Alexander S. Papii is a composer and guitarist.
He began his musical career in the northern city of Arkhangelsk. At the age of eight he was admitted to the Children’s Music School, where he studied classical guitar with Nina V. Anisimova for seven years (1991–1997).
In 1993 he won first prize at the regional performance competition and was awarded First Prize at the Talantiada competition‑festival in Norway. From an early age he pursued an active concert life, frequently touring, including abroad.
In 1994 he received a hand‑crafted concert guitar as a gift from the Emden Lions Club, an instrument he continues to use in some concerts and studio work. For three consecutive years (1992–1994) he took part in the international festival Guitar in Russia, performing and attending masterclasses with world‑famous guitarists.
From 1997 to 2001 he studied at the Arkhangelsk College of Music with Alexander B. Bogdanov, receiving both classical and jazz training.
In 1999 he became a laureate at the First Russian Youth Delphic Games.
In 2000 he was a laureate of the International Competition for Performers on Folk Instruments in Petrozavodsk.
He twice became a laureate of the All‑Russian Competition for Young Jazz Performers in Rostov‑on‑Don (2000 and 2003).
From 2002 to 2006 he studied at the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow with Konstantin V. Serov. During this time he became an active participant in the capital’s jazz scene and took part in numerous Russian and international festivals.
In 2006 he undertook an internship in the USA under the Open World programme, performing at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
He is the founder of the projects Positive and Papyrus Band, whose programmes feature contemporary original jazz.
For many years he collaborated with Yuri Usachyov (founder of the group Gosti iz budushchego) and Tina Kuznetsova, taking part in their joint project Zventa Sventana.
From 2012 to 2013 he worked with the well‑known Russian singer Polina Gagarina.
For several years he worked with Comedy Club as a performer, musician, and arranger. Since 2013 he has collaborated with various popular artists, including Teona Kontridze, Eteri Beriashvili, Alexei Chumakov, and many others.
Since 2019 he has taught at the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music. He continues to tour actively, compose music, and collaborate with many jazz musicians from other countries.
