The Orchestral Conducting and Instrumentation Department was formed in 1968, but before its foundation there were classes of opera-symphony conducting: 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). At this time the head of the Department is S.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 was opened Probation Assistantship. The graduates of the Department of Orchestral Conducting and Instrumentation: 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 professional orchestras with high qualified conductors; educational institutions of Belarus – with conductors-teachers. Many of the Department graduates are well-known abroad as touring conductors and leaders of professional orchestras.
This success was possible thanks to rich pedagogic potential of the Department where worked special specialists – 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 etc.
Today in the work of the Department participate: main conductor of State Academic Symphony Orchestra, People’s Artist of the Republic of Belarus A.Anisimov, People’s Artist of the Republic of Belarus M.Bersan, main conductor of symphony orchestra of Brest Drama Theatre, Associate Professor A.Sosnovsky, leader of Russian People’s Orchestra of Belarusian State Academy of Music, senior teacher E.Takhirova, leader of Wind Orchestra of Belarusian State Academy of Music, senior teacher N.Teran, conductor of Belarusian State Academic Musical Theatre, leader of Symphony Orchestra of Belarusian State Academy of Music, N.Makarevich.
Since September 1, 2017 The Orchestral Conducting Department became The Orchestral Conducting and Instrumentation Department. The teachers of the Department included Belarusian composers: Honored Art Worker of the Republic of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize, owner of F.Skoryna medal, Professor V.Kuznetsov, N.Litvin, S.Yankovich.
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 (2017-2020). 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 strengthen the positions of the Department and turned it into authoritative scientific-methodological center in the sphere of conducting and instrumentation art.
There are three educational orchestras at the Department – symphony, chamber and wind. Orchestral teams and teachers hold active concert and creative activities that meet up all philharmonic professional standards. The Department is initiator and organizer of holding regular competitions and festivals of orchestral teams among secondary special educational institutions in Belarus. At the Department there is a competition of orchestral conductors; competitions on the best arrangement of folk topics and best instrumentation.
