The Choir School: Its Years Are Its Wealth

Lev Konstantinovich Sivukhin once dreamed that the boys’ chapel would become a choir school, after which young men could enter the conservatory directly. The dream came true. In 1993. At the end of May the school’s hall was again filled with the ringing voices of boys. The concert was an unusual one. The first graduates of the choir school showed their readiness for independent work. The teachers, parents, friends and choristers worried: the strictest, most kindly and most grateful listeners.

The time has come, sad \nfor many \nAnd joyful at the same hour, \nWhen the doors have opened \nand unseen the gods \nEscort you into youth. \nDo you remember what you were like in childhood, \nWhen you entered the temple of learning? \nNaive, tousle-haired, \nfunny \nTo the delight of your mothers and our wonder. \nWe shall never, believe us, forget \nHow your voices \nsoared upward, \nHow people rejoiced at the concerts, \nWhat wonders you worked!

The grandmother of Slava Valeev, one of the graduates, has tears of joy and pride in her eyes for her grandson. He is a singer not only in the school’s youth choir but also in the conservatory’s “Blagovest”, and a concert host.

In his bearing, actions and movements as a conductor one feels self-confidence and professionalism.

To receive the coveted diploma of choir director and teacher of solfège and choral subjects, the graduates still had to pass state exams in choral conducting. Only 30 minutes before the start of the exam did each of them learn which piece he would conduct. The young singers gave their all so as not to let down their older colleagues. Besides well-known choral works by Bortnyansky, Arkhangelsky and others, the young conductors, the concert choir, the youth choir and the chamber choir “Nizhny Novgorod” showed choral premieres by Nizhny Novgorod composers, which will later enter the school’s repertoire.

The State examination commission was headed by the Conservatory associate professor, Honoured Art Worker of the Russian Federation G. Muratov. The members of the commission were: the school’s director E. I. Khazin; the artistic director and conductor, People’s Artist L. Sivukhin; the choirmaster E. Makarov; the rector of the Conservatory, Honoured Art Worker of the Russian Federation E. Fertelmeister; and the vice-rector for academic and educational work N. Pokrovsky.

Almost all of them are graduates of the Nizhny Novgorod Boys’ Chapel.

And here they are, the first graduates of the Nizhny Novgorod Choir School, who withstood all the tests over 12 years of study: Evgeny Fokin, Vladimir Samokhin, Ivan Maximov, Alexander Bolshakov and, having passed all the exams with distinction, Anton Mochalov, Vyacheslav Valeev, Alexander Orlov and Alexander Baraev (conducting class supervisors N. Pokrovsky, E. Makarov, E. Fertelmeister).

A diploma with distinction is a “pass” to the conservatory. The state exams are at the same time the entrance exams to a music university.

How do the Nizhny Novgorod luminaries of choral conducting assess the achievements of the young musicians?

G. Muratov: A successful class. Four diplomas with distinction say a lot. The boys have great prospects. I welcome the work of the choir school.

N. Pokrovsky: The boys are all different. Each has his own face and his own ways of expressing his abilities. Some of them have received a developing education, some are quite good pianists or vocalists, or budding composers. For those who dedicate their lives to conducting, what they have been taught is only the beginning. Real conductors become so somewhere after 40. The boys have every prerequisite to continue their studies and become masters of their craft.

Asked what he would like his pupils to be like, the school’s director E. Khazin answered:

— As they are. With all their merits, shortcomings and complexes. Every person is a personality who should show himself in many ways, not just, like a machine, obey the will of others.

And indeed, musicians, especially on the threshold of their creative activity, have a complex inner world. They are almost children. They can be offended over trifles, vulnerable, very sensitive to injustice that humiliates their dignity as a person or as an artist. They have their own unsolvable problems and experiences, which leave their mark on their creative work or their attitude to people.

- What were we like in our childhood years? We respected the older chapel boys and took the choir more seriously than boys do today. We are self-critical, we understand when we falter, and we feel and are very upset when an unprepared audience does not take in our singing…

The school’s teachers are pleased with their first graduating class. They are sad at parting with the boys and send them off with good wishes.

We would like to wish you \npatience, \nThe ability to listen to the many-voiced choir, \nOther worlds, successes, inspiration, \nMay work be your friend \nfrom an early age. \nLearn to remember the good, \nLearn to forget the bad for ever, \nFor good is like the golden sun, and only with it is man all-powerful. \nBelieve us, our doors will not be shut \nBy a stormy whirlwind \nor by anyone’s commanding glance, \nAnd our home will shelter you from misfortune \nAnd joyfully welcome here \nthe boys who have grown up.

And the school’s administration is already thinking of transforming it into a choral academy. It all depends on funding.

“Nizhegorodsky Rabochy” No. 125, E. GOLOMA

Poems by L. MAKAROVA, a teacher of the choir school. Photos by L. DMITRIEV.

IN THE PHOTOS: school director E. Khazin presents a graduation diploma to Anton Mochalov; choir school graduate Slava Valeev.