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Pages of history

The Republican College of Music at Belarusian State Academy of Music... Every word in this name contains a great deal of history, which is 70 years old.

In 2005, the College of Music, a unique Belarusian educational establishment, celebrates its anniversary having reached its fullest flower.

The college is a kingdom of music and eternal beauty. It is a Belarusian performing school and a great number of outstanding talented teachers following their vocation. The college is a constellation of international and state contest laureates famous all over the world. Wonderful soloists, concertmasters, teachers, organists, conductors, band creators, and art directors graduated from the college.

The college graduates succeed both in our country and abroad. E. Miansarov, who won the prize at the 1st International Tchaikovsky Contest, is a soloist at the Moscow Philharmonic. National Artist of the Republic of Belarus Professor I. Olovnikov is a leading soloist at the Belarusian State Philharmonic. Y. Stefanovich is the concertmaster of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus. O. Podov is the concertmaster of the State Chamber Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus. V. Handras plays at the Moscow Virtuosos (Russia). O. Rylatko is the concertmaster of the Washington Opera Orchestra. G. Safranov is the chanter of the Residence of the Moscow and Russian Patriarchy Choir.

The college Concert Orchestra (its art director is Vladimir Perlin, Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus), cymbals consort The Smile (Ulybka) with its art director Larisa Levkovich, model concert choir The Singing Musicians (Poyushchie Muzykanty) with its art director Alia Mazurova, the Boys' Chapel Choir (Kapella Malchikov) with its art director Vladimir Glushakov became famous all over the world.

There are more than 500 laureates of state and international performing contests among college graduates. Most of them started their way to success while studying at the college.

The college has its history and traditions. Its laws are grouped into so-called art code, which determines the way of colorful and many-sided college life including special and general education courses, optional subjects, rehearsals, concerts, skits, 10-hand table tennis, fascinating camping trips, theatre visits, and museum excursions.

The college was founded on the 15th of October 1935. On that memorable day the founders laid the base for a great many of further national music culture achievements.

At first, the Children's Department of the Belarusian State Conservatoire was established. It consisted of the Piano Department, Violin Department, and Violoncello Department; all the courses were deeply specialized. In 1947, the Children's Department was reorganized into the Republican School of Music with a ten-year program. New departments, such as Folk and Brass Departments were opened on its basis. The Department of Theory and the Choir Conductor Department were opened later. Training program contained subjects of both musicand general education.

The school was given new names two times more: it used to be the Secondary Special School of Music attached to the Belarusian State Conservatoire (abbreviated the SSSM attached to BSC) and the Republican Lyceum attached to the Belarusian Academy of Music.

Izrail German had been the headmaster of the educational establishment for 40 years since its opening. Being an energetic and purposeful person with great will and diligence, he was adventurous enough to start fulfilling his dream to create in Belarus a school for gifted children, similar to the ones that already existed in Moscow, Leningrad, and Odessa. Izrail German was deeply convinced that Belarusian children should acquire broad and essential music education. In order to create a unique atmosphere he invited to his school a number of outstanding conservatoire musicians and professors, such as G. Shervevsky, A. Bessmertny, A. Klumov, G. Petrov, A. Amiton, M. Berger, A. Vivyen, A. Stogorsky, and I. Tsvetaeva.

Izrail German wanted to create a school, which would raise future talents. He was trying to comprehend children's characters and help to uncover a gift in every young musician. The school became his life work, his home, and his family.

It is impossible to cover all the important and significant things connected with this outstanding teacher and educator, who was the greatest headmaster ever. Izrail German was strict, but at the same time he was kind, similar to the way a real father loves his children. He was the one who took the school final-years to Moscow during their winter holidays, so that his students could visit the New Year's Ball in the Columned Hall of the Union House, watch performances at the Bolshoy Theatre, and visit the Tretyakov Gallery. With his direct help and support an incredible New Year's fancy-dress ball was held at the school. National Artist of the USSR L. Aleksandrovskaya, who was a very famous singer, came to young musicians as a special guest.

Izrail German was a person of predicted destiny: he followed his vocation. Thanks to his diligence the idea to create a school for talented children did not only justify all the hopes, but also surpassed the bravest expectations. Izrail German was an outstanding leader and teacher who would never be forgotten.

In the following years the school was headed by V. Chemysh, V. Bashura, V. Reyant, A. Mukalov. They introduced their creative concepts, professional gains, and new ideas on improving their educational establishment.

During 15 years (from 1989 to 2004) the college was led by its graduate Vladimir Mikhaylovich Kuzmenko. He was a person of various talents known as a gifted organizer, brilliant teacher, and a very creative personality. He was a pianist, ensemble player, concertmaster, teacher, Head of the Piano Department, and a public figure being President of the Minsk City Department of Belarusian Talented Musicians Union. He was the first headmaster, who was elected by the school pedagogic staff.

Vladimir Kuzmenko did not only preserve the original traditions, but also contributed to establishing new ones. He started celebrating the Holiday of Professional Initiation devoted to the tenth grade students during the college anniversary. This ceremony is wonderful and symbolic. Being the Headmaster and a musician, he contributed to the Boys' Chapel Choir (Kapella Malchikov) revival. He actively supported talented artists of the Concert Orchestra directed by Vladimir Perlin.

Vladimir Kuzmenko often said: "A talent is not enough. It is necessary to create good working conditions. It is difficult to dream of success without them." The future showed these words were true. Anything that Vladimir Kuzmenko did was full of inspiration and enthusiasm; he tasted life, rejoiced over its sounds, colors, and melodies. Being a very generous and kind person, he easily sacrificed his personal interests for the sake of his young colleagues' interests and was happy with every single success they achieved.

Both college teachers and students adored their headmaster. In February 2004 he still had time to conduct traditional Graduates Evening Party, which he did with his usual artistry, intelligence, and wit. Being a bright and wonderful personality, V. M. Kuzmenko left to the college his precept: "Learn to be happy!"

Today the college is a living, dynamic, and creatively developing organism. It is a place where young musicians are formed as artists and individuals. Being naive kids when they start their studies here, they graduate becoming real professionals. A complicated, but exciting process of musician formation includes training of feelings, culture, artistic and music preferences. It is possible thanks to wonderful teachers, experienced educators, professionals, who raise new creative individuals with care and attention, but at the same time do it purposefully. What a happiness it is for a teacher to raise a talent!

The college teachers are able to inspire and awake the students' interest, to uncover the world according to the laws of beauty. They intend not only to educate, but to train students to be independent in their creative work by encouraging imagination. They teach children to find their own ways and paths in art. And the students start to realize that they are being trusted and expected to achieve the maximum, which is necessary for the real art. Music for them is not just a sort of activity, not even simply a profession. It is the sense of their living. Quite often the young musicians' play becomes a real artistic phenomenon, because it strikes you by the gap between the childish look and deep perception of the performance. Thus it is quite natural that the college pupils are noted as musicians belonging to an "excellent performing school".

Young musicians and their teachers successfully pass the most serious and unbiased exam, the test of life. Numerous victories, triumphs, and successes achieved by the graduates in different areas prove that the college teaching staff members real professionals.

... Belarusian music school was formed when Soviet performing art achieved its biggest success. There were always many brilliant musicians in the world. For that reason the Belarusian music school's major task was to take up a place among them.

Nowadays, the Republican College of Music is considered one of the most professional and prestige educational establishments in the world. Entering the college, young musicians are welcome to chose any of its numerous departments: Piano, Strings, Theory, Choir, Folk, or Brass. Each department has its cradles and its history. The college music genealogy is routed in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg performing schools.

I. Zubrich