfidardo, Italy (1999, I prize).
In addition to the participation in the ensemble, V. Ushakov plays as a soloist-performer on the accordion, in the duo with accordionist
Svetlana Stavitskaya and other musicians. Now he is producing a publishing program "St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble Editions", directed on the publication of music material for the accordion.
Sergei Likhachov was born in Leningrad 1968. He graduated from children music school №32 under his father, director of school, well-earned workman of culture Yu. Likhachov, the Leningrad M. Mousorgsky music college in the class of teacher V. Kirillov (1987) and State Academy of Culture (1994). Since 1984 he plays in the duo with Vladimir Ushakov. Since 1989 he has been the soloist of laureate of international competition St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble. S. Likhachov is also the conductor of the accordion orchestra in V. Andreev children music school.
Svetlana Stavitskaya was born in Daugavpils (Latvia) in 1974. She graduated from music school, music college and pedagogic university in the her hometown in the class of leading teacher-accordionist of Latvia V. Khodukin, then continued an education in the Lithuanian Music Academy in the class of professor Eduardas Gabnis. For several years Svetlana was being occupied with teaching in Daugavpils, performed as a soloist-accordionist and soloist of Daugavpils accordion orchestra.
Now she is a leader of the instrumental trio "Milonga" (accordion, piano, violin). The trio has become the laureate of many competitions. At present Svetlana Stavitskaya is the soloist of the St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble,
as well as being concerned with a realization of the publishing program "St. Petersburg Musette Ensemble Editions".
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