Valery Semin's wife
Lena Verkhovskaya studied at a music school in the capital. After some time, she began performing together with Valery, and in 1990 the couple became a laureate of the fourth All-Russian competition of folk performers. This became the starting point for the start of the activities of the White Day ensemble.
The captivating charm of Valery Semin delighted the audience. Lena, the soloist of the ensemble, also fell in love with the young accordion player. Gradually, the creative union grew into a family one. A common son, Ivan, was born. In 1999, the couple created a new vocal group. Soviet composer Alexander Morozov suggested that Elena change her maiden name to “Cornflower”. This is exactly the name of one of Morozov’s favorite songs.
Biography and creative path of Valery Semin
Valery Vladimirovich Semin - a domestic virtuoso accordion player, author of music for many musical compositions, singer, arranger, television and radio broadcast presenter - was born on May 19, 1966 in the city of Syzran.
In 1985, Valery graduated with honors from the Syzran Music School (now the Syzran College of Arts and Culture named after O.N. Nostsova) in the button accordion class, as well as orchestra conducting. After which he continued his education in the same specialties at the Gnessin State Musical and Pedagogical Institute (now the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music).
In 1990, Semin created a musical group called “White Day”. The ensemble included students from the Gnessin State Musical and Pedagogical Institute, who became laureates of the IV All-Union Competition of Performers on Russian Folk Instruments held in the city of Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod). The repertoire was based on classical works of domestic and foreign composers, Russian folk songs, and in addition, modern compositions arranged by Valery or other authors.
The group "White Day" became one of the first musical groups that performed pop music on Russian folk instruments, such as the balalaika. In 1996, the group released an album called “Balalaika in Rock”, which was recorded at the Soyuz studio. This album includes musical compositions of such foreign groups as “Beatles”, “Boney-M”, “Deep Purple”, “Eagles”, “Metallica”, excerpts from the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar”, performed in Russian folk instruments.
In 1999, on the basis of the White Day group, Valery Semin, together with Elena Verkhovskaya, founded a new vocal project.
In the same year, the first album of the project was released, called “I cooked fish soup.” The songs “Ay-ay-ay”, the music for which was written by Valery, and the lyrics by Lena Vasilek, and the student folk song “Oh, how I like you” (also called “Nightingale”) performed by the group became real hits.
The most successful album for the group was “Start Up, Countrymen!”, recorded in 2005. The hit song of this album was the composition “Galina”, the words and music for which were written by Lena Vasilek.
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Biography of Lena Vasilek
The performer of Russian songs was born on March 29, 1970 in Moscow. Since childhood, the girl loved to dress up very beautifully and sing. Every summer she visited her grandfather in a small village located in the Voronezh region. It was he who instilled a love for Russian song. Ivan played the balalaika well and knew a huge number of works. In fourth grade, Lena began performing with a children's choir. It was there that the girl realized that music was her main calling.
After receiving secondary education, the girl went to Moscow, where she entered a music university. While a student, she met her future husband Valery Semin. It was difficult to survive during the years of perestroika, so the White Day team decided to go abroad. In Italy they took part in a music competition, where they took first place. An experienced impresario became interested in the team and invited the team to enter into a contract with him. After this, tours began around the world.
Despite her popularity, Elena decided to leave the team in the early 2000s and pursue a solo career. Vasilek's first album was released in 2001.
Joint creativity and work moments left their mark on family life; domestic quarrels and disagreements periodically arose between the spouses, but the audience never saw this.
The family union broke up in 2012. The former spouses perform separately, but their groups have the same name “White Day”. Elena says that when a family breaks up, each person takes his suitcase and leaves. “White Day” is like the surname of a family that no longer exists. Everyone continues to wear it. Lena has a new love. According to the singer, he truly loves her and helps raise her son.
In 2005, Elena wrote the song “Galina Lives in This House” at the request of her friend Mikhail Evdokimov. He wanted to perform it for his wife, but never got around to it. Later, the composition was presented at the Slavic Bazaar festival, where it won great love from the audience.
Life after divorce
Today he actively records new compositions, appears in videos and takes part in various television shows. In the summer he likes to work out in the pool, and in the winter he tries not to forget about skiing. He continues to go to yoga once a week.
Valery Semin, after the divorce, presented his first solo project in 2013. These were good old songs from Soviet times, songs from films, cartoons.
Nothing is known about Valery Semin’s personal life after the divorce. He actively continues to act in various television programs, perform at concerts, hosts the “Guests” program on the radio “Our Moscow Region”, and on Online TV, together with Sergei Voitenko, the “Play the Bayan” program.
Elena Vasilek, husband
The performer of Russian songs was born in Moscow, but since she spent her entire childhood in the small village of Kondrashovka, Voronezh region, she considers herself a native of those very places. Even when Lena was old enough to go to school, she spent every summer visiting her grandparents in the village. Grandfather Ivan was an expert in many folk songs, ditties and jokes and played the balalaika superbly. He instilled in his granddaughter a love of Russian song, so Lena, when she was in the fourth grade, insisted that her parents enroll her in the Big Children's Choir of Central Television and All-Union Radio under the direction of Viktor Popov. Choir classes did not prevent Elena Vasilek from graduating from school with a gold medal and strengthening her desire to devote her entire life to music.
