Background
Sokolov was born on 8 August 1949 in Leningrad (now Saint Peterburg).
music educator musicologist politician theorist
Sokolov was born on 8 August 1949 in Leningrad (now Saint Peterburg).
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology (1982) and the degree of Grand Doctor in Art (1992).
He was nominated to the post by the then-Prime Minister, Mikhail Fradkov, and held it from 9 March 2004 to 12 May 2008. Since 1979 Sokolov has taught at the Moscow Conservatory, being appointed a full professor in 1993. He teaches music analysis and has chaired the Department of Music Theory since 1996.
Between 1992 and 2001 he was the Conservatory"s Vice-Rector in Scientific Affairs.
From 2001 to 2004 Sokolov held the position of Rector of the Moscow Conservatory, leaving to take up his governmental position. In June 2009 he was re-elected as Rector.
He is an author of several musicological books and articles on music composition. Among them his monograph: "Introduction of the 20th Century Music Composition" (Moscow, 2004).
Sokolov is married to Larisa Sokolova and they have one daughter.
He is also a member of Russian Composers Union and is a distinguished professor in many universities in Europe, Japan, and South of Korea.