An International Mugham Contest is being held within the framework of the Space of Mugam 6th International Music Festival
On June 19, the first phase of the International Mugham Contest’s first round was organized within the framework of the Space of Mugam 6th International Music Festival at the National Conservatoire of Azerbaijan.
The International Mugham Contest was organized on the categories of singing and instrumental performance. Chairperson of the contest’s jury on the categories of singing and instrumental performance is rector of the National Conservatoire, People’s Artist Siyavush Kerimi, with members of the jury being chief editor of the magazine Songlines- a well-known music publication in the Great Britain - Simon Broughton, musician from Iraq, ud performer, UNESCO’s Peace Artist Naseer Shamma, founder and conductor of “Sogdiana” State Traditional Instruments Chamber Orchestra from Uzbekistan Firuza Abdurahmanova and, from Türkiye, chairperson of the International Traditional Music Council ‘s research group for Turkic Language World Music Abdullah Akat.
Along with Azerbaijan, 22 performers are participating in the International Mugham Festival, from Iran, Israel, Uzbekistan and Türkiye. On the category of instrumental performance, 12 performers will compete for the first place, while on the category of singing, there will be 10 performers to compete.
At the contest, Azerbaijan will be represented by 5 performers on the category of instrumental performance, with 4 performers competing on the category of singing. In the category of singing, performers are Mirali Saryzade, Khayal Huseynov, Zumrud Mammadova and Dashgyn Kurchayly, while in the category of instrumental performance will compete Vagif Tahmazov, Jahandar Mikayilov, Bayramali Aliyev and Soltan Nadirov who had taken first 3 places at the National Mugham Contest. Another performer to represent our country in the category of instrumental performance is Anar Velizade, a student of the National Conservatoire.
First hearings at the contest were conducted on the category of instrumental performance. 6 participants whose names were drawn in the lot – Bayramali Aliyev, Sultan Nadirov, Vagif Tahmazov (Azerbaijan), Zilola Ruziyeva, Jahongir Otamuradov, Shoxijihan Yoriyev (Uzbekistan) - on the category of instrumental performance, and 5 performers in the lot on the category of singing – Dashgyn Kurchayly, Zumrud Mammadova (Azerbaijan), Mohichera Shahmuratova, Ramziddin Ergashev, Dostmurod Negmurodov (Uzbekistan) - presented their performances.
In the next phase of the first round of the contest to be held on June 20, hearings of 6 performers will be organized on the category of instrumental performance, with 5 performers being on the category of singing. Winners will be chosen from among the performers who have moved up to the second round. The second round of the contest will be held on June 21st .
At the final concert of the festival to be held at the Heydar Aliyev Centre on June 25 will be an awarding of the winners. Winners of the contest on the categories of singing and instrumental performance will be chosen by an international jury comprised of members from Azerbaijan, the Great Britain, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye. Awards will be presented for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, as well as on Grand Prix.
The Space of Mugham 6th International Music Festival is being held with the organizational support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Culture Ministry, enjoying the support of the Ministry of Science and Education and the National Conservatoire of Azerbaijan.