Having received a certificate, she entered the music school named after. Ippolitova-Ivanova, because she couldn’t imagine her life without music and songs. During her student years, she met Valery Semin, an excellent accordion player who loved Russian folk songs no less than she did. They were united not only by love, but also by a common passion. Elena Vasilek’s husband, like her, dreamed of creating a group whose repertoire would include works of folklore, and together they turned this dream into reality.
In the photo - Elena Vasilek with her husband
The White Day group became their common brainchild, to which they devoted all their time and energy. At first, the musicians performed for students, and then their audience expanded, and Elena and Valery’s group began to tour the country. But this “White Day”, which in addition to Elena Vasilek and Valery Semin also included balalaika player Andrei Sandalov, was not enough, and they decided to introduce their work to foreigners. First, they took part in the Citta di Castelfidardo music competition, held in Italy, where they presented Beatles songs adapted to Russian folk instruments. This impressed the competition jury so much that it awarded the group from Russia first place, and one of the famous impresarios offered cooperation. This marked the beginning of a major world tour. And then the members of the White Day group decided to move to Italy, explaining that it is very difficult to break into their native show business without strong support. However, it turned out to be no easier abroad, and, after some time, the musicians decided to return to Russia.
Lena Vasilek: biography
The performer of Russian songs was born on March 29, 1970 in one of the capital’s maternity hospitals. Her mom and dad are middle class. From an early age, the girl loved to dress up beautifully and sing songs.
Every summer Lena visited her grandfather in a small village located in the Voronezh region. It was he who instilled in his granddaughter a love of Russian song. Grandfather Ivan played the balalaika beautifully and knew hundreds of folklore works by heart.
In the 4th grade, our heroine became a member of the Big Children's Choir. There she performed as a soloist until she received her secondary education certificate. Elena realized that her main calling was music.
Childhood and youth
The lead singer of the group “White Day” Elena Vasilek, whose real name is Elena Verkhovskaya , was born on March 26, 1970, in the city of Moscow , in an ordinary average family.
Elena as a child (on the right in her arms)
The future stage star spent every summer in the village with grandfather Ivan in the Voronezh region. It was her grandfather Ivan who instilled in Elena a love of music. He had a gorgeous voice and played the balalaika incomparably. Like her beloved grandfather, the girl began composing poems and ditties from her childhood.
When the girl was 10 years old, she was accepted into the Big Children's Choir , where they performed Russian folk songs. From that moment on, it was clear to all the girl’s relatives and friends that she would connect her future life with music.
And so it happened, after graduating from school and receiving a certificate, Elena entered the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute. Ippolitova-Ivanov, where her singing career began.
In young age
Tour
During the years of perestroika it was hard for everyone, especially students. Lena and Valery knew this firsthand. There were very few options for earning a living. And then the group performing Russian songs decided to go on tour abroad.
In Italy, the children even had the opportunity to take part in a music competition. They performed Beatles songs using Russian instruments. The competition jury gave them first place. An experienced impresario became interested in nuggets from Russia. He invited the team to conclude a contract with him. Lena and Valery gave a positive answer. Since then, their crazy tours around the world began.
Solo career
Despite the popularity of the musical group, Elena at some point decided to leave it. The girl took up a solo career. Soon the Russians found out who Lena Vasilek was. The songs she performed penetrated directly into the soul and evoked a whole range of emotions. Among the fans of her work there are people of different ages.
In 2001, Lena Vasilek's debut album was released. It was called "Village". Over the next 3 years, the singer recorded four more albums. Some compositions became hits and were included in the rotation of popular radio stations.
In 2005, Lena wrote the song “Galina Lives in This House” at the request of her longtime friend Mikhail Evdokimov. He wanted to perform it for his wife, but did not have time. The popularly beloved actor and comedian died. Later, the song “Galina” was presented at the Slavic Bazaar festival. The composition won great love from the audience.
Solo creativity
At some time, the girl decides to focus on her solo career. Fans were delighted with songs filled with deep content, evoking a wide variety of emotions in people of all generations. Singer Lena Vasilek released her debut solo project in 2001. This album is called "Village".
Over the next three years, the artist creates four projects, many of whose songs are played on popular radio stations and television. The woman successfully performs at various festivals, including the famous Slavic Bazaar.
Personal life
Lena was married to Valery Semin for almost 20 years. Together with him, she experienced the ups and downs in the process of building a career. The couple has a son, Ivan. The boy received this name in honor of Elena’s beloved grandfather.
Despite having a child together, the couple divorced in 2012. Both Lena and Valery continue to perform. Each has its own team, and both groups are called “White Day”.
Our heroine tries to do everything: take care of her son, record new compositions, star in videos and participate in various television shows. In the summer, the singer visits the pool, and in the winter she goes skiing. Lena does yoga several times a week. The girl understands: to stay afloat in show business, you must always look great.
In 2013, she presented the concert program “I Love You, Mom!” to the audience. It includes new and already known compositions (“Svekrovushka”, “Cranes” and so on).
Family
Lena Vasilek, whose biography interests many admirers of Russian songs, spent almost twenty years married to arranger Valery Semin. The married couple raised a son, Ivan, named after the singer’s grandfather. Together they experienced not only success, but also failure. However, in 2012 the marriage broke up.
Now the former spouses perform separately, but their groups have the same name - “White Day”. The singer successfully combines raising her son, recording new songs and albums, as well as participating in television programs. Elena goes to the pool and keeps herself in good shape, realizing that this is very important for the stage. In 2013, the singer presented her program “I Love You, Mom!”, in which her best songs were performed.
