Provincial wunderkinds

The contest was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of foundation of the National Music Academy of Ukraine named in honor of Tchaikovsky. We remind our readers that 10 years ago, on the occasion of the composer’s 110th death anniversary (the composer passed away on November 6, 1893) they started the unique children’s musical contest in memory of Tchaikovsky. The main goal set by its founders (Kamianka State Historical and Cultural Reserve, the National Committee of Ukraine at the International Music Council at UNESCO, the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Kyiv with the assistance of the Russian Embassy in Ukraine) is to find and support the young musicians studying at music schools in villages and small towns. Now the contest is a certain certificate of the survival of the musical education for children in Ukraine (now many children in our country study not in the capital or regional centers)!

Since the first years of its existence the contest has been supported by Kamianka town and raion councils. The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture has also been involved in its preparation several times. The unusual contest drew the attention of those who care about the future of Ukraine. It has been several years that the contest is supported by the Art Foundation “Nashe” started by the Ukrainian painter Zinaida Likhachova. The foundation invited young artists to create the logo of the contest and its main award, a crystal statuette and founded cash awards for the winners and the best teachers giving them scholarships and grants, CDs and notes of the Ukrainian composers.

This year the sponsors have been joined by the company ACROPOLIS producing musical instruments. Its regional director Ihor Shevchenko gave the contest a valuable present, a violin that will be kept in Kamianka Historical Museum. This instrument will be played by the laureates of the contest and it will sound at various music evenings in Kamianka. The organizers accepted the violin with tears on their eyes: it is no secret that there is a lack of instruments, especially in villages and regional centers. Children take the right to play the grand piano Tchaikovsky worked at as the highest award. This rare instrument was restored in 2007 for the money given by Viktor Chernomyrdin who headed the Russian embassy in Ukraine for eight years.

Every child coming to Kamianka feels like a winner receiving a certificate of participation, presents and special awards including the one for the best performance of Tchaikovsky’s music and a Ukrainian author’s composition; “Hope” diploma is awarded to the youngest participant. This year it was given to the five-year-old violinist Khrystyna Taraskina from Kaniv and the 7-year-old pianist Ania Nesviachena from Shpola (Cherkasy oblast). The 11th contest was especially successful for the young violinists. The two first prizes were given to Yelyzaveta Zubenko from Makiivka and Yaroslav Yarovenko from Horlivka (Donetsk oblast). The laureates of the second and the third prize were Artur Chorny from Oleksandria (Kirovohrad oblast) and William Krapyvkin from Makiivka.

Nazar Padalets from Bila Tserkva (Kyiv oblast) became the best pianist and also received the diplomas for the best performance of Tchaikovsky’s music and a composition by a Ukrainian author. Two second prizes in this nomination went to Bila Tserkva with Danylo Nazarenko and to Uman (Cherkasy oblast) with Svitlana Beziazykova. The third prizes were given to Hanna Kobulei from Bila Tserkva and Sophia Zakharenko from Kamianka. In general 51 young musicians from 27 Ukrainian music schools participated this year in the contest (by the way, in the first years the number of contestants was 7 to 10 people).

Modest at the beginning, with the time the contest turned into a festival competition with master classes, concerts, meetings with teachers, tea parties in the museum and excursions. This year the listeners were charmed by the skillful and moving performance by the soloist of Moscow Philharmonic Society, laureate of international contests, pianist Viacheslav Hriaznov and his master class was priceless for young musicians and teachers. The pianist from Moscow was also a member of jury headed this year by the professor of music faculty at the Queen’s University of Kingston (Canada) Irenei Zhuk. The international status of the jury was supported by the professor of music faculty of McGill University of Montreal (Canada) Liuba Zhuk. They, just like the other members of jury had a very important task: to support the young musicians, encourage them for further creativity and find those who might choose music as their profession.