 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) concerning Choral Studio "Vesnianka"
“Vesnianka” – is it a choir or what?
“Vesnianka” – is a Choral Studio which consists of five choirs: “Chizhik” (Little siskin), “Skvorushka” (Little starling), “Solnyshko” (Sunny), “Posnezhnik” (Snowdrop) and Concert choir “Vesnianka” (the name of the Concert choir coincides with the name of the Studio and means a Spring song).
How many children studies in each choir?
Our Studio consists of 350+ children. Each choir consists of 50-80 boys and girls. The most part of time choirmasters works with groups and sometimes all the choir joins up to sing together.
What kind of music do you sing? Classics or what else?..
The main direction of our repertoire is classical, i.e. choral works of Russian and foreign classical composers (examples: Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Sviridov). There are more folk and children songs in younger choirs, but in senior choirs there is also sacred music, fragments from operas or cantatas, complex modern choral music. There are also lots of ensembles performing various types of musical compositions.
The most wide and complex repertoire has a Concert choir “Vesnianka”, where one can find practically all the genres of choral music: from the ancient motets to the modern arrangements of The Beatles.
How much does it cost to study here?
The education in Studio is absolutely free. “Vesnianka” is a state establishment of the additional education.
How can a child get here?
One of the most important characteristics of our Studio is continuity. That’s why we take new children to the first and youngest choir only (aged 3,5-5 years). There is no chance to get into one of the other “Vesnianka” choirs – each year they collect their choristers from the previous choir of the Studio.
What kind of education “Vesnianka” gives?
By graduating from our Studio each chorister gets it’s own Diploma with marks for the base musical subjects (choir, sol-fa, ensemble, history of music, piano), which represents an official secondary musical education document. At the same time Studio does not have such a purpose – to prepare a child for the entering to the musical or any other creative college. The aims are a bit differs… Nevertheless we have graduates, who entered the Moscow Conservatory and Gnesins Musical College. The name of “Vesnianka” is well-known in all the musical colleges of Moscow.
How often do you have any concerts/tours?
Concert tours are made by the Concert choir only.
For detailed information about our concert schedule please visit the appropriate page (available on Russian only).
How long is the educational process in the Studio?
Well, it takes more than 10 years. A chorister spends two years in each choir on average, and in the Concert choir it takes 5-7 years. So you can count now…
Who are the teachers?
Professionals – mostly conductors and choirmasters, various musical subject tutors. There is nobody in the Studio besides: neither accountants, nor drivers or managers.
What do you mean by saying “ our Palace”? Do you have your own building?
The Palace of Children’s Arts – it is a Moscow State Establishment of the Additional Education. This mansion was built by the well-known merchant Vysotsky before 1917. There are several hobby groups in it now: drawing and beading, choreography and theatre, chess and tourism… But the most part is occupuied by “Vesnianka”, which is in fact the main pride of the Palace.
How can I see? How can I listen to? How can I understand?..
Concerning the web-site you can visit a Photogallery of our choirs (to see), CD-gallery with fragments of audio in mp3 (to listen) and many other pages about each choir, our Rewards and Publications, our Graduates, Choral Summer Camps etc. But they are available on Russian only as an internal information.
In any case you can supplement this virtual information with your real feelings by visiting our concerts or… just walking around in our wonderful little park near the Palace during one of our rehearsals.
Can I help you?
Do you really want to support our Studio? The easiest way is a financial transfer.
But there can be some other effective sorts of help: you can suggest a concert tour for the Concert choir “Vesnianka” by awaking friend’s/partner’s/collegue’s interest in coming a little (touring group consists of 30-40 persons) children’s choir which can sing in the region towns or just bring some good spirits. All we need is lodging and meals (choristers can pay the traveling costs only).
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