The Maya Kulieva Turkmen National Conservatory has hosted a singing competition as part of a week-long activities led by the Department of Pop Music. 14 students in different years of study took part in the competition. Running a week-long music events organized by every Department is a novel idea, which is likely to become a tradition for the Conservatory.
The singing contest included two rounds. According to the rules, the contestants performed two songs of their choice: from national and European classics. Thus, the singers were offered the chance to showcase not only their singing skills, but also to demonstrate their musical tastes. Those who advanced to the second round had to draw lots to decide which song they would sing next.
The performances were evaluated (on a ten-point scale) by a panel of independent judges representing the Mukam Palace of the State Cultural Center, the Conservatory’s Special Music Boarding School, and Danatar Ovezov Turkmen State Music College.
The competition featured wonderful songs, such as ‘The Ballad of Ayna’ by Nury Khalmamedov from the film ‘The Decisive Step’, ‘Kerven’ by Chary Nurymov, ‘Spring Waters’ by Sergey Rachmaninov, ‘Santa Lucia’ by Teodoro Cottrau, ‘The Song of Love’ by Andrey Babaev, the Queen of the Night’s aria from ‘The Magic Flute’ by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Shasenem’s aria from the opera ‘Shasenem and Garyp’ by Dangatar Ovezov and Adrian Shaposhnikov, and many others.
Leili Mammedova, who brilliantly performed the song ‘Ashgabat’ by Nury Khalmamedov, was named best by the judges and audience members. The judges unanimously awarded her the highest points: 10, 10, and 10.
But a little while later, third-year student Jennet Mekanova scored the same number of points following her performance of Sergey Rachmaninov’s ‘Spring Waters’. The uncertain situation – which of the two contestants would win – made everyone feel nervous.
The second round was decisive. Leili Mammedova, who was declared the winner of the competition, was greeted with enthusiastic applause. Jennet Mekanova and third-year student Bakhram Khuseinov were placed second and third respectively.
- The three prizewinners, - commented the head of the Department of Pop Music Maisa Mammetjumaeva, - are students of the same teacher, People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Atajan Berdyev. No doubt, the vocal talent of Leili, who is due to graduate this year, sets her apart. I hope she will start to work as a teacher at the Conservatory after graduation.
Here are a few words about the top-place competition winner. Leili was raised in a musical family. Her grandfather, Novruz Mammedov, is a famous operatic tenor. The young singer finished Special Music Boarding School, where she had studied the violin. Leili’s teachers recognized her vocal talent back then. Later, she won several vocal competitions. By the end of her studies at the music school, she had decided to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps, and then continued to perfect her singing skills at the Conservatory.
- My younger sister, Nurana, studies the flute, Leili said. Sometimes I take my violin and we spend an evening playing together. The “voice” of the violin inspires me. The singing voice is also a unique musical “instrument”, and I do my best to develop and improve my ability to convey moods and subtle nuances of meaning in songs through vocal timbres and tonal colors.
Tamara GLAZUNOVA
Photo: Yuri SHKURIN
