Sergei Mikhailovich Slonimsky (1932-2020) was a prominent Russian and Soviet composer, pianist, and musicologist. Born into a family with a rich artistic heritage, he was the son of Soviet writer Mikhail Slonimsky and the nephew of Russian-American composer Nicolas Slonimsky. Sergei Slonimsky's education in music began at the Musical College in Moscow from 1943 to 1950, followed by studies at the Leningrad Conservatory. There, he honed his skills in composition under Boris Arapov, Vissarion Shebalin, and Orest Yevlakhov, studied polyphony with Nicolai Uspensky, and developed his piano technique under Anna Artobolevskaya, Samari Savshinsky, and Vladimir Nielsen.

Slonimsky served as a professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he taught numerous international students from countries such as Colombia, Korea, China, Italy, Germany, Israel, Iran, and the United States. Among his notable students was composer Daniel Kidane.

Throughout his career, Slonimsky composed over a hundred works, including five operas, two ballets, and 34 symphonies. His compositions spanned a wide range of genres, including chamber, vocal, choral, theater, and cinema music. Some of his significant works include "Pesn' Volnitsy" (The Songs of Freedom), "A Voice from the Chorus," "Concerto-Buffo," and "Piano Concerto (Jewish Rhapsody)." He was known for his eclectic style, experimenting with folkloric elements, 12-tone techniques, jazz, and neo-romantic music.

Slonimsky's operas include "Virinea," "Ioann the Terrible's Vision," "Tsar Iksion," "Mary Stuart," "Master and Margarita," and "Hamlet." His ballets include "Ikarus" and "Magic Nut." He also contributed to film music, with works such as "The Republic of ShKID," "The Mysterious Wall," "Summer Impressions of Planet Z," and "Tomorrow Was the War."

Sergei Slonimsky passed away in Saint Petersburg on February 9, 2020, after a long illness, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of music.