Mugham TV Contest-2013 comes to an end
The finals of the Mugham TV Contest-2013, a project by the Azerbaijan Culture Foundation, which has been held during 3 months with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, organizational support from the Azerbaijan Television and participation of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture took place at the Azerbaijan State Academic Drama Theatre, November 6.
Academician Ziyad Samadzadeh and chairman of the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis, corresponding member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science Nizami Jafarov delivered a speech at the event.
Matchless services of Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva for preservation, popularization and development of Azerbaijan’s mugham art have been emphasized, and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s role in revealing new talents was underlined.
Speakers stated that the Azerbaijani mugham has formed a significant branch of our professional music culture.
The Mugham TV Contest-2013 was launched at the International Mugham Centre on August 6. The Contest has been broadcast through the Azerbaijan Television and Radio, as well as “Medeniyyet” Channel.
Young singers were selected through auditions held in various districts and cities of the republic. 48 khanendes ( a singer) out of over 500 contenders who participated in the first round won the right to perform in the next round, of which 21 young khanende was qualified to perform on the Baku scene. The jury of the mugham TV contest, which has become a tradition and is now held for the fourth time, included People’s Artists Alibaba Mammadov, Arif Babayev, Sakina Ismailova, Aghakhan Abdullayev, Mansum Ibrahimov, Honoured Person of Culture, chairperson of the Union of Composers Sardar Jafarov and Honoured Person of Art, organization director of the Contest Nadir Akhundov.
Then young singers Khatai Hajiyev, Gulnar Gudratli, Babek Gouliyev, Ramig Bayramov, Zumrud Mammadova, Sarkhan Buniyadzadeh and Mirpasha Shukurov, who had won the right to perform at the finals, once more performed before the audience and the Jury, accompanied by “Mugham” instrumental group. Performances by Murad Abdulazimov and Ayshan Mehdiyeva, who for justified reasons could not take part in the next round of the contest held in Nakhchivan, were also heard.
At the end, the Jury announced the names of winners, and held a ceremony of awarding them.
14 contenders were awarded diplomas.
Murad Abdulazimov and Ayshan Mehdiyeva were honoured with “Audience Sympathy Award”, and were presented a gaval with logos of the Contest organizers.
By a unanimous decision of the Jury, Sarkhan Buniyadzadeh was awarded the first place, Khatai Hajiyev and Zumrud Mammadova the second place, and Ramig Bayramov, Gulnar Gudratli and Babek Gouliyev the third place.
12 year-old participant of the “Mugham TV Contest” Mirpasha Shukurov was awarded the highest prize of the Contest – a “Grand-Prix”.
Winners were presented diplomas and valuable keepsakes with symbols of Azerbaijan’s music instruments.
Speaking on behalf of the Jury, People’s Artist Alibaba Mammadov said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva have breathed new life into our mughams, having always supported their development and promotion.
At the end, winners together performed “Garabagh Shikestesi”.
