Nizhny Novgorod Choral College named after L. K. Sivukhin is an institution of secondary vocational music education that has operated since 1946. It is located at 4 Minin and Pozharsky Square. The building is historically known as the guest house of the merchant Obryadchikov.[7] It traces its history to the Gorky Boys' Choral Chapel, founded in 1946; in 2004 the college was named after Lev Konstantinovich Sivukhin, People's Artist of Russia and Honorary Citizen of Nizhny Novgorod.[1]

History

The first intake to the Gorky Boys' Choral Chapel took place in 1946. The creator and first director of the ensemble was Vasily Pavlovich Malyshev.[1] In 1952 Lev Sivukhin, one of its first graduates, joined the chapel as choirmaster; he later became its artistic director and principal conductor and remained in that post for decades.[2] In 1993 a choral school was established on the basis of the chapel, and it was later transformed into a choral college.[1] In 2004 the institution was named after Sivukhin.[1]

Educational Process

Boys are admitted to the first grade from the age of six or seven. In addition to the full secondary-school curriculum of general education subjects, students complete a music school course and receive secondary specialized education. Classes consist of 10–15 students; those from remote parts of the city and the Region are offered places in the boarding school. Graduates receive a diploma of secondary vocational education, which entitles them to work in their specialty and to enter any university in Russia. Instruction is provided, among others, by professors and teachers of the conservatory.[3]

Activities and Reputation

Over seven decades of existence, the chapel has become, according to the organizers of its anniversary concerts, a "calling card" of Nizhny Novgorod Region and has gained renown in many cities of Russia and abroad.[4] The ensemble is a regular participant in festivals and competitions of various levels; its performances accompany major government events.[4] Its graduates include Vyacheslav Valeev (artistic director and principal conductor of the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia), Evgeny Kirillov (Honored Art Worker of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and principal conductor of the Astrakhan Opera and Ballet Theater), and Boris Mokeev (Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and head of the Nizhny Novgorod Municipal Chamber Choir).[5]

Reconstruction and Anniversaries

For the 75th anniversary of its founding, marked in 2021, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the government of Nizhny Novgorod Region allocated a combined total of roughly 53–56 million rubles for repair and restoration work in all three buildings of the college, including 20 million rubles from the federal budget. During the restoration, completed by March 2022, the building's roof, central façade, vestibule, grand staircase, and concert hall were repaired.[7][1][5] In March 2022, the renovated concert hall was reopened; the concert held for the occasion featured the college's choral ensembles and the Nizhny Novgorod chamber choir "Nizhny Novgorod," conducted by Ivan Stolnikov. The opening program included classics by Russian composers — "Hymn to Prince George" by M. Balakirev, "Vocalise" by S. Prokofiev, and "A Lone Oak in the North" by E. Napravnik — as well as works by graduates of the Kapella: "About the Boys of the Kapella" by B. Blagovidov, "Children of the War" by L. Sivukhin, and "The House Where Music Lives" by S. Terkhanov.[7][5] The jubilee concert at the Rostropovich Nizhny Novgorod State Academic Philharmonic took place on December 1, 2021, with the participation of choral ensembles from the city and the region and the Philharmonic's academic orchestra; the conductors were Dmitry Batin (artistic director of the Perm Boys' Choral Kapella), Boris Mokeyev, and Eduard Fertelmeyster.[1]

Sources

  1. Pro Город Nizhny Novgorod — A festive concert by the Gorky Boys' Choral Chapel was held at the Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic
  2. Pro Город Nizhny Novgorod
  3. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — The Boys' Chapel of the L.K. Sivukhin Nizhny Novgorod Choral College is holding an open house on April 9. Nizhny Novgorod News
  4. Vremya N — The concerts "Three World-Famous Boys' Choirs" will take place at the Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic
  5. Vremya N — The concert hall of the Sivukhin Nizhny Novgorod Choral College has reopened after reconstruction
  6. nizhny800.ru — Nizhny 800 — The college's main academic building is located at 4A Minin and Pozharsky Square; the restoration of its vestibule, grand staircase, and concert hall as part of
  7. nizhny800.ru — Nizhny 800 — The college building on Minin and Pozharsky Square is historically known as the guest house of the merchant Obryadchikov.