Departament of Folk Instrument

Dean – Assistant Professor S. Kofanov

Divisions:

• Bayan and Accordion (Head – Honoured Artist of Belarus, Professor N. Sevryukov);

• String Folk Instruments (Head – People's Artist of Belarus, Professor E. Gladkov);

• Orchestra Conducting (Head – Assistant Professor P. Vandilovsky).

The Division of Folk Instruments was created in 1949. It was initially headed by Iossif Zhinovich, an outstanding virtuoso cymbalist, the founder of the Belarusian professional cymbal school, Art Director of the Orchestra of the BSSR, who was later on awarded with an honourable title of People’s Artist of the USSR, a scientific title of Professor and State Prize of the BSSR. To a considerable extent the training-upbringing, scientific-research, creative and methodical work of the Division of Folk Instruments became much more active after 1979, after dividing the Division of Folk Instruments into the Division of Bayan-Accordion and the Division of String Folk Instruments.

The Division of Bayan and Accordion. The formation of the national bayan school is connected with the pedagogical activities of E. Azarevich. Among the leading teachers of the Division of Bayan and Accordion are its Head, Honoured Artist of Belarus, Professor N. Sevroukov, Honoured Worker of Arts of Belarus, Professor M. Solopov, Candidates of Musicology, Professor V. Chaban, Professor of the Division B. Sinetsky,  Assistant Professors T. Braginetz, M. Boula, V. Pissarchik,  who are successfully continuing traditions of bayan performance in Belarus. The talented students of the Division are regularly participation in international performance competitions. Many of them became winners of the most prestigious international competition of bayan-players in Klingenthal (Germany). They are I. Otradnov (1982), A. Matskevich (1983), V. Lyudchik (1984), duet of accordion-players N. Slyusar and E. Zybo (1991), A. Shouvalov (2000, 2002). The performance at the International Competition in Castelfedardo (Italy) brought a victory to B. Biochich (1987), the duet of  of the Academy of Music I. Otradnov (bayan) and M. Maretsky (mandolin) became a prize-winner of the same competition. The trio of bayan-players "Minsk" conducted by Assistant Professor V. Pissarchik was awarded with multiple high prizes. I. Kvashevich became a laureate of three international competitions (in Cherepovets, Kishinev and Moscow), A. Shkiderova and D. Mironenko were a winner in Kishinev (Moldova).

The Division of String Folk Instruments. The Belarusian school of cymbalists has won its international recognition; a talented performer Professor I. Zhinovich stood at its cradle. Among its outstanding representatives are People's Artist of Belarus, Professor E. Gladkov (Head of the Division), Professor of the Division T. Sergeenko, Assistant Professors Т. Eletskaya and R. Podoynitsyna. A fruitful educational, creative and scientific-methodical work is carried out at the Honoured Artist of Belarus, Professor G. Osmolovskaya (domra), Candidates of Musicology, Assistant Professor V. Scherbak (balalaika), Professor of the Division L. Zhivalevsky (guitar), Assistant Professors E. Gridyushko (guitar) and L. Cherniak (domra), Senior Teacher M. Ilyina. Among the most famous pupils of the Division of String Folk Instruments one should mention the broadly-known young Belarusian cymbalists – Honoured Artist of the Republic of Belarus L. Rydlevskaya, O. Mishoula, A. Tkachova, S. Zagoumenkina, J. Kuzmenko, E. Anokhina, M. Leonchik, E. Karpenko, N. Kovalevskaya-Aruziunova, I. Shumakova; domra-players N.  Maretsky, O. Doubovskaya, E. Dikovitskaya, E. Prokopchik; guitarists – Y. Skrigan and others. A broad concert activity is carried out by the “Lileya” ensemble of cymbalists (Art Director – E. Gladkov), ensemble of domra-players (Art Director – G. Osmolovskaya), ensemble of balalaika-players (Art Directors – V. Scherbak and M. Ilyina).

The Division of Orchestra Conducting. One of the founders of the art of orchestral conducting was I. Moussin. The formation of this speciality in 1950-60s is linked with the names of I. Gitgarts, M. Shneiderman, V. Doubrovsky and V. Katayev. Among the pupils of the Division is a galaxy of musicians who made an essential contribution into the development of the musical culture of Belarus, namely: People's Artists of Belarus M. Kozinets, M. Finberg, Honoured Artists and Workers of Arts of Belarus I. Abramis, Yu. Vasilevskiy, A. Lapounov, L. Lyakh, L. Ivanov, A. Palvinskiy, G. Soroka, and also N. Aldanov, A. Berin, V. Bormotov, G. Ermochenkov, A. Engelbrekht, V. Malykh, P. Vandilovsky and others. The teachers of the Division, among whom there are such musicians with a great experience of concert and pedagogical activities, like People's Artists of Belarus, Professors B. Penchouk, M. Kozinets, People's Artists of Russia, Professors L. Mouranov,  People's Artist of Belarus M. Bersan, Assistant Professors S. Kofanov, B. Tchoudakov, Z. Shatilo, Senior Teachers V. Miniaev, V. Tchernikov are ensuring training of specialists in specializations “Conductor of Opera-Symphony Orchestra”, “Conductor of Chamber Orchestra”, “Conductor of Orchestra of Folk Instruments”, “Conductor of Orchestra of Wind Instruments”. During several years the Division fruitfully co-operated with famous conductors – People's Artist of Russia, Professor G. Provotorov, Honoured Worker of Arts of Belarus M. Kolyadko,  A. Sosnsovskiy and others.