Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On November 8, the "Voices of Siberia" concert took place in the auditorium building of Novosibirsk State University. It was a large-scale choral event that brought together 11 groups and ensembles from six Siberian cities. The concert was part of the annual "Music Unites" music festival, of which NSU was the general partner in Novosibirsk this year.
The festival featured ensembles from Omsk, Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kemerovo, Gorno-Altaysk, and Novosibirsk—a total of more than 300 performers. Among the participants were the NSU Academic Choir, the Blagovest Youth Choir, the Y.A. Braginsky Academic Choir of the Novosibirsk State Technical University, the Carpe Diem Choir (Kemerovo), the D. Hvorostovsky Saratov State Institute of Arts Choir (Krasnoyarsk), the Tomsk State University Choir (Tomsk), the E. Denisov Tomsk College of Music Mixed Choir, the SFU Academic Choir, the Bel Canto Youth Choir (Omsk), the NSPU MO Mixed Choir, and the Viva Voce Choir.
Each group presented its main work, and in the finale, all participants performed together for the first time the closing number of the festival oratorio "Faces of Siberia"—a work by Novosibirsk composer and member of the Union of Composers of Russia, Oksana Serebrova, which has become a symbol of unity and community among all Siberian cities participating in the project.
The project's director, NSU graduate Anton Niyazov, addressed the audience and participants with a welcoming speech:
"Today, November 8th, we're opening the gala event "Music Unites" in Novosibirsk. The festival is all about bringing together not only amateur and professional musicians, but also programs of diverse natures and genres, as well as different venues. Today's venue is, in a sense, remarkable: it's the enormous new auditorium building at NSU, which is likely the first time it's hosting such a large-scale concert. It's crucial that our program be uninterrupted and without words between pieces, so as not to disturb the atmosphere of collective meditation."
Olga Yakovleva, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Educational Work at NSU and PhD in Philology, noted the high level of performance by the NSU University Choir and the importance of such events for the university community:
"I am pleased that our choir performs at a high level, and that, compared to professional choirs at other universities with music departments, our university, where musical activities are conducted only extracurricularly, looks respectable."
Such events are important for our academic choir: the students often participate in competitions and festivals, but sometimes it's important to host events on our own site. NSU traditionally brings the city together for scientific and educational events, and now, thanks to our new infrastructure, we can host cultural and creative events and invite Akademgorodok residents and visitors.
Elena Krasilova, Head of the Department of Youth Policy and Educational Work at NSU, emphasized that the annual festival is developing and expanding its geographic reach:
"The festival is constantly evolving—it's been growing and developing for several years now. It began as a project of Novosibirsk choral groups, but has now expanded beyond the region. It's gratifying that leading choirs from Siberian universities are participating, including Tomsk State University and the Siberian Federal University."
Members of the NSU Academic Choir—Nelly Khrapova, Nikita Afimchenko, and Lilia Minushkina—shared their impressions and highlights of the performance.
Nelly: "This concert is different from others because we were placed in unusual circumstances—we stood opposite each other and heard every number from the other bands. Usually we're backstage, but here we were face to face—it was an unusual and joyful experience."
Nikita: "What was also unusual was that everything happened so quickly—we had little time to prepare. But it seems like everything worked out."
Liliya: "It's also worth noting that this was our first time performing in the auditorium building. The acoustics here are exceptional—the sound 'flies,' it feels like you're in a church. The a cappella pieces sounded simply wonderful today, in my opinion."
Speaking about working with other groups, the choir members emphasized that the collaboration required attentiveness and flexibility:
Nelly: "Adapting is always difficult; every conductor has their own approach and vision. But the oratorio we'll be performing tomorrow has one common conductor, who helps bring everything into a unified sound. When we begin to understand each other and speak the same language, the work flows easily."
Liliya Minushkina shared her favorite moments of the program: "My favorite moments are the a cappella numbers. They're a real challenge for any choir. You have to be extremely attentive and listen to each other."
Nikita Afimchenko noted the scale of the project: "Events like this don't happen often, and they require serious preparation. We're really looking forward to tomorrow's concert, where many groups will unite and work as a single entity. It's challenging, but very inspiring."
The "Voices of Siberia" concert was more than just a festival performance, but also a gathering of like-minded individuals for whom music is the language of mutual understanding and collaboration. Siberian choirs united at NSU to prove that creativity truly can unite cities, universities, and generations.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
