Wind Society Association Is to Bear the Name of Valery Khalilov, Spasskaya Tower Festival First Music Director

On November 16th, 2017 the Sixth International Cultural Forum in St. Petersburg settled that the Wind Society, association for bands and wind and percussion instrumentalists, is to bear the name of Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov, People’s Artist and Honored Arts Worker of Russia, first Music Director of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival.

The proposal to name the Wind Society Association after Lieutenant General Valery Mikhailovich Khalilov was advanced by Olga Golodets, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government, one of the main speakers at the Wind Society Association session held on that day at the Mariinsky Theater.

Sergei Smirnov, C.E.O. of the International Cultural Centre and Head of the Spasskaya Tower Festival’s Directorate, claimed that «The Wind Society was initiated by Valery Khalilov, also one of the founders and inspirations behind our Festival. We are happy that all his initiatives are expanding and contributing to enhance patriotic values among young generations».

The session was called primarily to total up the Association’s activities over the past period and to discuss the Concept for preservation and fostering of both instrumental and orchestral wind and percussion artistry in Russia. The Contest for Children’s Bands held as part of the Spasskaya Tower for Kids at the Kremlin’s Aleksandrovsky Garden in May as well as the homonymous Children’s Bands Festival run contemporarily with the Spasskaya Tower Festival in Red Square, were acknowledged as major events and achievements throughout year 2017 as far as the development and popularization of the wind music in Russia is concerned.

As Mr. Smirnov commented, «Spasskaya Tower has been the place where in practice bands from all over the world showcase their professional achievements. Our teaming up with the Wind Society enables us to organize large-scale evens for children’s bands, which are still to gain international stardom and, maybe, will step one day upon the Red Square’s pavement as full participants of our Festival.

The Wind Society session saw the signing of the bilateral agreement between the Autonomous Non-Profit Spasskaya Tower International Cultural Center, and the Wind Society Association, joining forces to carry out projects and events in culture, arts and education, as well as to preserve, protect and revive historical heritage and values.

The document was signed by Sergei Smirnov, C.E.O of the Spasskaya Tower International Cultural Centre, and Mikhail Bryzgalov, President of the Wind Society Association.
The Agreement foresees partnership and long-term and effective cooperation to carry out joint creative activities to instill patriotic values in children and youth, in the form of festivals, contests, subject concert performances, masterclasses, symposiums, conferences, seminars, exhibitions and other cultural events.