The “Lileya” was organized in 1966 by the Department of Folk Instruments and became the first group of such kind in the country. This student group established itself as a noticeable concert unit, its highly professional performances became an incentive for creating similar groups in other education establishments of music.
Its organizer and permanent director is a well-known Belarusian cimbalom player, Head of String Plucked-Percussion Folk Instrument Department, People’s Artist of Belarus, Professor, Chairman of the Belarusian Cimbalom Association, Eugene Gladkov.
The basis of the group’s repertoire includes works of Belarusian composers, and this accentuates its national attribution and is of great educational and propaganda values. Arranged for the ensemble, works of authors of different genres and eras sound brightly. Virtuosity, highest professional skill and artistry, the variety of repertoire in solo and ensemble performances always admire amateur listeners and cimbalom professionals both in our country and abroad.
The ensemble participated in the World Congresses of Cymbalists in Bratislava (Slovakia, 1995), Mogilev (Belarus, 1997), Chisinau (Moldova, 1999), Appenzell (Switzerland, 2003), as well as in the International Festival in Munich (Germany, 1999). In the 2007-2008 academic year, the ensemble successfully accomplished the tour across the cities of Belarus, performing in almost all specialized secondary schools of the republic. In May 2010, at the International Festival of Contemporary Music “Rostov Premieres”, the ensemble received the title of diploma winner. In July 2011, the ensemble received the highest award at the International Festival-Competition of Music, Art and Folklore in Bialystok (Poland). In July 2011, the ensemble received the highest award at the International Festival-Competition of Music, Art and Folklore in Bialystok (Poland). The brilliant achievement of the ensemble was the successful performance and winning 3 prizes at the III International Festival-Competition “Classics on the city streets”, held on June 1–10, 2012, in the Swiss cities of Bad Ragaz and Mayenfeld.
In April 2011, the ensemble celebrated its 45th anniversary with a magnificent concert in two parts of the Great hall of Belarusian State Philharmonic Society. On April 27, 2016, the 50th anniversary concert was held at that place as well.
The ensemble presents many performances with special numbers and independent concert programs. The group has played on several occasions for foreign delegations, participated in concerts of national significance, at the opening of various exhibitions, festivals, music weeks for children and youth, made recordings at the national radio and television. Jubilee programs devoted to M.Bogdanovich, P.Browka, I.Buinitskii, S.Yesenin, J.Mavr, M.Goretski, I.Zhinovich, etc. were especially memorable.
The Ensemble “Lileya” is a laureate of international festivals in Rostov-on-Don (Russia) and Bialystok (Poland). It successfully gave a tour in Russia(Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Yaroslavl), Ukraine (Kiev, Yalta), Baltic cities (Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn) and Europe (Warsaw, Munich), participated in the World Congresses of Cymbalists in Chisinau (Moldova), Mogilev (Belarus), Bratislava (Slovakia), Appenzell (Switzerland).
Ovsepyan I. “It’s all about sticks” // Soviet Belarus No. 80 (24962) dated 29.04.2016
