Born in 1957 in a small town of Baranovichi (Brest Region, Belarus), she studied choral conducting with V. Rovda (diploma in 1980) and composition with D. Smolski (diploma in 1992) at the Belorussian State Academy of Music. She has been a member of the Belorussian Composers’ Union since 1993. She has worked closely with Belorussian Radio and Television since 1979. For 18 years she served as director of the ‘Gostica’ Folk Theatre, which won First Prize at the International Festival of Modern Theatre in Vitebsk for her ballet Myth’s Intuition. At present Larissa Simakovich combines her activities as a composer with the post of concertmaster in the Belorussian State Philharmonic Society. She also works as a choreographer.

Selected works: Doors, poem for voice (singing without words) and violin (1987), Vocal cycle on poems by Federico Garcia Lorca (1988), From Belorussian Ballads for choir; folk lyrics (1989), Spring Round Dances, vocal cycle for choir and percussion; folk lyrics (1989), Beginning of the Race for symphony orchestra (1991), Muravanka (An ancient Church) for symphony orchestra (1992), Blagoveschenie (Good News) for symphony orchestra (1992), Symphony for orchestra (1992), diptych Alleluia for chorus (1993), On Talaka, stage poem for choir, percussion and flute; folk lyrics (1993), Myth’s Intuition, ballet (1994), Euthanasia. The final ritual, ballet (1996), Seeking for the lost warmth, ballet (1996), National Interest, ballet (1997), Fear, ballet (1999), Viburnum Bridge (Kalinov Most), ballet (2000), Message for chamber orchestra (2000), Island of Rains – Hummock of Death for chamber orchestra (2001), Niaboga, ballet (2001), Spirit of the Earth for viola, kettledrums and choir (2002), At least, ballet (2002), Generous Lady’s Allegories for soprano and chamber orchestra with words by B. Zhanchak (2002), Evfrosinia’s Dream, choral fresco (2002), On Jordan River, choral fresco (2002), Spirit of the Earth, ballet (2003), Mermaid’s Monday, ballet (2004), Terrestrial – Celestial for strings, flute, authentic (folk) voices and bells (2005); film music, incidental music for the theatre.