ORIENT | Culture / Music. What happens when you gather hundreds of the most talented young musicians from all over Turkmenistan on one stage and unite them into one powerful mega-ensemble? The result is pure energy, which literally shook the walls of the capital's Palace of Mukams on June 1, International Children's Day.
That evening, it wasn't just a festive concert that thundered here; it was a true musical crash test for classical stereotypes. The future of our music took the stage: students from the specialized school at the National Conservatory, students from Ashgabat and regional music schools, and students from the D. Ovezov Music College. And they proved that classical music isn't boring.
The evening's program turned into a powerful crossover of eras and styles. The audience barely had time to catch their breath: the powerful, piercing rhythms of Aram Khachaturian and the profound drama of Pyotr Tchaikovsky gave way to the colorful, familiar works of Turkmen composers. The young musicians delivered a driving performance of iconic excerpts from national operas and immediately switched to achingly familiar, beloved melodies from Russian cinema, compelling the audience to sing along.
Such large-scale jam sessions for young artists have already become an annual tradition. And this wow-inducing experience is the result of a tremendous amount of work—both on the part of the young artists themselves and their mentors. A musical education of this caliber is accessible to every talented individual in the country: today, teenagers in every velayat have the conditions to blossom into their own stars.
The concert at the Palace of Mukams clearly demonstrated that when government support meets the sincere, passionate hearts of young people, Turkmen art is in safe hands. These young people are ready to conquer the most prestigious venues, and they have already taken their first confident steps.
Jennet Orazova
