Management

General Director

Catherine Doulova

Recipient of the Francysk Skaryna Medal, Grand Doctor of Philosophy (Dr. Habil), Professor

Catherine Doulova was born in Minsk. She graduated from the Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov St Petersburg State Conservatory and later completed her postgraduate studies there and earned her Dr Habil degree from Moscow State Conservatory.

In 1989, she started her teaching and research activities at the Lunacharsky Belarusian State Conservatory (now the Belarusian State Academy of Music). In 2002, she was selected to chair the music theory department there. In 2005, she was appointed vice-rector for scientific work of the academy. In 2010, she was promoted to rector of the Belarusian State Academy of Music, the position she held until 2021.

Catherine Doulova performs the duties of the chairperson of the Council of Experts of the Higher Attestation Commission of the Republic of Belarus on Arts and Culturology (since 2011); chairperson of the Council of the Special Fund of the Belarusian President for Support of Talented Youth (since 2014); deputy chairperson of the Committee for State Awards of the Republic of Belarus; chairperson of the Subcommittee for State Awards of the Republic of Belarus in the Field of Literature, Arts and Architecture.

She is a member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (since 2017) and Constitutional Commission.

In January 2022, she was appointed general director of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus. At her instigation, for the first time in the history of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus, a Board of Trustees was established in 2022.

Her honours and distinctions include Recognition Certificates from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Education of the Republic Belarus, Certificate of Honour from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (2009), Badge of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus “For Contribution to the Development of Belarusian Culture” (2017), Certificate of Honour from the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus (2017 and 2022), Certificate of Honour from the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus (2018), Badge of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus (2020), Commendation from the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018), Commendation from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus (2017 and 2020), Commendation from the President of the Republic of Belarus (2012 and 2022).

In 2023, she was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the Standing Committee of the Union State for her significant contribution to strengthening Belarusian and Russian cultural ties, conducting joint projects and exchange tours.

In 2024, by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, she was awarded the Pushkin Medal for her great contribution to the rapprochement and mutual enrichment of the cultures of the peoples of Russia.

By Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko No. 79 of 27 February 2025, she was awarded the Francysk Skaryna Medal.

Catherine Doulova is prolific and active on the public and educational platform and often appears in the media.