Gavriil Iakimovich Lomakin
Lomakin, Gavriil Iakimovich
(or Ioakimovich). Born Mar. 25 (Apr. 6), 1812, on the Borisovka estate, now in Kursk Oblast; died May 9 (21), 1885, in Gatchina. Russian choral director and figure in the world of music. Son of a serf.
Lomakin was freed by Count D. N. Sheremetev and joined the count’s choir in 1822; he began to teach singing in 1830. From 1850 to 1872 he directed the choir, and in 1874 (after it disbanded) he took over as head of the S. D. Sheremetev men’s choir. Lomakin also taught singing at the Court Choir and other educational institutions in St. Petersburg. He and M. A. Balakirev founded the Free Music School in 1862. Lomakin composed choral works and methodological studies. His Autobiographical Notes were published posthumously in Russkaia starina, 1886, nos. 3, 5, 6, and 8.