Conductor and People's Artist of the Russian Federation Leonid Smirnov has died.

Leonid Smirnov, People's Artist of Russia and chief conductor of the Orchestra of Folk Instruments of the Berezka State Academic Choreographic Ensemble, has died at the age of 85. This was announced on June 29 by his stepson and composer Philip Koltsov.

"Last night, after a long illness, Leonid Konstantinovich Smirnov, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, chief conductor of the orchestra of the Berezka State Academic Ensemble, husband of my mother, People's Artist of the USSR Mira Mikhailovna Koltsova and my stepfather died," he wrote on his page on the VKontakte social network.

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