Andrei Pushkarev was born in a family of musicians in Kiev in 1974. At the age of five, he began his musical education with piano lessons. In 1980 he entered Kiev Specialized School of Music. From a young age Andrei delighted in music and by the age of 14 his concentration shifted to percussion instruments. In 1992 Andrei Pushkarev became a student of Kiev Tchaikovsky National Conservatory (now – National Music Academy of Ukraine) where he continued his professional growth with Professor Alexander Blinov.   

During his studies at the Conservatory, Andrei began to create his own works including his own compositions for vibraphone solo. Andrei continued to study orchestral percussion, but the vibraphone had captured his soul.  The vibraphone became much more than a favorite instrument to Andrei. The vibraphone, a true solo instrument, was capable of transporting listeners to a world filled with new thrilling sounds and colors. 

In 1996, he was selected to become the principal timpanist for the Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra. At the age of 22, he became the youngest principal timpanist of the symphonic orchestra in Ukraine. In 1999 his musical career escalated to a new level. Andrei Pushkarev joined the Kremerata Baltica Chamber Orchestra. Until today he holds the status of a well-recognized soloist as well as a principal percussionist of this ensemble. Since then, he has made many arrangements for the vibraphone and violin solo with and without chamber orchestra. Together with Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica he performed in numerous concert halls all around the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Albert Hall in London, the Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Photo credit: Al Lapkovsky