Victor Gorodinsky is a Librarian Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Libraries.
Originally from Moscow, Russia, Victor immigrated to the United States in 1982. He holds a Master’s Degree in Music (classical guitar and orchestral conducting) from Gnesin College of Music in Moscow. Before moving to Madison in 1995, he worked at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where, in addition to being a Slavic Studies Librarian, he was Assistant Director (under the late Professor John Garvey) and later, Music Director of the University of the Illinois Russian Folk Orchestra, the official School of Music performing and touring ensemble. Under Victor’s baton, the 40-piece orchestra performed several times a year at the University of Illinois’ Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and toured around the Midwest.
In 1996, with the generous financial help from CREECA, Victor was able to purchase a number of authentic Russian folk instruments, and rehearsals began in the fall of 1997.
In 2017 the Orchestra celebrated its 20th anniversary with a big gala concert!
In 2023 (one year late due to the Covid-19 pandemic) the Orchestra celebrated its 25th anniversary with an even bigger gala concert!
When Victor happens to have free time, he likes to spend it reading, listening to other music, and performing magic. Occasionally, he enjoys doing rather goofy things (see the middle photo above.
Victor is also an avid traveler and a photographer. You can browse through his photo gallery below!
Photo Gallery
Austria
Hallstatt is a beautiful and a very cozy town on a lake about 72 km (45 miles) from Salzburg. The second gallery also includes photos from Vienna.
Belgium
Belgium has 2 official languages: French and Flemish (a dialect of Dutch). There are also German-speaking communities.
Brussels, the capital city (and the capital of the European Union) is bilingual, and many signs are in both French and Flemish.
View more images from Victor’s travel galleries here!
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Manitoba, Canada
New Brunswick/Nouveau Brunswick, Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Nova Scotia, Canada
Ontario, Canada
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Québec, Canada
Alaska, USA
California, USA
Connecticut, USA
Illinois, USA
Louisiana, USA
Maine, USA
Massachusetts, USA
Michigan, USA
Minnesota, USA
New Hampshire, USA
New York, USA
Pennsylvania, USA
Rhode Island, USA
South Carolina
Virginia, USA
Washington, D.C., USA
Washington, USA
Wisconsin, USA
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