The State Conservatory of Uzbekistan has hosted an official award ceremony of the victors and winners of international contest of folk instrument players “Ona Yurt Ohanglari” (Melodies of the Native Land).

The State Conservatory of Uzbekistan has hosted an official award ceremony of the victors and winners of international contest of folk instrument players “Ona Yurt Ohanglari” (Melodies of the Native Land).

Speaking at the occasion, Deputy Minister of Public Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.Kholbekov and others noted that nurturing under the leadership of President Islam Karimov a young generation as comprehensively educated, healthy, ethically advanced individuals with independent thought is one of the priority aspects of government policy.

In the process of wide-ranging reforms carried out at the initiative of the head of our state to modernize the education sphere, extensive efforts are underway to cardinally overhaul the children’s music and arts schools, to further consolidate their economic and technical capacities, provide with music instruments and learning accessories as well as teaching aids.

A great variety of creative projects, festival, show contests facilitate the further improvement of creative and intellectual abilities and potential of children, discovery of their talents, introduce them to the masterpieces of national and world music art.

Held for the first time in our country, the international contest of folk instrument players “Ona Yurt Ohanglari” is important in the steadfast development of the music sphere and music education, in the extensive familiarization of young performers from diverse countries of the world with works of Uzbek composers, as well as in the exchange of experience.

In this artistic competition, young musicians of our country, along with those from Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, played the national music and samples from the best works of composers of Uzbekistan and the world.

“At the contest I have performed the melody ‘Fasli Bahor’ by Uzbek composers Mirza Toyirov and Tulkin Toshmatov,” said Ibrahim Babaev, pupil of the music college at the National Conservatory of Azerbaijan. “I have witnessed that arts are valued in Uzbekistan, and people love in particular the songs and music played on national instruments. The conservatory building erected in modern style, the music schools, colleges and lyceums open up wide opportunities to attain professional music education.”

In the competition among the junior participants aged 12-15, the first prizes went to Mavlonbek Urmanov (playing konun), Islombek Nuriddinov (Afghan rubab) – both from Uzbekistan, as well as Umarbek Shukur oglu (gijjak) of Azerbaijan and Aleksey Dalmatov (accordion) from Russia.

Aibek Khudaiberganov (dombra) of Kazakhstan, Darya Baranova (dombra) from Russia, Marufjon Kadirjanov (Kashghar rubab) from Uzbekistan have been named triumphant in the senior age group (16-19).

Victors and prize winners of the contest received diplomas and memorable gifts. It was followed by a concert show with the participation of young musicians.