Yuriy Plehanov Keyboardist of the rock band "Pilgrim" Date of Birth: 19.11.1980 Country: Russia

1. Early Life
2. Piano or Violin?
3. A Transformation in Engels
4. Introspection and Music
5. Dedication to Music
6. Peculiar Paths
7. Return and Exploration
8. Birth of "Artland"
9. Return to Saint Petersburg
10. A Musical Exodus

Early Life

Yuri was born amidst the celebratory salutes of Soviet Artillery Day, on November 19, 1980, in Saint Petersburg. His musical journey began at a tender age when he enrolled in a music school.

Piano or Violin?

"I was given a choice," recalls Юрий, "piano or violin. But when I drew the bow across the violin and heard that awful sound, I knew I preferred the piano. It produced beautiful melodies instantly."

A Transformation in Engels

At the age of 6, Юрий moved to Engels due to family circumstances. "When I arrived, I was a well-behaved boy, but within two years at school there, I became something of a rebel," he confesses. "I skipped classes and misbehaved."

Introspection and Music

Adolescence brought a shift. Юрий withdrew into himself, engaged in self-reflection, tried his hand at composing music, and continued to skip school. As a result, he graduated from the 9th grade with mostly C grades, except for music and drawing, where he excelled.

Dedication to Music

It was at this point that Юрий became serious about music. He resolved to attend music college and extended his music school enrollment by a year to continue lessons with his teacher. However, he failed his college entrance exam.

Peculiar Paths

Yuri's stepfather then enrolled him in a vocational school at a trolleybus factory, where he pursued a degree in "Decorator/Salesman." In the mid-1990s, he moved to Germany and recorded about 20 soundtracks for the DEFA film studio as a keyboardist.

Return and Exploration

Upon his return to Russia, he assisted director Rudolf Richter and even directed several films independently. However, his passion for music persisted. On his second attempt, Yuri successfully entered the Saratov Music College in the classical piano department, although his true calling lay in jazz.

Birth of "Artland"

His interest in jazz led him to attend lectures at the college's pop music department and eventually transfer in his second year. Around this time, the band "Artland" was formed, performing locally and even in Moscow before representatives of the Italian Higher School of Music.

Return to Saint Petersburg

Due to family reasons, Yuri had to return to Saint Petersburg in his third year. He resumed his studies at the M.P. Mussorgsky Saint Petersburg Music College. However, his classical education remained incomplete.

A Musical Exodus

Days before his final exams, Юрий took an academic leave of absence (which still stands) to attend a concert in Moscow that could not be missed. The members of "Artland" reunited, marking the band's rebirth. That same year, they joined forces with former "Araks" vocalist Anatoly Aleshin to form "Aleshin," where Yuri performed for five years until 2008.