Two Belarus-made grand pianos, on which the composition Slavic Constellation was played during the Marathon of Unity, have found a permanent home. They were handed over in a solemn atmosphere to Minsk State Music College and the Mogilev State Gymnasium-College of Arts, BelTA has learned.The musical instruments are new, but they have already been on many stages. They traveled through the cities and towns where the Marathon of Unity took place. But they are also famous for the performers who played them. Nikolai Lukashenko and his teacher, composer Yelena Ostashkina-Myslivchik, performed the composition Slavic Constellation on two BELARUS grand pianos.
Culture Minister Ruslan Chernetsky told journalists that every time he listens to this entry, he gets goosebumps.
The teachers and students of Minsk State Music College were happy to receive such a gift. "We felt excited as we were trying out this new grand piano. This is an exciting, rather historical moment," said college teacher Tatyana Glushanina, whose performance opened the concert dedicated to the transfer of one of the two grand pianos.
Tatyana Glushanina dreamed of becoming a pianist since early childhood. She recalled that when she was five she loved watching the Culture channel and all the time impersonated a pianist sitting on a chair. Having seen this, her parents decided to sign her up for a piano class. Her first teacher said that she was talented.
The opportunity to play the famous grand piano was also given to third-year student Nikita Ochapovsky. "In fact, the emotions are simply overwhelming. It is a great honor for me to play such an instrument for the first time," the young man said.
Mogilev College students took part in the Marathon of Unity concerts in Mogilev, Bobruisk, Grodno and Lida. One of the most memorable acts in the program of the gala concert “Time Chose Us” in Mogilev was the performance of the city combined brass band under the baton of Andrei Stelmakh. The director admitted that it was a very responsible mission. All participants performed to the top of their abilities and received powerful feedback from the audience. “All the performances made an unforgettable impression on us. We felt unity, cohesion and emotional uplift in the hall,” he recalled.
With the arrival of the new grand piano, the college implemented a long-awaited project to set up a music lounge which it needed badly. The lounge represents a bright and cozy space with excellent acoustics. Now it will host various chamber events: concerts, contests, performances. “I am sure that our students will like the new creative platform. This will help us discover new talents”, Andrei Stelmakh noted.
Among the hard-working, gifted and enthusiastic students of the college is the fourth-year student Ksenia Britkevich, who majors in “instrumental performance. Piano”. The girl is a laureate and diploma holder of prestigious competitions and festivals, a scholarship holder of the president's special fund to support talented youth. She was one of the first to appreciate the new grand piano: during the handover ceremony she performed two pieces from the works of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.
“The grand piano impressed me with its history and capabilities. It is not for nothing that it is called the king of instruments - the scale of sound and emotionality is amazing,” Ksenia said.
According to Darya Minchenko, Ksenia's teacher, such a valuable gift from the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus once again emphasizes the support that the state provides to talented young people. “It stimulates, motivates to become better,” she said. “The fact that talented children receive a presidential scholarship is also a huge step in this direction. Feeling such support, they aspire higher, grow professionally and confidently make plans for the future. In turn, the grand piano handed over to the college will allow the children to realize their potential, show their professional capabilities and improve their performing skills.”
The significance of today's event was also noted by Yelena Trutneva, head of the music department of the college. “We received a wonderful instrument as a gift. It already has its own history, imbued with the atmosphere of unity and the spirit of creativity that reigned at concerts during the large-scale social and cultural campaign Marathon of Unity,” she emphasized. “This grand piano remembers the creative hands of the performers participating in the project, and this will definitely inspire our students to new bright victories and give a boost to their professional development. From now on, the piano will constantly sound within the walls of our educational institution: at competitions and concerts, exams. And not only solo: concertmasters will also demonstrate their skills. The right to play this instrument will be given to the best of the best, and this will also stimulate students to continuous development.”
Culture Minister Ruslan Chernetsky told journalists that every time he listens to this entry, he gets goosebumps.
The teachers and students of Minsk State Music College were happy to receive such a gift. "We felt excited as we were trying out this new grand piano. This is an exciting, rather historical moment," said college teacher Tatyana Glushanina, whose performance opened the concert dedicated to the transfer of one of the two grand pianos.
