The Choral Conducting Department was founded in 1934. I.Bari (graduate of Moscow Conservatory, student of Professor N.Danilin). Further the Head of the Department was L.Shvarts (graduate of Moscow Conservatory, class of G.Dmitrievsky). She was also the first choirmaster of opera studio of the Conservatory. In 1940 new teacher joined the Department – N.Maslov (graduate of Moscow Conservatory, class of P.Chesnokov). In the beginning of 1940s the Conducting-Choir Faculty graduated students. Among graduates: A.Yushkevich (Professor of Moldavian Conservatory), D.Khurgina (choirmaster for Leningrad groups) etc.
In 1994 when the work of the Conservatory was renewed after war, new teachers began to work at the Department – M.Sheiderman and S.Ratner. Graduate of Leningrad Conservatory, Honored Art Worker of BSSR, conductor of the theatre of opera and ballet of BSSR, Professor I.Gitgartz was heading the Department for 20 years. Later at the Department were invited graduate of Leningrad State Conservatory A.Zelenkova (since 1949) and graduate of Vilnius Conservatory and Postgraduate School of Moscow Conservatory V.Rovdo (since 1956).
From 1963 till 2007 PhD in Art History, People’s Artist of BSSR V.Rovdo headed the Department. Then the Head was Associate Professor V.Avramenko and since February 2011 – Associate Professor I.Bodiako.
At the different time People’s Artist of BSSR A.Kogadeev, People’s Artist of BSSR, Professor M.Drinevsky, Honored Culture Worker of BSSR V.Vorotnikov, Honored Art Worker of BSSR K.Poplavsky, Associate Professor V.Avramenko as well as I.Zhuravlenko, V.Ulianov, L.Romanovskaya, T.Gulina, E.Gromyko, N.Khvisiuk, L.Shimonovich worked at the Department.
At the present time PhDs of Art History, Associate Professors S.Gerasimovich, A.Sadovskaya, T.Slabodchikova, Yu.Karaev, A.Savritsky, T.Slabodchikova, senior teachers V.Glushakov, O.Izhik, A.Khrapitskaya, O.Yanum. A.Arlukevich work at the Department.
The main direction of activity of the Department is training of high qualified specialists for work in the theatrical and concert establishments, higher and secondary special educational institutions, music schools. At the present time the graduates of the Department are leading choirmasters of the National Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Opera and Ballet of the Republic of Belarus, State Academic Choir Chappelle named after G.Shirma, National Academic People’s Choir named after G.Tsitovich, Academic choir of Belarusian State Television and Radio Company, State Chamber Choir, Music Chapelle “Sonorus” etc.
The main creative achievements of the Student choir of the Academy organized in 1995 became Grand Prix at International choir competition of music universities of the CIS countries and Europe (Moldavia, Kishinev, 1995), Grand Prix “Oscar” and 3 “Golden diplomas” at II International competition of choirs (Germany, Darmstadt, 1997), Grand Prix at XVI International festival of orthodox choral music (Poland, Hainowka, 1997), Grand Prix at International Festival “God Almighty” (Belarus, Mogilev, 2000) etc.
Teachers of the Department spend many time of practical choirmaster activity, take part at the jury work at international and republican competitions and festivals. On November 2009 at the basis of the Academy was organized I open festival of choral conductors named after V.Rovdo, on April 2014 – III competition that was dedicated to 80th anniversary of the Choral Conducting Department (photogallery). On November 2016 was held IV competition (to 95th anniversary of V.Rovdo) (photogallery).
To preserve traditions and development of modern education of conductors-choirmasters in Belarus in 2010, 2012 and 2015 was held competition of choral conductors among students of secondary special educational institutions, student scientific-practical conferences (“Choral performance: traditions and modernity” – 2010, “Choral Art: yesterday, today, tomorrow” – 2013, “Choral art to the beginning of XXI century: state and perspectives” – 2015), festivals “Viva CHOIR!”, within the frames of which were held numerous concert events in 2012 and 2014. On the Department’s initiative since 2006 was held creative and educational project “Choral pages of XX century” within the frames of which were held concerts, creative meetings, lectures, master-classes of famous choral conductors from Russia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Latvia. The Department is initiator of holding city festivals of choral music, that annually are held lately, including festival of choral and instrumental music dedicated to 70th anniversary of Soviet peoples’ Victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), Republican promotion “Choral Veche” etc.
Teachers hold various scientific-methodological work: compel typological educational programmes for higher education institutions, publish educational-methodological manuals and collections of choral music. Teachers always help teachers of music colleges methodologically, read lecture courses at the Faculty of Personal Development and Staff Retraining of the Academy of Music, take part in holding state exams in music colleges. The Department is initiator of conducting Republican seminars-practicums of choral singing under creative supervision of leading masters of performing choral art that are held during last years.
