Ossipov Russian Folk Instruments Orchestra was originally founded as a balalaika septet by Vasily Andreyev in 1888. In 1919, the name was changed to the State Russian Folk Orchestra. The orchestra was given the name Ossipov (Osipov) as a posthumous memorial to one of its directors, Nikolai Petrovich Ossipov.[1]
The Ossipov State Russian Folk Orchestra is led by Vladimir Ponkin[1] who succeeded Nikolai Kalinin. Playing only upon traditional Russian instruments, the Orchestra presents Ethnic Russian music in a style more similar to classical music.
Past soloists include: