The outstanding violinist and conductor Vladimir Spivakov has brightly realized his multifaceted talent in the art of music and many spheres of public life. As a violinist, Vladimir Spivakov had a brilliant education under Yuri Yankelevich, a famous professor at the Moscow Conservatory. The outstanding violinist of the twentieth century David Oistrakh had no less influence on him. Since 1997, Spivakov has been playing an instrument made by Antonio Stradivari, which was given to him for life by patrons of art - admirers of his talent. In the 1960s-1970s, Vladimir Spivakov became a prize-winner at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud international competition in Paris, the Paganini competition in Genoa, the Montreal International competition and the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow. In 1975, after triumphant solo performances in the United States, his brilliant international career as a musician began. He has performed as a soloist with the best symphony orchestras in the world under the baton of prominent conductors of the XX century - E. Svetlanov, K. Kondrashin, Y. Temirkanov, M. Rostropovich, L. Bernstein, S. Ozawa, L. Maazel, C.M. Giulini, K. Masur, R. Chailly, C. Abbado and others. In 1979, together with a group of like-minded musicians, he created the Moscow Virtuosi chamber orchestra and became its permanent artistic director, conductor and soloist. He studied conducting under professor Israel Guzman in Russia, took lessons from Leonard Bernstein and Lorin Maazel in the USA. Bernstein, as a mark of friendship and faith in Spivakov's future, presented him with his conductor's baton, which the maestro does not part with to this day. Vladimir Spivakov's extensive discography as a soloist and conductor includes more than 50 CDs; most records were released by BMG Classics, RCA Red Seal and Capriccio as well as by Spivakov Sound label. A lot of recordings won prestigious prizes. For many years Vladimir Spivakov has been engaged in social and charitable activities. In 1994, the Vladimir Spivakov International Charitable Foundation was founded, which activities are aimed at providing professional support to young talents in the field of art and creating favorable conditions for their artistic growth. In 2010, Vladimir Spivakov was awarded the Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of culture for the establishment of the Foundation. Contemporary composers have repeatedly dedicated their works to Vladimir Spivakov, including A. Schnittke, R. Shchedrin, A. Part, I. Schwartz, V. Artemov and many others. In 2003, Vladimir Spivakov became the artistic director and principal conductor of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia founded by him and the president of the Moscow International House of music. In 2011, Vladimir Spivakov became a member of the Council for Culture and Art under the President of the Russian Federation. Vladimir Spivakov is People's Artist of the USSR, a laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, the Order of Friendship, two of the highest awards of France, the Order of the Star of Italy, the Order of Merit for the Republic of Bashkortostan, he is a holder of many other honorary awards and titles as well. In 2006 Vladimir Spivakov was recognized as an Artist for Peace by UNESCO for his "outstanding contribution as a musician in the world art, his activities in the name of peace and development of dialogue between cultures". In 2009 he was awarded the gold Mozart medal by UNESCO. In 2012, Vladimir Spivakov was awarded the State Prize of Russia "for outstanding achievements in the field of humanitarian activity". Vladimir Spivakov is a full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.