What Happened
On July 27, 2024, Pavel Kushnir — a pianist and educator — died in a detention center in Birobidzhan. By the age of thirty-nine, Pavel had graduated from the Tambov Music College and the Moscow Conservatory, performed as a soloist in the philharmonics of Yekaterinburg, Kursk, and Kurgan, and in 2023, he became a soloist at the Birobidzhan Regional Philharmonic. Pavel Kushnir authored the novels Russian Cut-up and Noël, analyzed all of Chopin’s mazurkas in the radio series Mazurkas on Wednesdays, recorded a cycle of Rachmaninoff’s preludes, and started a YouTube channel filled with despair, where he presented four literary videos condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Russian war crimes. For the statements on this channel with only five subscribers, Pavel Kushnir was arrested, tortured, and killed. This must not be forgotten — just as is impossible to accept such a death.
What We Want
We — actors, directors, producers, writers, artists, and musicians — wish to establish the Pavel Kushnir Scholarship. The goal of this scholarship is to help students from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus pursue their studies at the world’s leading music institutions. The decision to provide financial aid will be made by the Scholarship Council, consisting of renowned contemporary musicians (please see below).
Our Mission
Under the arbitrary rule of the Russian dictatorship, which has imposed military and political censorship, thousands of innocent people find themselves in the torturous conditions of Russian prisons. In one of these prisons, an innocent musician and educator, Pavel Kushnir, was tortured and killed with impunity. The only way to counter death is through life. The barbarians thought they could erase a person without a trace — but we say that Pavel will live on and outlast his tormentors. The Pavel Kushnir Scholarship is the realization of his right to immortality in the world that was most important to him: the eternally enduring world of music.
Why This Support Matters
Supporting music students is a widely recognized need. Few families can afford both the education of gifted children in music and their living expenses abroad. The music community is well aware of this challenge, and there are many scholarships worldwide, initiated by musicians and conductors who have achieved widespread recognition. Pavel Kushnir did not live to receive such recognition — nor did he seek it. He served music beyond any hierarchy, and this scholarship will be a testament to his devotion.
What We Will Do Now
01*
Support the first ten scholarship recipients throughout their studies
02**
Hold a showcase concert featuring the scholarship recipients at the end of the academic year
03**
Hold a series of chamber concerts in memory of Pavel in various cities around the world
04**
Hold the Pavel Kushnir Scholarship Award Ceremony in the form of a theatrical-musical-literary performance
05**
Strive to preserve Pavel Kushnir’s memory through other means.
* | please see Our Scholars |
* * | please see What's On |
Our Future Plans
We will strive to carry out all of the above regularly and responsibly.
How You Can Help
First of all, thank you for your compassion and willingness to support this cause. There are two key ways you can provide the support we need.
The first way is to raise public awareness of the Pavel Kushnir Memorial Scholarship. This could include special announcements at concerts, mentions in event programs, links to the Scholarship website, or even co-organized events such as performances, video recordings, or publications.
The second way is to actively contribute to the Fund’s work. This might involve joining the Scholarship Council (whose members will recommend educational institutions and students in need of support) or engaging in public outreach — advocating for the Scholarship’s initiatives, building strong networks within the academic music community, supporting the development of new programs, and helping to expand the Scholarship’s global reach.
In short, your efforts will ensure that the Scholarship flourishes, keeping alive the legacy of pianist and educator Pavel Kushnir, who was killed in the Birobidzhan detention center.
* | If you want to support us financially — please see Support Us |
Scholarship Council

Mikhail Shilyaev
Mikhail Shilyaev was born in Izhevsk, Russia. He started learning piano at the age of six and won several regional piano competitions at a young age.
He studied in Russia in Moscow State Conservatoire, in Germany and in the UK. As a soloist with orchestra, he has performed with Musikkollegium Winterthur, the London Soloists Chamber Orchestra, the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra and with the Gulbenkian Symphony Orchestra among others.
He studied in Russia in Moscow State Conservatoire, in Germany and in the UK. As a soloist with orchestra, he has performed with Musikkollegium Winterthur, the London Soloists Chamber Orchestra, the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra and with the Gulbenkian Symphony Orchestra among others.
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Evgeny Kissin
Evgeny Kissin’s musicality, the depth and poetic quality of his interpretations, and his extraordinary virtuosity have earned him the veneration and admiration deserved only by one of the most gifted classical pianists of his generation and, arguably, generations past.
He is in demand all over the world and has appeared with many of the world’s great conductors, including Abbado, Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Dohnanyi, Giulini, Karajan, Levine, Maazel, Muti, and Ozawa, as well as all the great orchestras of the world.
He is in demand all over the world and has appeared with many of the world’s great conductors, including Abbado, Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Dohnanyi, Giulini, Karajan, Levine, Maazel, Muti, and Ozawa, as well as all the great orchestras of the world.
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Alexandre Brussilovsky
Born in Ukraine, Alexandre Brussilovsky completed his musical education at the Moscow Conservatoire under Yuri Yankelevitch, Maya Glezarova, Felix Andrievsky and Leonid Kogan. He won top prizes at several international competitions, including the Grand Prix at the International Prague Competition in 1969, and the Grand Prix and Albert Roussel Special Prize at the Jacques Thibaud Competition in 1975.
In 1985, after having been prohibited from performing abroad for eight years, Brussilovsky was able to leave the USSR and establish his residency in France. He rebuilt his career, dividing his time between concert performances and teaching. At the same time, his dream of having his own ensemble came true on the creation of the Ensemble Ricercata de Paris.
In 1985, after having been prohibited from performing abroad for eight years, Brussilovsky was able to leave the USSR and establish his residency in France. He rebuilt his career, dividing his time between concert performances and teaching. At the same time, his dream of having his own ensemble came true on the creation of the Ensemble Ricercata de Paris.
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Roman Mints
Roman Mints began playing the violin at the age of five. In 1994 Roman won a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London, and also studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
One of the most outstanding and original musicians of his generation, Roman was named the «unofficial leader of the new generation of musicians» by the press and has collaborated with many distinguished musicians.
One of the most outstanding and original musicians of his generation, Roman was named the «unofficial leader of the new generation of musicians» by the press and has collaborated with many distinguished musicians.
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Anastasia Kobekina
As soloist, Anastasia performed with worldwide renowned orchestras like Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Wiener Symphoniker, BBC Philharmonic, Kremerata Baltica, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra Moscow, Wiener Kammerorchester, Symphoniker Hamburg, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic, Barcelona Symphony, National Orchestra d’Ile de France and under the guidance of Krzysztov Penderecki, Heinrich Schiff, Omer Meir Wellber, Vladimir Spivakov, Charles Detoit, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Xian Zhang and Dmitrij Kitajenko.
Philharmonic, Barcelona Symphony, National Orchestra d’Ile de France and under the guidance of Krzysztov Penderecki, Heinrich Schiff, Omer Meir Wellber, Vladimir Spivakov, Charles Detoit, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Xian Zhang and Dmitrij Kitajenko.
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* | Scholarship Council will be expanded |