The folklore ensemble “Gorenka” from the Sunday school of the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty became a laureate of the II International Competition-Festival “Believe”

From October 25-27, 2024, in Diveyevo, the II International Competition-Festival of Classical and Sacred Music “Believe,” dedicated to the 270th anniversary of the birth of St. Seraphim of Sarov, was held at the Diveyevo Children’s Music School.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, the folklore ensemble “Gorenka” from the Sunday school of the Ascension Cathedral in Almaty participated in the event. The ensemble is led by musician and teacher of helm-shaped gusli, laureate of international competitions and folklore festivals, Anastasia Statsenko. Members of the creative group include Sofia Bykova, Victoria Butina, Daria Golovina, and Angelina Aslanova.

The event was organized by the International Association of Professional Music Competitions “World Music Heritage.”

The main aims and objectives of the creative forum are to promote classical and sacred music culture, advance traditional spiritual and moral values, develop vocal, choral, and instrumental music art, foster musical creativity and enlightenment, and strengthen spiritual and cultural ties.

The jury for the music festival included: People’s Artist of Russia Vladimir Goncharov; member of the Union of Composers of Moscow, professor at Xi’an University (China), and accompanist of the Moscow “Helikon-Opera” Musical Theater Sergey Chechetko; soloist of the “Helikon-Opera” Musical Theater and teacher at the V.S. Popov Academy of Choral Art Olga Shcheglova; laureate of international vocal competitions in Russia and Europe and general producer of the International Association of Music Competitions “World Music Heritage” in Russia Maxim Krylov; soloist of the “Novaya Opera” Theater and associate professor at the Moscow University of Humanities Olga Ionova; and director of the Diveyevo Children’s Music School Lyudmila Bosko.

The competition featured singers, musicians, instrumental, and choral ensembles in four age categories, ranging from 6 to 19 years old.

Following remote auditions, the “Gorenka” ensemble from the southern capital was awarded the title of Laureate of the First Degree in the “Folk Instrument Ensembles” category.