Svetlana was born in Siberia, graduated from Novosibirsk College of Arts with Masters of Music Education in Piano Pedagogy in 2001, and Novosibirsk State Technical University in 2006 with a BA of Cinematography. Svetlana is now based in Monchique and loves hiking in the mountains and spending time amongst wildlife. It also allows her to study music and listen to folk music, which is an endless inspiration to her.

Svetlana is also a member of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation and the Union of Photographers of Russia. She is an award-winning photographer with over hundred exhibitions in different countries, her digital works are owned by Novosibirsk State Art Museum, Omsk Museum of Fine Arts named after M.A. Vrubel and by private collectors worldwide. Short films directed and produced by Bakushina won multiple awards at prestigious international film festivals. The Soundtrack composed by Svetlana Bakushina was in the official selection of Cannes Film Festival.

About her debut album “Sun and Frost”

We also spoke about her as a musician and she told me that her debut album “Sun and Frost” is out now. We spoke about the story behind the concept of the album and she told me “Sun and Frost” is a loving tribute to her Siberian roots and is a full-length piano album of 14 original tracks, two of which are bonus tracks, recorded in a collaboration with musicians from Portugal, Brazil, USA and Netherlands. The album was released on the 25 of May, 2021 and is available on digipack CD and all streaming platforms including Spotify, it would mean the world to Svetlana if you checked her album out via https://open.spotify.com/artist/1fGAIRdys4yhkkIJqz2bXL.

“Each piece is an image, reflecting impressions I experienced living in the hyperborean world: magical northern scenery, native people´s songs and drum rhythms, atmosphere of the forest and the ocean.” Additionally, Svetlana has published a music sheet book of “Sun and Frost” (60 pages, soft cover) with all the pieces from the album notated, alongside her debut album which can be purchased through her website https://svetlanabakushina.com/.

Piano Lessons

Svetlana teaches piano students of all levels and ages whereby her teaching is based on classical music education and where students can enjoy taking part in recitals all over the Algarve, “I always try to get my students to perform in different places including at the Russian Festival of Arts in Loulé that happens every year so they can play Russian composers.” Svetlana teaches in her private studio and at the Conservatório de Portimão, where students can also have study support from her.

Content Creator

When Svetlana moved to Portugal, she directed and acted in about 300 TV commercials, in collaboration with her husband Carlos Martins, where they focused on funny TV commercials and produced them in the Algarve for international clients, including the National Geographic Channel. Additionally, Svetlana has a Youtube channel with 9,000 subscribers and uploads collab music videos, music covers, documentaries and short films as well as funny TV commercials where some were produced in the Algarve. To watch her videos please check out https://www.youtube.com/c/SvetlanaBakushinaArt. In regards to video production services, Svetlana has professional equipment, and writers are welcome to contact her about transforming their story either into a book trailer or a short film. Here´s an example that they produced based on a client´s comic book, also they made all of the visual effects (in the Algarve) https://youtu.be/rSl_PPaeLVE. Additionally, musicians are welcome to contact her to produce their music video, here´s an example that they did for another client https://youtu.be/9NEGCrUcICU.

To keep up to date with all of Svetlana’s music and concerts please check out her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SvetlanaPianista. Any amateur or professional singers and instrumentalists can also contact her if they are in need of a collaborative pianist. To get in touch with Svetlana for collaborations or to book a piano lesson please email her at svetlanamartins@sapo.pt.

Author

Following undertaking her university degree in English with American Literature in the UK, Cristina da Costa Brookes moved back to Portugal to pursue a career in Journalism, where she has worked at The Portugal News for 3 years. Cristina’s passion lies with Arts & Culture as well as sharing all important community-related news.

Cristina da Costa Brookes