Liutheria

Yuri Bushagin was born in Moscow in 1958. At the age of six he started his musical education as a violinist. In 1978 Yuri entered the famous Gnesin Institute, where he studied with teachers of a great reputation like A. Bagrintsev, principal viola of “Bolshoi Theater”, Yuri Yurov, principal viola of “Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra” and Yaroslav Alexandrov, violinist of the “Borodin Quartet”.

In the 1979 he began the art of violin making under the guidance of Yuri Pochekin, a pupil of G. B. Morassi, F. Bissolotti and O. Spidlen.

In 1983 Yuri graduated from the Gnessin Institute and continued his violin - making career in the workshop of Yuri Pochekin. At the same time he played the viola in a string quartet.

Since 1992 he lives in Portugal, where he has his own workshop. He makes new instruments, including copies of old masters instruments, repairs and restorations.
Since 2011 his daughter Elina Bushagina is working with him at his workshop as a violin maker, following the steps of her father.

Yuri Bushagin’s instruments were exhibited at various violin making competitions including Cremona, Poznan and Moscow, where he was a 2nd and 3rd round participant.

In 2007 at the 5th Violin Craftsmen International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow his viola received the 4th prize in the 3nd round.

 

In October of 2015 his daughter Elina Bushagina participated at 6th International Contest of the PISOGNE ANLAI - Lutherie Antiqued bow instruments competition, where her viola was ranked in 4th place and where she received the ANLAI prize.