Tatyana Glushanina dreamed of becoming a pianist since early childhood. She recalled that when she was five she loved watching the Culture channel and all the time impersonated a pianist sitting on a chair. Having seen this, her parents decided to sign her up for a piano class. Her first teacher said that she was talented.
The opportunity to play the famous grand piano was also given to third-year student Nikita Ochapovsky. "In fact, the emotions are simply overwhelming. It is a great honor for me to play such an instrument for the first time," the young man said.
Reflecting on the features of the new grand piano, Nikita pointed to its great sound, timbre coloring.
Nikita himself became interested in the piano at the age of 4. His idol was Elton John. Later, he was sent to a music school. "I immediately realized that this was my instrument. I was meant to play the piano. I began to develop my skills. And with time this became the meaning of my life," he noted. On some days, he spends five or six hours playing the piano.
"It takes quite a lot of time and effort, because you should always strive for perfection," the young man said.
The grand piano presentation ceremony also took place in Mogilev. The instrument was given to the Mogilev State College of Arts, one of the oldest music schools in the country. The college was founded in 1924. It is rightfully proud of its staff and numerous alumni who make a significant contribution to promoting culture in Mogilev Oblast and Belarus. Today, almost 940 people study here full-time and part-time across 12 specialties, including "piano performance", "choreographic art", "musicology", "design". For some specialties, the competition for admission is up to 10 people per place. The college employs over 270 teachers.
"This new instrument is not just a valuable gift for the college, but a symbol of the limitless opportunities that are now opening up for our talented students," emphasized director of the college Andrei Stelmakh. “The Belarusian land is rich in talents, and we are proud to make a significant contribution to this. The transfer of the grand piano to the college has a special spiritual and emotional message. We know that this instrument traveled around cities and towns as part of the wonderful social and cultural campaign Marathon of Unity and united the hearts of Belarusians. We felt it because more than 200 of our students took part in the gala concerts of the project: choral and choreographic groups, instrumental music performers, future directors and actors”.
Mogilev College students took part in the Marathon of Unity concerts in Mogilev, Bobruisk, Grodno and Lida. One of the most memorable acts in the program of the gala concert “Time Chose Us” in Mogilev was the performance of the city combined brass band under the baton of Andrei Stelmakh. The director admitted that it was a very responsible mission. All participants performed to the top of their abilities and received powerful feedback from the audience. “All the performances made an unforgettable impression on us. We felt unity, cohesion and emotional uplift in the hall,” he recalled.
With the arrival of the new grand piano, the college implemented a long-awaited project to set up a music lounge which it needed badly. The lounge represents a bright and cozy space with excellent acoustics. Now it will host various chamber events: concerts, contests, performances. “I am sure that our students will like the new creative platform. This will help us discover new talents”, Andrei Stelmakh noted.
Among the hard-working, gifted and enthusiastic students of the college is the fourth-year student Ksenia Britkevich, who majors in “instrumental performance. Piano”. The girl is a laureate and diploma holder of prestigious competitions and festivals, a scholarship holder of the president's special fund to support talented youth. She was one of the first to appreciate the new grand piano: during the handover ceremony she performed two pieces from the works of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.
“The grand piano impressed me with its history and capabilities. It is not for nothing that it is called the king of instruments - the scale of sound and emotionality is amazing,” Ksenia said.
According to Darya Minchenko, Ksenia's teacher, such a valuable gift from the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus once again emphasizes the support that the state provides to talented young people. “It stimulates, motivates to become better,” she said. “The fact that talented children receive a presidential scholarship is also a huge step in this direction. Feeling such support, they aspire higher, grow professionally and confidently make plans for the future. In turn, the grand piano handed over to the college will allow the children to realize their potential, show their professional capabilities and improve their performing skills.”
The significance of today's event was also noted by Yelena Trutneva, head of the music department of the college. “We received a wonderful instrument as a gift. It already has its own history, imbued with the atmosphere of unity and the spirit of creativity that reigned at concerts during the large-scale social and cultural campaign Marathon of Unity,” she emphasized. “This grand piano remembers the creative hands of the performers participating in the project, and this will definitely inspire our students to new bright victories and give a boost to their professional development. From now on, the piano will constantly sound within the walls of our educational institution: at competitions and concerts, exams. And not only solo: concertmasters will also demonstrate their skills. The right to play this instrument will be given to the best of the best, and this will also stimulate students to continuous development.”
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