Ivan Neustroyev

Ivan Ivanovich Neustroyev is a blacksmith and khomus maker from the village of Bayaga in the Tattinsky District of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). He was born on 21 October 1966. Neustroyev graduated from Kharbalakh Vocational School No. 18 with a qualification as a driver-electrician and became a master at the Mandar school-studio.

Ivan Neustroyev learned to make khomuses from the renowned maker Boris Fyodorovich Neustroyev — Mandar Uus. His mentor, in turn, perfected his craft under the guidance of Roman Ilyich Gotovtsev. Neustroyev’s work thus continues a documented lineage of the Tatta school of khomus making.

At the 2012 Sakha Republic competition for khomus makers, Neustroyev took first place with his instrument “Üs Kut”. His khomus received 8.29 points — the highest score awarded for musical qualities in the competition. The traditional design was complemented by a plate made of horn, which both decorated and reinforced the frame, as well as a rotating silver ornament. The latter allowed the instrument to be held comfortably in either hand and set upright for display.

At the Sakha Republic competition “Khomus — 2015”, Neustroyev received the main prize “Uhuluchchu Khomus” in the overall assessment, was named a First-Degree Laureate for musical qualities and took first place for innovation. His competition entries incorporated bone decoration and an original birch-bark case. In 2016, the maker won the Grand Prix at the “Bastyn Yllyyr Khomus” competition, where participants made two instruments in full view of the audience — one high-pitched and one low-pitched — using frames they had brought and reed blanks supplied on site.

In 2025, Neustroyev presented the artistic composition “Ayylgha Beleghin Dorghoono” (“The Sound of Nature’s Gift”), made entirely of metal. The khomus frame was forged from St3 steel, its reed from U10 steel, and the ring carried an “Üs Kut” ornament. In this work, the maker sought to unite an image of nature, traditional forging and a sound reminiscent of an old, unhurried style of playing.

The NI256 “Tatta” khomus currently listed in the catalogue demonstrates the practical side of Neustroyev’s work: it is a classic Yakut instrument with a soft reed, loud sound, broad spectrum and a frequency range shifted towards the lower register, designed for relaxed playing at varying intensities.

Yakut Khomuses