Prize Winners of the Third Children and Youth Wind Band Contest of the Spasskaya Tower for Children Have Been Announced

May 12 Moscow’s Zaryadye Park welcomed the Third Children and Youth Wind Band Contest of the Spasskaya Tower for Children carried out by the Directorate of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo. Twenty-eight bands from Moscow and other cities of the Central Federal District showed their talents and skills onstage of the park’s Large Amphitheater.

It’s been twelve years in a row that the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival has been entertaining all the Muscovites and guests of the capital bringing to Moscow the world’s best military bands, staging spectacular horse riding shows and honor guard contests as well as different master classes. But the list won’t be complete without its Spasskaya Tower for Children, a very special project that over the last six years has attracted wide attention both in Russia and abroad due to its versatile and all-encompassing program. Thus, since 2017 this program has included the Children and Youth Wind Band Contest that allows young musicians and performers from all over Russia showing their incredible skills and unique talents.

This year the organizers opted for a venue right in the heart of the capital. With its picturesque views and never ending atmosphere of joy, Moscow’s Zaryadye Park heartily welcomed all the contestants and guests of the music event. This wonderful celebration of talent and youth gathered audiences of all sorts, from the Spasskaya Tower loyal fans, friends and families of the participants to occasional passers-by lured by the sounds of music. Music united them all. Children and grown-ups , professionals and enthusiasts — everybody was tuned to the rhythm of the day created by the contestants.

The Spasskaya Tower Children and Youth Wind Band Contest is a unique event that allows boys and girls from different regions of Russia getting together and sharing their knowledge and experience. As the phrase goes, they come to see and be seen. Both participants and their instructors support each other, make friendships and carry on with them after the contest no matter distances and time. This year bands from Moscow, Vladimir, Voronezh, Kaluga, Yaroslavl, Orel and Belgorod regions faced each other onstage of the park’s Large Amphitheater.

The gran-prix of the 2019 Spasskaya Tower Children and Youth Wind Band Contest went to the Junior Wind Band and Drummer Ensemble of the First Music Cadet Corps named after A.v. Alexandrov from Khimki (Moscow region).

The PROMETEY Exemplary Children Wind Band from Orel, the Union Groove Band and Majorettes’ Ensemble from Stupino, the Combined Band of the 1770 State Budget School and the Wind Band of the Golovanov Children Music School from Moscow as well as the Wind Band of the Blazhevich Music Classes of the Russian Ministry of Defense Boarding School for Girls became prize winners of the contest.

We want to congratulate all the winners and say that we are looking forward to see them again in the end of August at the Children and Youth Wind Band Festival, carried out within the main events of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo. The children and youth festival will be held onstage of the Children Playground on Red Square from August 23 to 26, 2019.

As usual, a highly professional jury featuring prominent figures of&sp;the orchestra and wind performance world as well as famous composers and conductors evaluated the skills of the young contestants. This year the panel included Mr. Anatoliy Zep (Vice-President of the Wind Society of Wind Bands, Percussion and Wind Performers named after Valery Khalilov, Head of the Music Art Section of the Polenov Russian National House of Folk Arts and Honored Worker of Culture of Russia), Mr. Sergey Zhilin (jazz piano player, conductor, director of the Phonograph music ensembles group and Honored Worker of Culture of Russia), Colonel Mikhail Trunov (Head of the Military Institution (of Military Conductors) of the Military University of the Russian Ministry of Defense, professor and Honored Artist of Russia) and Mr. Vladimir Pushkarev (professor at the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music, prize-winner of various Russian and international contests, Honored Artist of Russia). At the end of the contest they shared their opinion, saying that everyone showed its best and deserved high appreciation.

Fine and sunny weather set up in the capital as well as wonderful views of Moscow’s Kremlin and golden heads of St. Basil’s Cathedral also contributed to the atmosphere of happiness and serenity.

Many of the young musicians have never been to Moscow. Thus, they had an excellent opportunity to go sightseeing around the city that’s so beautiful in this blooming time of the year.

Though being quite different in character and style, all the groups taking part in the contest have bend over backward to come closer to their dream. They have staged their best performances leaving a part of their heart and soul on that stage. Uniting children of all ages from all over the country, the Spasskaya Tower Festival aims at breathing new life into Russian wind music traditions.

For the third year in a row the grand finale featured a spectacular performance by the Massed Children and Youth Wind Band, combining all the contestants. 1400 musicians supported by a choir performed five compositions, beginning with the state anthem of the Russian Federation. The idea of creating such massed band belongs to Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov, the first Music Director of the Spasskaya Tower Festival. During all his life he strived to cultivate love for their Motherland in children and grown-ups fostering their aesthetic consciousness.

Sergey Zhilin, one of the judges, noted that it was great that the wind music culture was developing and many cities across the country already had their own bands. “Soon every school and then every class will have its own band, and it is going to be great. Thus, we may plant seeds of culture in our children and grandchildren”, added Mr. Zhilin.

Prize-winners of the Third Spasskaya Tower Children and Youth Wind Band Contest