Semyon Dunaevsky, or Семён Дунаевский (1906 — 1986) was a Soviet-Russian conductor and choirmaster, brother of composers Isaak Dunaevsky and Zinovy Dunaevsky, People's Artist of the RSFSR (1969). He was Maximilian Pilstrem's piano student at Kharkov Conservatory, graduating in 1924. Semyon studied composition with Nikolai Zhilyayev at Moscow Conservatory in 1925-28. Since 1922, Dunaevsky was an artistic director and conductor of various choirs and orchestras.
In 1935, Semyon Dunaevsky established the first professional children's ensemble in the Soviet Union – Chorus/Ensemble at the Central House For Railroad Workers' Children. He continued working with the Chorus as an artistic director and leading conductor for over 40 years.
USSR