Aleksey Nikolaevich Gorokhov (11 February 1927, Moscow – 3 February 1999, Kiev) was a Soviet violinist who lived most of his professional life in Ukraine. He was considered the founder of the modern Kiev violin school. Between 1934 and 1944, Aleksey Gorokhov studied at the Moscow Central Music School for Gifted Children. He later entered the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied with Lev Tseitlin, graduating in 1949.

In 1955, he completed postgraduate studies under the instruction of Abram Yampolsky. In addition to his violin degree, he graduated in Musicology. Between 1949 and 1951 Gorokhov participated in several international violin competitions, including the Bach Competition in 1950 where he won 2nd prize. At the Queen Elizabeth Competition in 1951 he received 7th Prize.

He then toured extensively in the Soviet Union, as well as Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Romania, Portugal and Korea. In 1957, he became professor of violin at the Kiev Conservatory (later renamed the Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music) and taught there until the end of his life. Among Gorohov’s students are violinist and conductor, People’s Artist of Ukraine Igor Andrievsky, Associate Professor of the P.I. Tchaikovskye National Academy of Music, Nina Sivachenko. Gorokhov lived a simple and humble life.

One of the main factors in his decision to move to Kiev in 1956 was his disinterest in the politics of his Russian homeland. This may partly explain why, apart from being declared an “Honored Artist Worker of Ukraine”, he has not been given formal status in other countries. During 50 years of his creative life Gorokhov recorded a large number of records, being the first violinist in the Soviet Union to record all 6 violin concertos by Niccolo Paganini.

For Ukrainian Radio he left more than 70 hours of recorded music, including Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, Paganini’s 24 Caprices, Shostakovich’s 24 preludes (arranged by Gorokhov himself), Violin Concertos by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Brahms and many others. To mark Gorokhov’s 70th birthday, he once again performed all 6 Paganini Concertos in 2 days. The Concertos were presented in an original orchestration by Gorokhov, which more fully incorporated the criteria of Paganini’s virtuoso-romantic aesthetics into the orchestra.

This arrangement is intended for a string orchestra with solo instruments in addition to the solo violin such as: guitar, viola and double bass, making Gorokhov’s orchestration unique. His recordings of the Concertos recorded with the Ukrainian National Opera Theatre Orchestra between 1973 and 1978 were digitally remastered and re-released in 2006.

Also notable is Gorokhov’s 1952 recording of Édouard Lalo’s Spanish symphony with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kyrill Kondrashin. Quotes about Gorokhov Gorokhov’s playing has received much praise from a number of prominent musicians, including Pierre Fournier, Jacques Thibaud, Joseph Szigeti, David Oistrakh, and others. “…The sound is reminiscent of one of Kreisler’s best times…the beauty of the ‘piano’ and the ‘pianissimo’ is extraordinary…” – from Fournier’s letter to Gorokhov. “… Gorokhov’s way of playing the violin cast a spell over me…” – Jacques Thibaut. “… There were very positive references… to A. Gorokhov’s nobility and tasteful play” – from ‘A Conversation with D. Oistrakh’ in the magazine ‘Novoye Vremia’. “…The listeners were impressed…by the noble simplicity and modesty combined with the perfect playing skill, which was typical of A. Gorokhov…” – Alexander Svechnikov, ‘Sovietskoye Iskustvo’ magazine. “…There are 2 great violinists whose sound is unmistakable and will go down in history – they are Kreisler and Gorokhov.” – Abram Shtern.

In 1957 he became professor of violin at the Kiev Conservatory (later renamed the Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music) and taught there until the end of his life.