Dmitry Alekseyevich Onegin graduated from the Gnesin State Musical‑Pedagogical Institute (now the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music) in 1980 and completed his assistantship‑internship in 1983 in the class of Professor G. Ye. Vinogradova.
He has taught at the Department of Choral Conducting since 1981, where he gives classes in conducting and choral score reading, and delivers lectures on the course «Methods of Working with a Choir», as well as supervising and reviewing final‑year theses.
Dmitry Alekseyevich possesses rich practical experience as a choral conductor and profound professional knowledge. His teaching programmes in conducting are always original and distinctive, and his classes are dynamic and intense. The artistic and technical tasks he sets are successfully mastered by students thanks to his inspired belief in their abilities, while the strong sense of cohesion within his class contributes significantly to their achievements.
Graduates of D. A. Onegin work successfully with choral ensembles and teach in various educational institutions. Among them are:
- chorus master of the Pyatnitsky State Academic Russian Folk Choir – Ye. Poddubny;
- chorus master of the Gnesin State Music College Folk Choir – Yu. Kolesnik;
- chorus master of the Chamber Choir of Simferopol – Yu. Vasilyev;
- chorus master of the G. I. Tsitovich National Academic Folk Choir of the Republic of Belarus – I. Runets;
- senior lecturer and chorus master at the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts – Ye. Stryapunina.
As a highly qualified choral conductor, D. A. Onegin has always combined his teaching with an active artistic career.
Since 1989 he has directed the Vocal Ensemble of Sacred Chant «Voskreseniye», which he founded and which is well known both in Russia and abroad. The ensemble’s repertoire focuses on the finest examples of Russian sacred music, many of which were first performed by this highly professional group.
The ensemble «Voskreseniye» is distinguished by a highly individual performing style marked by refined musical taste and keen sense of style, a beautiful timbral palette and excellent balance between all vocal parts.
Under the direction of D. A. Onegin the ensemble has recorded six CDs, taken part in music festivals («Singing Rus», «Moscow Autumn»), and regularly tours abroad (in 1994, at the invitation of the Archbishop of Paris, it participated in a Grand Mass at Notre‑Dame Cathedral). Several radio programmes have also been devoted to the ensemble.
Dmitry Alekseyevich’s performing career has earned wide public recognition. He is an honorary member of the European Academy «Amadeus», has repeatedly led choral masterclasses in Angers (France), and has lectured on the history of Russian sacred music.
In 2010 D. A. Onegin became Artistic Director of the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music Academic Choir. Under his leadership the ensemble quickly prepared several substantial programmes and, in addition to regular performances at the Academy, has developed an active concert profile, appearing in Moscow’s leading venues and participating in festivals and competitions.
Thus, in 2011 the Academic Choir of the Conducting Faculty of the Gnesin Academy won First Prize at the 30th International Festival of Sacred Music «Hajnówka» in Białystok (Poland). In 2013, at the 4th International Festival‑Competition of Sacred Music «Laudate Dominum» in Vilnius (Lithuania), the ensemble under D. A. Onegin was awarded First Prize.
D. A. Onegin is also actively engaged in research into Russian choral performance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bringing to light previously unknown figures in Russian choral culture and seeking out rare published scores of choral works that had not been performed or had been unjustly forgotten.
His scholarly work on the history of choral performance in Russia has been highly acclaimed. He is the author of a monograph on the outstanding late‑19th‑century Moscow choirmaster P. I. Sakharov and of the article «The Chudov Monastery Choir».
D. A. Onegin collaborates with the Professional Development Faculty of the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music, provides methodological support to affiliated music colleges, and serves on certification boards of the Ministry of Culture of Russia, sharing his extensive teaching, performing and research experience with colleagues.
