As Part of the “Paschal Song” Festival, Choir Ensembles of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District Performed a Concert Program

May 15, 2026. Alma-Ata. By the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, a concert of choir ensembles of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District took place in the Grand Hall of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory.

The event was held as part of the international music festival “Paschal Song.”

The performance of the Kazakhstani choir ensembles was organized with the support of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim” headed by its president, V.M. Kapsamun.

The concert program featured: the Choir of the Metropolitan District (conductor – Honored Artist of Russia Oleg Ovchinnikov; choirmaster – Viktoria Dudareva); the choir of the Dormition Cathedral of Astana (director – Olga Varentsova); the choir of the Kokshetau Diocese (director – Maria Petrova); the choir of the Kostanay Diocese (director – Tatyana Zhebrak); the choir of the Ust-Kamenogorsk Diocese (director – Yulia Khokhryakova); the choir of the Uralsk Diocese (director – Olga Vorfolomeeva); the choir of the Pavlodar Diocese (director – Elena Yusupzhanova); the choir of the Petropavlovsk Diocese (director – Anna Opletina); the choir of the Chimkent Diocese (director – Elena Aleshina); and the choir of the Karaganda Diocese (director – Vladimir Teslenko).

Honored guests of the musical celebration included distinguished figures of Orthodox musical art who arrived to participate in the “Paschal Song” festival: A.A. Puzakov, director of the Moscow Synodal Choir; V.A. Volkova, Executive Secretary of the Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ for the Development of Russian Church Singing and conductor of the “Artos” Choir of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Solntsevo, Moscow; and A.K. Maiorov, senior conductor of the Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo, Moscow.

Among the distinguished attendees were: Bishop Veniamin of Talgar, vicar of the Astana Diocese; V.M. Kapsamun, president of the public foundation “Eleos-Meirim”; Archbishop George Panamthundil, Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Kazakhstan; D.A. Turaev, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Alma-Ata; D.V. Meleshkin, Consul General of the Republic of Belarus in Alma-Ata; public figures; representatives of the artistic intelligentsia; and leaders of ethnocultural associations.

The concert was hosted by Ratmira Sborshchik and Rustam Gappasov.

Opening the event, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan addressed those gathered in the hall. The archpastor warmly greeted the organizers, participants, and audience of the concert program and congratulated everyone on the Feast of Pascha.

“The festival, within the framework of which the performances of Kazakhstan’s choir ensembles have been organized, undoubtedly serves as an adornment to the Feast of feasts and Triumph of triumphs – the Bright Resurrection of Christ. Such events provide all admirers of choral singing with an opportunity to partake of the treasury of imperishable works of sacred and secular music, to recall remarkable folk compositions and the creations of renowned composers. Today it is especially important to realize the inheritance of the great culture to which we belong and how much creative energy and lofty moral guidance classical art – music, literature, poetry, and painting – imparts to us. Our festival serves to bring to life a wonderful idea – the uniting of the creative and scholarly intelligentsia, clergy and laity, public figures and educators, people of different nationalities and convictions for the preservation and development of our shared culture, the introduction of the younger generation to enduring spiritual and moral values, and the proclamation through the language of art of the ideals of goodness and beauty,” the Metropolitan noted in particular.

Following the archpastoral address, performances by the church choirs took place. The audience was presented with liturgical hymns dedicated to the Feast of Pascha, secular works, and Kazakh and Russian folk songs.

After the combined choir of the Metropolitan District performed the Many Years (Mnogaya Leta) in the final part of the musical program, a group photograph of the concert participants was taken.