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Soviet composer, conductor, and founder of the Alexandrov Ensemble, best known for creating the music of the Soviet national anthem. Russian Empire-born musician; studied at Saint Petersburg and Moscow conservatories; founded the Red Army Choir (1928); composed USSR national anthem (1943); twice awarded Stalin Prize; died during European tour.

• Alexandrov collapsed and died of heart failure in Berlin while touring with the ensemble just after WWII, mere hours after conducting his final concert.
• His son Boris Alexandrov succeeded him as director of the Alexandrov Ensemble, continuing his father's legacy until 1986.
• The Alexandrov Ensemble survived multiple air crashes (2016) that killed 64 choir members, including the ensemble's director Valery Khalilov.
• Stalin personally selected Alexandrov's anthem submission in 1943 after a secret competition involving 170 composers. The anthem was officially adopted on January 1, 1944.
• Alexandrov's original anthem melody remains used in Russia's current national anthem with modified lyrics since 2000.