Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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“The guitar is an instrument that can express the deepest human feelings without resorting to words,” said Andrés Segovia, the great guitarist of the 20th century.
Musical instruments—the guitar's predecessors—have been beloved by performers and listeners since ancient times. The guitar acquired its familiar modern appearance and sound in the 19th century, and today it is one of the most popular instruments in the world.
Over 4,300 people study guitar at Moscow's art schools. Last year, over 500 young guitarists graduated from schools specializing in this field, which is considered one of the most in-demand. Among the graduates are some who have already become renowned musicians and achieved significant success in the professional scene.
Classical guitar allows you to master a wide range of music—from old romances and etudes, arrangements of classical pieces, to well-known contemporary works. The first simple melodies and chords can be played even at the initial stages of learning.
Guitar classes are available in schools and art colleges, where qualified teachers teach using proven methods. Moscow regularly hosts guitar music competitions and festivals, giving students the opportunity to grow and showcase their skills.
Moscow's art schools offer lessons in more than just classical acoustic guitar. Electric guitar classes, for example, offer an alternative palette of sounds and are often used in student concerts as part of ensembles and orchestras, as well as bass guitar lessons.
For International Guitar Day, students from Moscow's art schools talked about their favorite instrument, shared their successes, and shared their plans.
Grigory Suchkov: in anticipation of his first solo concert
This year, 13-year-old Grigory Suchkov from the S.V. Rachmaninov Children's Music School (Izmailovo Moscow State Children's Music School) became the recipient of a first-degree grant from the Mayor of Moscow.
"I liked the guitar because it allows me to imitate other instruments, play a variety of tones, and perform pieces from many styles. I'm very grateful to my school and my teachers, who have been with me since first grade, always supporting and guiding me, especially my teacher, Maxim Andreevich Chulaev," shares Grigory Suchkov.
Moscow Mayor's Grants in Culture and ArtsMoscow Mayor's Grants for Higher Education in Culture and the Arts
The young performer looked up to musicians who incorporate works from various genres into their repertoire. One of them is Grigory's mentor, teacher, and performer, Roman Zorkin, a laureate of national and international competitions who skillfully performs works from various cultures. Under Nikita Boldyrev's tutelage, the young man mastered jazz guitar and improvised. Together, they created arrangements of well-known pieces from this genre.
The young guitarist is currently preparing for his first solo concert, which will take place on March 11, 2026, at the Moscow State Academic Philharmonic. Grigory Suchkov will perform as a soloist and in a flute duet.
The Rovnov Sisters: Two Guitars and One Passion for Music
Arina (13) and Alexandra (12) Rovnov are already well-known young musicians in Moscow. Arina has already won over 30 national and international competitions.
"The guitar is a part of my soul, because I can express all my emotions and feelings in the music I play. When I'm sad, I pick up the guitar, and after just a few pieces, I feel much calmer. If I'm in a good mood, it serves as an instrument for releasing emotions and energy," says Arina Rovnova.
Alexandra adds: “For me, the guitar is a way of self-expression, something through which I can convey to listeners all the unspoken feelings and emotions.”
The girls are in their seventh year of classical guitar studies with Alexandra Yuryevna Golovinskaya (Moscow State Children's Art School "Kuskovo"). Their younger sister, Sasha, began studying at the music school at the age of six. Back then, she could only read by syllables and wrote in block letters, but this didn't interfere with her music studies.
The sisters followed their older brother in choosing the classical guitar—a talented performer who also studied with Alexandra Yuryevna—and the girls often attended school concerts and socialized with other musicians. The girls' parents graduated from a technical college, but although they had no formal musical training, Arina and Alexandra grew up in an atmosphere steeped in music—it was always playing in their home. Their older brother became a role model and a source of inspiration, and the musical environment they experienced from childhood shaped their perfect pitch.
The sisters devote a lot of time to their studies—they play guitar in every free minute, even during vacations—while still managing to earn honors in both their comprehensive and music schools. Their passion for music goes hand in hand with their thirst for knowledge. Arina is intensively studying English and also enjoys physics and geography. Alexandra is in the physics and mathematics class at the lyceum—she easily solves quadratic equations and loves physics and history lessons.
The girls continue to hone their performance skills, preparing for concerts and trips to national competitions. During the winter break, they will study at the Tabula Rasa guitar school, which holds classes annually in Moscow. They plan to devote their lives to music and continue their education at a specialized college. Their journey is a shining example of how talent, hard work, and the support of teachers and parents can nurture true stars. Two sisters, two guitars—and a shared passion for music. The girls often joke, "We don't argue, we improvise."
Guitar Orchestra: Team Spirit in Art
The Sound Life Guitar Orchestra of the D.D. Shostakovich Children's Music School (Kuskovo Moscow State Children's Music School) is the embodiment of a modern, dynamic children's ensemble, in which students perform alongside alumni. Each new concert program expands the ensemble's fan base, expanding the boundaries of musical appreciation for guitarists.
Over its 13-year history, the orchestra has achieved impressive results at prestigious city, national, and international competitions and festivals. Members of the ensemble received Moscow Mayoral grants in culture and art in 2022, 2023, and 2025, and three musicians were accepted to Moscow's top vocational schools (the Academic College of Music at the P.I. Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory and the Gnessin College of Music at the Russian Academy of Music) to study guitar.
Jury members of the competitions in which the orchestra has participated and won prizes have always noted the vibrant emotional response of the accomplished musicians and the students' high motivation. Continuity between the junior and senior levels of education is particularly important for developing a sense of ensemble in the students, allowing them to see the group's potential. The orchestra currently consists of 18 members, and its permanent director is Alexandra Golovinskaya, a highly qualified teacher and Honored Cultural Worker of Moscow.
The capital's creative education system provides all the necessary conditions for children's education. 152 creative educational institutions are open to them: children's art schools, colleges, and a music institute, with over 100,000 students enrolled. Instruction is provided in a variety of fields: music, choral studies, architecture, art, choreography, and theater.
You can sign up for classes at children's art schools at mos.ru.
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