All the participants and guests of IX International Musical Competition Festival “Silver Lyre” gathered in the green hall of K.A. Savitsky Art Gallery.

The programme of the festival is very diverse and involves auditions, scientific and methodological seminar, workshops and round tables of Russian and international musicians, honoured figures in musical culture and education.

“Silver Lyre” has a nine-year-old history and has been held since 2011 in order to maintain and develop the traditions of classical music art; to provide spiritual and moral training of children and the youth; to identify talented performers. Owing to the cooperation which appeared under this musical forum, Institute of Teacher Education, PSU, is strengthening its professional and creative links with various Russian regions and abroad”, said Tatyana Shipilkina, organizer of the festival, Head of the Department “Music and Methods of Teaching Music”.

The competition festival has three nominations: vocal performance, instrumental performance and accompanying skills. Performers of five age categories – from beginners (8-11 years old) to professionals – participate in all the three nominations.

This year about 200 young and professional musicians from Penza, Kuznetsk, Zarechny, Nikolsk, Tambov, Saransk, Marks, Saratov, Samara, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Taganrog, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Lugansk People's Republic and People's Republic of China take part in the festival.

“Year by year the competitors’ skills are greater, the programmes they perform are becoming more difficult, so the organizing committee, teachers and the jury have a huge responsibility for the quality of this competition”, emphasized Elena Krasovskaya, member of the jury.