His exceptional musical talent brought him to the celebrated St Petersburg Conservatoire where he studied with Russia's most prestigious pedagogues.
He obtained three Performing Art degrees: as a pianist, composer and conductor. At St Petersburg conservatoire he firsts studied conducting under Professor Isaiah Sherman, the student of Dr Nicolai Malko, who brought the world a whole generation of Russia's finest conductors. Later, Vladimir Vais continued his studies under Professor Arvid Jansons and became his first graduate in 1976. Soon after he was invited to the Bolshoi Theatre after his highly acclaimed debut in Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro".

Photo (top left) Rudolf Nureyev & Vladimir Vais
Photo (middle left) Araam Khachaturian with the young composer Vladimir Vais
Photo (bottom left) Rudolf Nureyev & Vladimir Vais at Nureyev's home
Photo (Main) Current photo of Vladimir Vais