From April 8 to 14, 2025, Khabarovsk hosted the I International Conference “Music Education in the Far East: Challenges and Solutions” as part of the XIV Yuri Bashmet International Music Festival. The event brought together representatives of leading educational and cultural institutions of the Far Eastern Federal District, experts in arts education, as well as government officials and members of public organizations. The conference became a significant professional event, uniting discussion platforms, presentations of best practices, and initiatives aimed at developing the creative potential of young people.
One of the highlights of the plenary session was a video address by Alexey Olegovich Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic. In his remarks, the Minister emphasized the importance of systematically supporting music education as a foundation for the sustainable social and cultural development of the macroregion. Special attention was given to the formation of a modern educational infrastructure and the creation of conditions for the professional growth and self-realization of talented children and youth.
The Minister expressed his support for the initiative of the I International Performing Arts Competition-Festival “Symphony of Kindness”, within which the formation of the First Far Eastern Youth Symphony Orchestra is planned. According to the Minister, this project not only helps identify and promote gifted performers, but also aims to create a unified cultural space, strengthen interregional connections, and promote creative integration among young people.
The Higher School of Music of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) also took part in the conference. Svetlana Vladimirovna Vdovenko, Vice-Rector for Academic and Research Affairs, presented a report titled “Project-Based Development as a Tool for Improving the Quality of Arts Education: The Experience of the Higher School of Music of the RS(Y)”. In her speech, she shared successful practices for implementing a project-based approach in the educational process, outlined promising development areas, and highlighted the importance of integrating academic, research, and creative activities in the training of professional musicians.
Participation in the conference served as a platform for exchanging professional approaches, sharing regional experiences, and discussing the prospects for the development of music education in the Far East. The initiatives presented—including the creation of the Youth Symphony Orchestra—received high praise from participants and underscored the relevance of a comprehensive approach to supporting talented youth across the Far Eastern Federal District.
One of the highlights of the plenary session was a video address by Alexey Olegovich Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic. In his remarks, the Minister emphasized the importance of systematically supporting music education as a foundation for the sustainable social and cultural development of the macroregion. Special attention was given to the formation of a modern educational infrastructure and the creation of conditions for the professional growth and self-realization of talented children and youth.
The Minister expressed his support for the initiative of the I International Performing Arts Competition-Festival “Symphony of Kindness”, within which the formation of the First Far Eastern Youth Symphony Orchestra is planned. According to the Minister, this project not only helps identify and promote gifted performers, but also aims to create a unified cultural space, strengthen interregional connections, and promote creative integration among young people.
The Higher School of Music of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) also took part in the conference. Svetlana Vladimirovna Vdovenko, Vice-Rector for Academic and Research Affairs, presented a report titled “Project-Based Development as a Tool for Improving the Quality of Arts Education: The Experience of the Higher School of Music of the RS(Y)”. In her speech, she shared successful practices for implementing a project-based approach in the educational process, outlined promising development areas, and highlighted the importance of integrating academic, research, and creative activities in the training of professional musicians.
Participation in the conference served as a platform for exchanging professional approaches, sharing regional experiences, and discussing the prospects for the development of music education in the Far East. The initiatives presented—including the creation of the Youth Symphony Orchestra—received high praise from participants and underscored the relevance of a comprehensive approach to supporting talented youth across the Far Eastern Federal District.
