Today, May 12, Children’s wind bands Festival and Contest “Spasskaya Tower for Children” was held in Moscow’s Zaryadye park.
29 music bands from the Central Federal District of Russia have participated in the musical feast organized by the Directorate of the of the International Military Music Festival “Spasskaya Tower” and sponsored by the Mayor and Government of Moscow.
The Festival and Contest representing the preliminary round of the Children and youth brass bands Festival “Spasskaya Tower for Children” has for the second time in a row rejoiced the Muscovites and guests of the capital. All the day long stands of the Large Amphitheatre of Zaryadye park were packed with grateful viewers — there was no end to music and applause.
The event was opened by the Head of the Directorate of the International Military Music Festival “Spasskaya Tower” Sergey Smirnov.
“The „Spasskaya Tower“ Festival will live a very long life due to our rising talented generation. I’m pleased that the „Spasskaya Tower for Children“ project is developing and every year it gathers such a big number of children. Separately I want to thank the viewers — you’ve also made a big deal today. You’ve awarded young musicians with your applause, helped them to believe in themselves”, highlighted Sergey Smirnov.
Performance of the Children’s combined wind orchestra commanded by the musical director of the Children and youth brass bands Festival “Spasskaya Tower for Children”, conductor of the Presidential Orchestra of the Russian Federation, Honored Art Worker of Russia Colonel Evgeniy Nikitin has become the remarkable event of the II Festival and Contest.
A thousand of musicians performed for the large audience popular compositions, among them “Slav’sya”, “Victory Day”, “May There Always Be Sunshine”, “My Moscow”, the anthem of the Russian Federation.
“Knowing the work of the groups firsthand I want to thank all the participants of the Contest, their teachers, mentors, parents and the organizers of this wonderful event. This is our common good cause. Children have more difficulties performing for such a big audience than their older colleagues do. We thank them for their professional attitude, for their diligence on stage. We are looking forward to see all the brass music lovers at the children’s playground of the „Spasskaya Tower“ Festival on Red Square from August 24 to 26. There will be held the finale of the Children and youth brass bands Festival „Spasskaya Tower for Children“ with the participation not only of the groups from the Central Federal District but from all over our vast Motherland”, told Evgeniy Nikitin.
Talent and skills of the young musicians were judged by the professional jury including big names in the sphere of wind and orchestra performance. The jury included:
- Anatolii Zep — Chief conductor and Head of musical art section of the Polenov Russian National House of Folk Arts, Honored Worker of Culture of Russia;
- Alexander Khalilov — Colonel of the Russian Armed Forces, Honored Art Worker of Russia, Associate professor and lecturer of the Military band service faculty of the Military University military institute (military conductors);
- Daniil Kramer — People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the European Prize of Gustav Mahler, jazz pianist, composer and producer;
- Vadim Eilenkrig — distinguished Russian
trumpet-player , bandleader, pedagogue, TV host.
“Dear band leaders, musicians and all the participants of this grand combined orchestra of the Central Federal District, I want to sincerely thank all of you present today at this stage. I want to separately thank all the judges and organizers. Today’s contest is a qualification round for the most important international orchestra festival in the world the „Spasskaya Tower“ Festival. The names of the lucky ones who will participate in the finale of this wonderful children’s festival on Red Square within the „Spasskaya Tower for Children“ project depends only on the judges’ decision. I want to recall and thank the creators of this project — Olga Golodec and Valerii Khalilov”, highlighted the Head of the Brass Society Association named after Valerii Khalilov Mikhail Bryzgalov.
The event was adjourned by the jury’s chairman Chief conductor and Head of musical art section of the Polenov Russian National House of Folk Arts, Honored Worker of Culture of Russia Anatolii Zep.
“Today we’ve all participated in the wonderful concert, in the real feast of art! We aren’t announcing the results yet as today we have seen the performance of a very large number of the talented groups. That’s why the jury has to take the right, weighted and objective decision. The results will be announced on June 1 and published on the official website of the „Spasskaya Tower“ Festival. The most important thing is that the feast of wind music has been held with success!”, stressed Anatolii Zep.
The “Spasskaya Tower” Festival Directorate thanks the direction and all the staff of Zaryadye park for helping in organizing and holding II Children’s wind bands Festival and Contest “Spasskaya Tower for Children”.