The Orchestral Conducting Department was formed in 1968, but even before its official birth, opera and symphony conducting classes were organized within the Folk Instruments Department: in 1937-1938 by I.Musin, in 1945 by O.Bron, then by R.Rubinstein, in 1950th by I.Gitgraz, M.Shneiderman, S.Ratner, V.Dubrovsky, in 1960th by V.Kataev. Art, pedagogic and organizational ideas of this outstanding conductors formed activities of the Department which was headed by talented musicians, Associate Professors: I.Bukreev (1968-1975), S.Kofanov (1975-1986), A.Berin (1986-1997), P.Vandilovsky (1997-2020); Professor, Honored Art Worker of the Republic of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus, owner of the F.Skoryna medal V.Kuznetsov (2020-2023). Currently, the head of the Orchestral Conducting and Instrumentation Department is Associate Professor Sergei Yankovich.
The Department went through big way of professional foundation and reorganizing update. From conducting classes providing developing education for students from Folk Department it became a complex structure of interfaculty type. In 1974 Probation Assistantship was opened. The graduates of the Orchestral Conducting and Instrumentation Department: I.Abramis, Yu.Vasilevsky, L.Ivanov, M.Kozinets, A.Lapunov, L.Liakh, G.Soroka, M.Finberg, as well as N.Aldanov, A.Berin, T.Belkova, V.Bormtov, P.Vandilovsky, A.Galanov, G.Ermochenkov, V.Malykh, V.Chernukho, Z.Shatilo, V.Babarikin, G.Bogomolov, O.Lesun, A.Ivanov, I.Kostiakhin, A.Vysotsky, Yu.Galias, N.Makarevich, V.Ovodiuk, Yu.Karaev made a significant contribution into the development of culture of our country.
For many years students of the specialities “conductor of opera-symphony orchestra”, “conductor of chamber orchestra”, “conductor of folk instruments orchestra”, “conductor of wind instruments orchestra” studied at the Department. The department provided the needs of professional orchestras with highly qualified conductors, staffing educational institutions of Belarus at all levels with conducting and teaching staff. Many of the Department graduates are well-known abroad as touring conductors and directors of professional orchestras.
These successes became possible thanks to the rich pedagogical potential of the Department, where honored people worked at different times: People’s Artist of the Republic of Belarus, Professor B.Penchuk, People’s Artist of the Republic of Belarus, Professor L.Muranov, People’s Artist of the Republic of Belarus, Professor G.Provatorov, Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus,Associate Professor B.Chudakov, Associate Professors P.Vandilovsky, G.Ermochenkov, S.Kofanov, senior teacher V.Miniaev, main conductor of Belarusian State Academic Musical Theatre Yu.Galias, Associate Professor V.Chernikov, Chief Conductor of the Belarusian State Television and Radio Company Orchestra A.Vysotsky, etc.
Since September 1, 2017 The Orchestral Conducting Department became The Orchestral Conducting and Instrumentation Department. The department includes prominent Belarusian composers: Honored Art Worker of the Republic of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize, owner of F.Skoryna medal, Professor V.Kuznetsov; Professor Vladimir Korolchuk, etc.
Before the unity the Instrumentation Department existed as separate interfaculty department (1989-1998 – the head V.Dorokhin, 1998-2015 – the head V.Kuznetsov). During different periods of time famous Belarusian composers and conductors worked at the Department – I.Archangelsky, E.Degtiarik, A.Domoratsky, V.Soltan, V.Ivanov, E.Larionov etc.
In August 2015 the Department was united with the Composition Department (the head – G.Gorelova), since September 1, 2017 it became the Orchestral Conducting and Instrumentation Department (the head – P.Vandilovsky). From June 2020 till April 2023 the Department was headed by V.Kuznetsov. Since May 2023 the Department was headed by S.Yankovich. The unification has strengthened the positions of the Department and turned it into authoritative scientific-methodological center in the sphere of conducting and instrumentation art.
The Department has seven academic orchestral ensembles: a symphony orchestra, a chamber orchestra, a wind instruments orchestra, an orchestra of Russian folk instruments, an orchestra of Belarusian folk instruments, a bayan and accordion orchestra, and a mandolin and guitar orchestra. The orchestral ensembles and their teachers conduct extensive concert and creative activities that meet philharmonic professional standards. The Department initiates and organizes regular competitions and festivals for orchestral ensembles from secondary specialized educational institutions of the Republic of Belarus. The Department also hosts a competition for orchestral conductors, as well as competitions for the best arrangement of folk themes and the best instrumentation.
