Yuri Goloubev

Born in Moscow, Yuri studied at Central School of Music and the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, graduating with a master’s degree in 1995. First prize winner of the All-Soviet Union Student Competition in 1990, in 2002 Yuri became the youngest bass player ever to be awarded the prestigious title of Honoured Artist of Russia.

From 1991 to 1992 Yuri played with the famed Bolshoi Opera, and from 1992 to 2004 as Principal Bass with one of the world’s most noted chamber orchestras: The Moscow Soloists, directed by Yuri Bashmet, performing with Mario Brunello, Sarah Chang, James Galway, Gidon Kremer, Shlomo Mintz, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Thomas Quasthoff, Uto Ughi, Maxim Vengerov and many others at a large variety of most prestigious venues and festivals including Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, Barbican, Berlin Philharmonie and Sydney Opera House.

In the 1990s, Yuri had become keenly interested in jazz, and started performing in clubs and jazz festivals. This interest finally led him to abandoning his classical career, moving to Milan in 2004 to devote himself entirely to jazz.

As a jazz artist, Yuri has collaborated with Bob James, Till Brönner, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Kenny Werner, Enrico Pieranunzi, Ralph Towner, Gwilym Simcock, Paolo Fresu, Tim Garland and many more, appearing at a number of top festivals (Umbria Jazz, Montreux, JazzAhead, North Sea Jazz and others). His playing is documented on over 100 albums, some of which were featured as inflight entertainment on Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss and Air France.

Yuri has taught at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama since 2015.