Crimean State Phliharmonic Society was founded in 1938. Its aims were to influence the development of music culture in the Crimea and to extend tour activity. The Society unites the following art groups : Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Choir "Tavrichesky Blagovest"("Taurida Church Bell"), State Crimean Tatar Folk Ensemble "Hitarma", Folk Ensemble"Kalinka".
Brief Outline Symphony Orchestra (All-Union Contest laureate) was founded in Yalta in 1937. Aleksey Gulyanitsky (National Artist of Ukraine) has been an art director and a conductor of this orchestra for 35 years. Nowadays it consists of more than 70 musicians.The aims of the orchestra are as follows: to make the audience of different age acquainted with the greatest world music masterpieces of past and present , to popularize Ukrainian and Crimean composers, aesthetic bringing up of the youth. The repertoire consisits of the compositions representing all countries and epoches. The Symphony Orchestra of the Crimean Philharmonic Society is one among those few orchestras of the CIS (former USSR) that still has a system of season performances for children and adults. The orchestra takes an active part in various international art festivals, held in the Crimea. Outstanding instrumentalists, vocalists, conductors and choirs have performed with it. Under its patronage a unique program for young Crimean musicians has been designed.One of the season performances totally devoted to young soloists who have become international laureates and solo artists of leading orchestras of the globe, but used to play with this one at the age of 5.
Chamber Choir of the Crimean State Philharmonic Society "Taurida Blagovest" (a laureate of many international contests)was founded in Simferopol, in 1991. Its art director and conductor is Vladimir Nikolenko , a winner of ARC Prize. The name of the choir reflects an ancient geographical name of the Crimea (Taurida) and Orthodox spirit ( blagovest is a church bell ringing that welcomes believers to church). In December 1995 the choir was given a status of professional one and nowadays it is in the Crimean Philharmonic Society. Students and graduates from conservatoires, institutes and music schools of Ukraine and the CIS sing in it. Its repertoire consists of Ukraine and Russian Orthodox gospel music. Lately the repertoire has been widened owing to west European classic and multi-national Crimean folk music . The choir has made more than 10 tours around France, Russia, Poland, Germany. It has become a laureate of two international contests and a participant of several international, national and regional festivals. At present time the choir gives about 80 performances a year mainly in Crimean towns and villages.
State Crimean Tatar Ensemble"Hitarma" was organized n Simferopol in 1937. It was called "The Ensemble of Crimean Tatar Song and Dance". It was dismissed due to deportation . The ensemble was reorganized under the present name in Tashkent in 1957. In 1992 it moved to the Crimea (Yevpatoria). The staff consisits of 45 persons. The ensamble is a laureate of Lenin Komsomol of Uzbekistan Prize, International "Mortsishor" Festival(Moldova), International Art Festival in Izmir(Turkey). Its art director is Remzie Useinovna Tarsinova-Bakkal (National Artist of Tajikistan, ARC Prize laureate ). Music director is Refat Alimdganovich Ashirov (National Artist of Uzbekistan and Ukraine , Arc Prize laureate ). The repertoire of the ensemble is folk songs and dances of Crimean Tatars and other Crimean nationalities.The ensemble gives concerts for the government , does enlightening work among school children, takes part in various Ukrainian festivals.The ensemble has been awarded by Crimean goverment with a diploma . Despite the fact that "Hitarma" is quite young, many of its artists have already got titles of National Artists of the Crimea , Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Ensemble "Kalinka" (folk instruments) was started in 1978 in Yalta. Kirill Borovsky (Honoured Artist of Ukraine) is its art director. The ensemble is well known outside the Crimea.Yury Bagatikov(National Artist of the USSR) has been performed with "Kalinka" for many years.The ensemble has been on tour in the USA, Canada, France, Germany,Switzerland, Yugoslavia and Taiwan. All their tours have been successful.The artists from Yalta Department of the Crimean State Philharmonic Society perform with"Kalinka". They are V. Kolesnikov, N. Kozlova, M. Semyonova, I. Grevtsov, M. Vikhrova. All of them are Honoured Artists of Ukraine.The repertoire contains the best samples of Ukrainian and Russian folklore which reflect Slavic culture in all its originality and beauty.
