Born in 1953, he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in 1978. In 1998 he joined the Association for Contemporary Music in Russia. He has received commissions for new works from Gidon Kremer, the Sabine Meyer Wind Ensemble, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, the Hilliard Ensemble and the Schoenberg Ensemble. His awards, distinctions and grants include a term as composer-in-residence at Stetson University in the United States (1990), travel grants to Germany from the Arno Schmidt and Belaieff Foundations (1994), scholarships from the Franco-American La Napoule Foundation (1996 and 1998), an invitation to the Cité de la Musique Master-class in Paris (1997), and the composition prize from the Salzburg Easter Festival (1998). He divides his time between Germany and France.

Selected works (since 1990): 66 for soprano and 12 instruments (1990), Dolce far niente for cello and piano (1991), Xenia for chamber orchestra (1991), Commentary on a vision for solo percussion and orchestra (1991), Kyrie eleison for solo cello (1992), Miserere for violist (playing also the violin), cello and orchestra (1992), Misteria brevis for piano and percussion (1992; 2nd version 1995), Concerto for Oboe and 15 Strings (1993), Madrigal in Metal for five percussionists (1993), Eco perpetuo for solo bassoon, bass clarinet, trombone, percussion, harp, piano, cello and double bass (1993), Seven stages of ‘Hallelujah’ for soprano (with the use of percussion) and piano (1993), ...I will see
a rose at the end of the path... for string quartet (1994), Litany for 15 musicians (1994), xcos for cello and accordion (1994), Pas de deux for soprano (with tubular bells) and soprano and tenor saxophones (1994), Farewell from the Birds of Passage for alto saxophone, percussion and strings (1994), Primal Song for viola and 15 string instruments (1995), Credo in Byzantinum for harpsichord or piano (1995), Songs of Sunset for mezzo-soprano, viola and piano (1995), Gebet for soprano and string quartet (1996), Resurrexit for soprano, mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra (1996–97), Blissful Music for cello and chamber orchestra (1997), Quasi Hamlet for soprano and chamber ensemble (1997), Swinging the dream pendulum for violin and instrumental ensemble (1998), Ritual for voice and percussion (1997), Ritual II for four saxophones, percussion, piano and strings (1998–99), Paradise lost? for wind ensemble (1999), Pro-Kofiev et Contra-Kofiev for wind instruments and percussion (1999), Before Thy Throne... for violin and percussion (1999), Circle of singing-2 for baritone and piano (2000), Praise for four male voices and church bells (2000), In nomine for eight voices, wind instruments and percussion (2001), Voices of Frozen Land for seven voices, wind instruments and percussion (2001).