Organization of the Chamber Ensemble Department preceded the work of chamber classes under the supervision of well-known cellist, graduate of Moscow Conservatory A.Stogorsky. But chamber ensemble and quartet classes were held by teachers of the special class. In 1962the Chamber Ensemble Department was formed. It was headed by senior teacher of the Brass Instruments Department flutist S.Sizko. Further the Department was headed by: Professor, Honored Artist of BSSR Yu.Korsak (1975-1985), Professor N.Scherbakov (1985-2003), Associate Professor G.Nekrasova (2003-2013), Associate Professor, PhD in Art History L.Orlova (from 2013 till the present time).
The team of the Department was mostly formed in 1965-1970, it included teachers of the conservatory as well as its graduates: in 1960s – N.Scherbakov, Yu.Korsak, E.Gabrielian, L.Deduk, I.Galochkina, T.Solopakho; in 1970s – V.Savina, I.Zharova, I.Lubotskaya, in 1980s – G.Nekrasova, I.Nevskaya. Later new teachers joined the Department: in 1990s – O.Sinetskaya, Zh.Varlamova, V.Sidorov; in 2000s – L.Orlova, D.Moroz, D.Skliarov; in 2010s – T.Levitskaya, S.Petchenko, M.Nekrasova-Gutor, Yu.Pereu, A.Baranenkova, N.Krivosheev; in 2020s – A.Danilov, N.Teran, T.Liakh, A.Teran. During the different periods of time at the department taught L.Barladina, V.Zviagintseva, A.Staroselsky, I.Tursh, O.Krylatova, V.Prishchepov, L.Zimovina, V.Zelenin, V.Nevdakh, A.Khokhlov, I.Kolesnikova, I.Goncherenok, O.Sizko-Gabrielian, E.Gembitskaya, Yu.Galuza, A.Karpenko, A.Buria etc.
At the present time: L.Orlova – the Head of the Department, Associate Professor; Professor – G.Nekrasova, L.Deduk, N.Krivosheev; Associate Professors – O.Sinetskaya, Zh.Varlamova, I.Nevskaya, T.Levitskaya; senior teachers – M.Nekrasova-Gutor, A.Baranenkova, N.Teran; teachers – A.Danilov, T.Liakh, A.Teran, M.Deruga. Piano accompanists: D.Sudakova (viola), P.Cherkas (cello), A.Yurinok (flute), S.Beltsov (violin), O.Trophimova (violin), D.Bobko (saxophone). Teaching at the Department is held on three disciplines: “Chamber ensemble” (piano, string bow instruments, woodwind instruments), “Quartet class” (violin, viola, cello), “Ensemble” (double bass).
Many pages of the History of the Department are connected with the names of S.Sizko, N.Scherbakov, Yu.Korsak. They were united by creative interest, bright performing talent, love of chamber performance, active work on chamber music propaganda. Special place in the development of Belarusian Quartet performance is taken by work of N.Scherbakov as a part of string quartet of Composers’ Union of BSSR founded in 1962 and existed mare than 30 years. During this period of time quartet made a great amount of fund recordings at Republican radio, held more than 600 concerts in different corners of the republic and abroad, about 200 performances were arranged within the programs of thematic cycles of musical edition of Belarusian television. Cycles of concerts made by Yu.Korsak (1975-1978) became the bright achievements of the history of the Department (“Chamber music of I.Brams” (6 concerts), “Chamber music of R.Shuman” (4 concerts)). In the memory of outstanding colleagues twice a year there are held department concerts of the chamber ensembles named after Yu.Korsak and string quartets named after N.Scherbakov.
The active performers of ensembles were teacher of the Department L.Deduk, I.Galochkina, I.Lubotskaya, V.Savina. At the present time performing activity is held by young teachers: A.Danilov, T.Levitskaya, N.Teran, M.Nekrasova-Gutor, A.Teran.
The bright event of the life of the Department was international project “To the 250th anniversary of M.Oginsky: Minsk – Vilnius – Warsaw – Paris” (2015), where string quartet under the supervision of T.Levitskaya took part. The performances successfully were held at the halls of Lithuanian Philharmonic Society, Warsaw University, embassy of the Republic of Belarus in France. Big social resonance was given to international project “110th anniversary of D.Shostakovich – Shemetovo”, made by teachers (T.Levitskaya, S.Petchenko, E.Gembitskaya) and students of the quartet class. Project was made with collaboration of French association.
For the last years within the frames of societal-educational activity many department projects became well-known “Music in theatre”, “Music in museum”. Chamber music performed by students and teachers is played in the Belarusian State Youth Theatre, National Art Museum, Gallery of Savitsky, museum of Vankovichi etc. Student constantly participate in social events of city and republican scale. In 2022 in Belarusian State Philharmonic Society under the supervision of G.Nekrasova was held art project “Commemorated to I.Brams”.
Active art position of the Department brings good results in pedagogical activity too. The prove is numerous wins of the students at international competitions: named after M.Oginsky (Belarus), named after I.Brams (Poland), named after G.Sinetti (Italy), named after S.Taneev (Russia), named after M.Yudina (Russia), named after S.Savshinsky (Russia), named after D.Bortniansky (Ukraine), named after E.Stankevich (Ukraine) etc. Many students are awarded prizes and scholarships from the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus for the support of talented youth.
Geography of master-classes is also impressive: Professor of the Higher Institution of Music and Pedagogy in Namur M.Danel (Belgium), Professors of Gdansk Academy of Music A.Prabutska-Firley and K.Spersky (Poland), Professor of Moscow State Conservatory A.Bonduriansky and Associate Professor I.Krasotina (Russia), Associate Professor E.Nekrasova (Germany). Teachers are invited to be jury members of the international and national competitions.
Great scientific-methodological work is held at the Department. Teachers publish educational editions, programmes and educational-methodological complexes. Thematic and circle of professional issues, touched upon in the research is wide. N.Scherbakov edited quartets of Belarusian composerd, wrote some books about quartet art. The range of educational editions was made at the Department: G.Nekrasova “Sonatas of P.Khindemit for brass instruments and piano in the chamber ensemble class” (2005); L.Orlova “Violin sonatas of Beethoven” (2006); I.Galochkina “F.Pulenk. Sonata for violin and piano at the chamber ensemble class” (2006), “F.Pulenk. Sonata for cello and piano in the chamber ensemble class” (2008); O.Sizko-Gabrielian “Chamber Ensemble: instrumental music of V.Karetnikov (as an example: Trio №1 с-moll for piano, violin and cello and lyric poem “Flutist”)” (2008); I.Nevskaya “Art and evolution of the style of R.Klark based on the material for Sonata for viola and piano and Trio for piano, violin and viola” (2014), Zh.Varlamova “Music of P.Podkpvyrov in the chamber ensemble class: Piano quintet” (2019), O.Sinetskaya “Figurative-stylistic peculiarities of chamber-instrumental art of I.Brams based on the example of Sonata for clarinet №1” (2020). In 2012 L.Orlova defended thesis on the material of which was published monograph “Belarusian piano chamber-instrumental ensemble, composer art and performing practice” (2014). O.Sizko-Gabrielian published monograph “With the belief and the truth” about life and art of V.Sizko and S.Sizko. Teachers of the Department participate in international scientific conferences in the Republic of Belarus and abroad (Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Poland). Teachers of the Department constantly read lectures at the Professional Development and Staff Retraining Faculty of Belarusian State Academy of Music.
The Chamber Ensemble Department participates in all the spheres of academy activities and is always open for all forms of cooperation.
