IGOR OREKHOVSKIY
(father & grandfather)

Had the professional music education and a beautiful voice. Played keyboards and string instruments. Was the main enthusiast in our family for exploring and learning classical and Gypsy music traditions.

GALINA OREKHOVSKAYA
(grandmother and great-grandmother)

Had the professional education and natural gift of singing. Was the main enthusiast in our family for exploring and learning Gypsy music and Russian romance traditions.

LIDIA OREKHOVSKAYA
(mother and grandmother)

Had the professional education and natural gift of singing. Taught us to love and respect our Gypsy roots.

MARGARITA SHUMSKAYA
(aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother)

Had the professional music education. Was a great singer with a very special voice. Being a part of Saint Petersburg Gypsy singing and performing tradition she was excellent at singing classical music pieces and Russian romances and had true love for folklore Gypsy songs.

As a performer she starred in Soviet movies «Олеко Дундич» (Aleksa Dundić, 1958), «Прощание с Петербургом» (Farewell to St. Petersburg, 1972) and had several LP with her songs published by «Melodiya» music label. In the 70’s Margarita created a Gypsy band called «Разноцветные кибитки» (Multicolored Wagons) that was a great success for many years. Another member of that band was the guitarist and dancer Vladimir Zhemchuzhny.

Margarita really helped to our family when we moved to Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) in 1965 and told us many more about the high standards of Gypsy singing, dancing and performing traditions.