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Eventually Bushkov left for additional private studies in the USA -- the date, September 11, 2001. 'Our flight was delayed because of the terrible terrorist attacks in New York and other eastern states,' he recalls.

For several months I stayed in America studying, listening, and observing through many rehearsals and concerts.

Following his (French) début Bushkov worked with symphony and chamber orchestras at Interlochen Arts Academy, University of North Texas, Northwestern University (USA), The Orchestra of the International Festival of Luxeuil (France), International Symphony Orchestra 'Metro Philharmonic', Pan Asian Symphony Orchestra (Hong Kong), Nizhny Novgorod Symphony (Russia), plus the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra.

Bushkov returned to Moscow in 2002 and worked briefly with an ensemble called the Metropol Youth Symphony Orchestra. Unfortunately it was disbanded due to a lack of financing.

However Yuri Bashmet had just formed the Novaya Rossiya Symphony Orchestra under the auspices of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. 'An extremely busy solo schedule prevented him from working with the orchestra full time,' Bushkov remembers.

'To train its young musicians would have required at least 50% of his time; so he invited me to fill the position of assistant conductor from the end of 2002.'

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