XIV Open International Festival of Sacred Song “Blagovest” Held in Baikonur

November 2-7, 2026. Baikonur. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the 14th Open International Festival of Sacred Song “Blagovest” was held in a hybrid in-person and online format at the V.M. Komarov Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity.

The creative competition was traditionally organized by the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious in Baikonur and the V.M. Komarov Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity, with the support of K.D. Busygin, Head of the Baikonur City Administration.

The aim of the event was to strengthen the spiritual and moral foundations of the younger generation by introducing them to the roots of Orthodox culture and fostering high moral standards, patriotism, civic responsibility, and respect for traditional family values.

The festival jury comprised Priest Daniil Ivashinin, Rector of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious in Baikonur; I.V. Kuzmina, Director of the V.M. Komarov Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity; A.V. Zharkova, Deputy Director of Children’s Music School No. 1; D.G. Vakhitova, Deputy Director of the V.M. Komarov Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity; I.R. Kirtava, Head of the Piano Department of Children’s Music School No. 2; A.V. Ostanina, Head of the Information and Bibliography Department of the Central City Library; A.V. Khodakovskaya, Public Relations and Media Specialist at the Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity; A.A. Golikova, Russian Language and Literature Teacher at Secondary School No. 1; and M.A. Glazunova, a parishioner of St. George’s Church.

The competition brought together children from preschool institutions, students from general education and Sunday schools, art studios and music schools, as well as adult performers and creative ensembles from various cities in Kazakhstan and Russia. More than 300 contestants participated in total.

The competition programme covered seven age categories, ranging from preschool children to performers over the age of 25. Participants competed in the categories of “Vocal Performance” and “Artistic Recitation.” A special category entitled “I Sing/Recite with My Heart” was provided for children with disabilities.

On November 7, a gala concert and an awards ceremony honouring the winners and participants of the 14th Open International Festival of Sacred Song “Blagovest” were held in the assembly hall of the V.M. Komarov Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity.

• N.P. Adasev, Deputy Head of the Baikonur City Administration, attended the ceremony as a guest of honour.

The concert audience included Orthodox faithful from Baikonur’s churches, representatives of the city administration and religious associations, public figures, members of the creative intelligentsia, and leaders of ethnocultural associations.

Before the festive programme began, Priest Daniil Ivashinin and Nikolai Petrovich Adasev addressed those assembled with welcoming remarks, emphasizing the spiritual and cultural significance of the traditional festival for the city.

The audience was then treated to liturgical hymns, folk songs and concert pieces of a spiritual and patriotic nature, as well as poems dedicated to the homeland, family, love, and fidelity.

Following the jury’s deliberations, the Grand Prix winners and First Degree Laureates were announced as follows:

Vocal Performance Category

Grand Prix Winners

• A. Yaroshchuk - St. Nicholas Church in Satpayev (Instructor - T.V. Reka);
• A. Almatova - Sirius Baikonur Regional Centre (Instructor - D.G. Vakhitova);
• V. Khamidulina - Federal State Institution “Special Directorate of the Federal Fire Service No. 70 of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia” (Instructor - K.V. Kustov);
• Consonans Vocal Ensemble - Children’s Music School No. 2 (Instructor - O.V. Batyreva).

First Degree Laureates

First Age Category (under 7 years)

• Duo of A. Shagabudinova and V. Yusupova - Kindergarten No. 63 “Goldfish” (Instructor - N.R. Ushakova);
• L. Shakhova - Children’s Music School No. 1 (Instructor - A.V. Zharkova);
• S. Shoeva - V.M. Komarov Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity (Instructor - D.G. Vakhitova).

Second Age Category (8-9 years)

• S. Mikheev - Sunday School of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” in Shakhtinsk (Instructor - I.V. Freigang).

Third Age Category (10-12 years)

• K. Donskaya - V.M. Komarov Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity (Instructor - A.D. Karakozidi).

Fourth Age Category (13-15 years)

• Sunday School Choir of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in Temirtau (Instructor - Yu.V. Urusov);
• M. Farakhutdinova - V.M. Komarov Centre for Children’s and Youth Creativity (Instructor - D.G. Vakhitova).

Sixth Age Category (25 years and older)

• Vocal Ensemble of Kindergarten No. 63 “Goldfish” (Instructor - N.R. Ushakova);
• Golos-ART Vocal Ensemble from Kudrovo, Leningrad Region (Instructor - L.S. Bobkova);
• Vostorg Folk Vocal Ensemble from Baikonur (Instructor - O.V. Kozedubova);
• N. Shoeva - Finance Department of the Baikonur City Administration (Instructor - D.G. Vakhitova).

Artistic Recitation Category

Grand Prix Winners

• M. Bedina - Kindergarten No. 5 “Thumbelina” (Instructor - A.Zh. Altynbekova);
• V. Popkova - Secondary School No. 1 (Instructor - V.V. Machina);
• D. Kisel - Secondary School No. 1 (Instructor - E. Arkabayeva).

First Degree Laureates

First Age Category

• S. Tkachenko - Kindergarten No. 26 (Instructor - L. Arlashkina);
• A. Tsvetkova - Secondary School No. 1 (Instructor - V.V. Machina).

Second Age Category

• E. Tsvetkova and A. Makhieva - Secondary School No. 1 (Instructor - G.A. Andreyeva).

Third Age Category

• E. Ivanov - Secondary School No. 1 (Instructor - N. Soldatenko);
• S. Nagaitseva - Secondary School No. 3 (Instructor - M. Auminova).

Fourth Age Category

• I. Vodnev - Secondary School No. 3 (Instructor - G. Kapakuzova);
• D. Nugumanova and E. Nasretdinova - Secondary School No. 3 (Instructor - G. Makhadinova).

The prize-winners in all competitions and categories received certificates, prizes, and commemorative gifts from Priest Daniil Ivashinin.

Addressing those assembled, the priest thanked the organizers and wished them God’s help in their future labours for the benefit of the Church and the upbringing of children.

The ceremony concluded with a commemorative group photograph.