Erik Markovsky
Multi-instrumentalist, percussionist, composer, performer and teacher. Golden Mask nominee.
About me
Erik Markovsky
Multi-instrumentalist • Percussionist • Composer • Performer • Teacher
Multi-instrumentalist, percussionist and composer: more than 20 years on stage, and I play more than 30 drums and percussion instruments.
I work in world fusion — combining the techniques, rhythms and musical approaches of the Middle East, Turkey, India, Persia, Central Asia, Africa and Latin America into my own original language. A professional improviser: I give solo concerts and play with other musicians without rehearsals, and I teach this to my students.
Golden Mask nominee (2023) — Best Work of a Composer in Musical Theatre.
I have been teaching for 15 years, sharing with students what I play on stage myself.
Instruments I play
More than 30 drums and percussion instruments at concert level — from ancient frame drums to electronics.
Frame drums
- frame drum (Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Indian styles)
- daf / erbane
- riq
- def
- kanjira
- tamburello
- shaman drum
Middle East, Caucasus, Asia
- darbuka
- doira
- tombak
- tablak
- nagara
- dhol
Africa and Latin America
- djembe
- calabash
- cajon
- berimbau
Melodic
- handpan
- tongue drum
- kalimba
- jew’s harp / kopuz
- overtone flute
Electronics
- percussion synthesizers
- looper and live looping
Awards and recognition
International Youth Festival • “Ak Tash”
Compositions recorded together with the band Therr Maitz and performed on the main stage of the International Youth Festival (Yekaterinburg), broadcast on Channel One Russia. The “Ak Tash” performance in the galleries by the Yuryevskaya Cave (Kamskoye Ustye). The “Tatar Mosaic” festival (Tarusa).
New Wave festival • Battle of Bands International (India)
A performance at a major music festival. Battle of Bands International on India’s national TV channel DD National: a recording, a solo and sharing the stage with legendary Indian singers Suresh Wadkar and Raja Hasan.
BRICS Summit, Kazan
Music to welcome the presidents of more than 20 countries at the BRICS summit in Kazan — among them Xi Jinping, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin. Erik assembled the team of musicians, directed the music and created the tracks for the performance. Diplomatic receptions and delegation visits.
Golden Mask nomination — Best Work of a Composer
A personal nomination for the music to “DÖR” (5 Golden Mask nominations). KazanForum “Russia — Islamic World” — a performance with Dina Garipova and a state orchestra.
“Sak-Sok” on the Golden Mask long list
The “Sak-Sok” performance made the long list of Russia’s main theatre award.
Winner of the Klyuchi festival
Won with the “Wild Child” performance — solo live accompaniment at a festival of experimental dance.
Audience Award — Context. Diana Vishneva
The “Sak-Sok” performance received an award at the international contemporary dance festival.
“Brave Ardashir” — Almetyevsk
A performance within the “Tales of the Golden Apples” public art program with choreographer Nurbek Batulla. Covered by major national media.
My teachers
Misirli Ahmet
TurkeyLegendary darbuka master, one of the greatest percussionists in the world
DarbukaGlen Velez
USAFounder of the modern frame drum school, Grammy winner
Frame drumOkay Temiz
TurkeyPioneer of Turkish jazz, master of ethnic percussion
Percussion / Jazz FusionDavid Kuckhermann
EuropeMaster of frame drums and world percussion
Frame drum / PercussionZohar Fresco
EuropeFrame drum virtuoso, researcher of rhythmic traditions
Frame drumNathu Lal Solanki
IndiaMaster of Indian percussion
Indian percussionKhayrullo Dadoboev
TajikistanMaster of Central Asian percussion
Doira / Central Asian traditionOssama Shahin
LebanonMaster of Arabic percussion
Arabic percussionBerkant Çakıcı
TurkeyTurkish school of percussion
Turkish percussionRovshan Jabbar
AzerbaijanAzerbaijani percussion
Azerbaijani percussionAndrey Tanzyu
RussiaEthnic percussion
Ethnic percussionA musician who knows how to teach
My teaching grew out of the stage: I teach what I do myself in concert. I also specifically studied pedagogy and psychology and worked as a music therapist for many years — so in a lesson I see not only the hands on the drum, but the whole person.
Teacher-psychologist
A degree in psychology and education (Kazan Federal University) and professional development in Active Music Therapy (Togliatti State University).
Student of Sergei Stangrit
I studied with Sergei Stangrit — composer, Honoured Artist of Karelia, author of the “kantele therapy” method and of a book on music therapy. I then ran my own practice, building on his methods and developing my own.
Practice with people with special needs
An independent music-therapy practice working with people with developmental differences.
Own office in a private clinic
I ran my own music-therapy office in a private clinic. This experience is the basis of my method: attention to tension, temperament and a student’s inner barriers.
Music in schools and kindergartens
I led music classes for children in very different educational systems: Evrika, a classical Russian school with extracurricular programmes; Individuum, Montessori-based extracurricular education; and Sabyilar, a kindergarten and extracurricular centre with a Tatar, Islamic ethos.
Diplomas and certificates
Personal data and document numbers are hidden.
Contact
Ready to start learning, book a performance or buy an instrument?