of the founder, composer and led the ensemble on a number of national and international engagements 1987–1992 - Professor Colonel Anatoly Maltsev, People's Artist of Russia, led the Ensemble through the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the armed forces, served as Assistant Conductor until 1987 1992–1993 - Colonel Igor Germanovich Agafonnikov (until 1992 conductor and Artistic Director for the orchestra, also served as deputy and relief conductor) 1993–2002 - Colonel Dmitry Vasilyevich Somov 1994–2002 - Colonel Victor A. Fedorov, Choir Master and relief conductor 2003–2016 - Colonel Leonid Malev, Honoured Artist and Honoured Cultural Worker, responsible for the choir's renewed international tours including a memorable concert at the Vatican in 2004 2008–2012 - Prof. Colonel Igor Raevskiy, People's Artist of Russia, Honoured Artist of Belarus, awarded the State Prize of Czechoslovakia 2012–2016, 2017–present - Colonel Gennady Ksenafontovich Sachenyuk, Honoured Cultural Worker of Russia, current Artistic Director, Principal Conductor and Head of the Ensemble 2016 (May–December) - Prof. Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov, People's Artist of Russia, highest-ranking officer to serve as Artistic Director Second conductor, Lieutenant Colonel Nikolay Kirillov, People's Artist of Russia, Chief Conductor and assistant director of the ensemble Choirmaster- Sergey Sokolov. Present days - 13 September 2019, Gennadiy Sachenyuk, nicknamed the Maestro, Conductor and Director of the Ensemble since 2016, was honored with the highest level medal for Russian artist. Composers and assistant directors Kostiantyn Dankevych (1905–1984): a Ukrainian who was director of Songs and Dance of the Red Army Choir in Tbilisi, and wrote Poem of Ukraine. Lev Knipper (1898–1974) who composed Polyushko Pole, and Viktor Gusev (1909–1944) who wrote the lyrics. Pavlo Virsky who was artistic director of the Alexandrov Ensemble dancers from 1942, for many years. Samuel Pokrass (1897–1939) who wrote White Army, Black Baron or Red Army is Strongest; lyrics by P. Grigoriev. The repertoire In 2006 and 2007, in Moscow and in Vladikavkaz, Grozny, the ensemble performed a New Year fairy tale show for children, Ivan the Good, Ivan the Brave, about a soldier helping to save New Year's Day. In 2008, the 80th anniversary of the ensemble, director Leonid Malev said: Of course everything depends on the repertoire which is quite large – more than two thousand works. Depending on the concert we choose a special repertoire. We have a rule that we try not to break. In any country we sing 2–3 songs in the native language of the people