13 Facts About Yuli Turovsky

Yuli Turovsky OC CQ was a Soviet-born Canadian cellist, conductor and music educator.

Yuli Turovsky's name is mostly associated with the I Musici de Montreal Chamber Orchestra, which he founded in 1983 and led until his death 30 years later.

Yuli Turovsky began playing the cello at the age of seven at the Moscow Central Music School.

Yuli Turovsky later attended the Moscow Conservatory from 1957 to 1969, studying with Galina Kozolupova, among others.

In 1969 Yuli Turovsky obtained first prize at the Soviet-wide cello competition and second prize at the Prague Spring International Music Festival.

Yuli Turovsky became the lead cello for the Moscow Chamber Orchestra which Rudolf Barshai had founded about fifteen years earlier and this association marked the beginning of Turovsky's recording career.

In parallel to his work as a performing cellist, Yuli Turovsky taught at the Central Music School and the Conservatory and conducted the chamber orchestra of a local school.

Yuli Turovsky founded the I Musici de Montreal Chamber Orchestra in 1983.

Yuli Turovsky's health forced him to step down as the artistic director and conductor in 2011.

Yuli Turovsky taught at the Conservatoire de musique du Quebec a Montreal from 1977 to 1985 and at the Universite de Montreal from 1979 until the early 2010s as his health declined.

Yuli Turovsky was a Knight of the National Order of Quebec and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Yuli Turovsky received the 2012 lifetime achievement award from the Quebec Music Council.

Yuli Turovsky died in Montreal on 15 January 2013 from complications due to Parkinson's disease.