Emmanuel Schiller Choral conductor Date of Birth: 28.05.1922

1. Early Life and Education
2. World War II and Siberian Exile
3. Choral Director and Teacher
4. Career in Kazakhstan
5. Artistic Director of the "Zori Semirechya" Choir
6. Recognition and Legacy
7. Personal Life
8. Passing and Honors

Early Life and Education

Emanuil (Alexander) Ivanovich Schiller was born on December 16, 1922, in a musical family in Odessa, Ukraine. His father, Ioan Martovich Schiller, was a choirmaster, and his mother, Berta Emmanuilovna Schiller (née Schmichel), was a talented pianist.

World War II and Siberian Exile

Schiller's life took a tragic turn during World War II. In 1942, he was captured by the Germans and sent to a labor camp in Germany. He spent the war years as a forced laborer in a military factory.

After the war, Schiller was repatriated to the Soviet Union but was unjustly imprisoned in the Gulags. In 1948, he was exiled to the village of Kolyvan in Siberia.

Choral Director and Teacher

In Kolyvan, Schiller's passion for music revived. He became the director of the village club and founded a Russian folk choir. The choir achieved great success, winning numerous awards at regional and national festivals.

Career in Kazakhstan

In 1957, Schiller relocated to Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, with his family. He became a cultural organizer at the "Oktyabr" factory, where he established a Russian choir. In 1963, he graduated from the Pavlodar Musical College named after P. I. Tchaikovsky with a degree in choral conducting.

Artistic Director of the "Zori Semirechya" Choir

In 1968, Schiller was invited to become the artistic director of the "Zori Semirechya" Russian Folk Choir in Almaty. He returned to Pavlodar two years later and continued his choral activities.

Recognition and Legacy

Schiller's talent and dedication were widely recognized. In 1972, he was awarded the title of "Honored Worker of Culture of the Kazakh SSR." In 1981, his choir held its 1,000th concert under Schiller's baton.

Personal Life

Schiller had two children: Vladimir Emmanuilovich Schiller (b. 1950) and Liliya Emmanuilovna Schiller. His second wife, Zinaida Vasilyevna Kriventsova, gave birth to his daughter, Elvira Emmanuilovna Schiller.

Passing and Honors

Emanuil Ivanovich Schiller passed away on December 16, 1985, at the age of 63. His memory lives on through the numerous awards and honors he received, including the "Medal for the Development of Virgin Lands" (1959) and the "Medal for Valiant Labor" (1970).