President Aliyev opens new building of National Conservatory (UPDATE)
By Nigar Orujova
The new administrative and educational building of Azerbaijan's National Conservatory was inaugurated in Baku on February 13.
President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inaugural ceremony.
Azerbaijan's National Conservatory, which was set up by a decree signed by national leader Heydar Aliyev in 2000, is one of the higher education institutions of the country which started operating in the period of independence.
The relevance of such issues as the study and teaching of national culture at an important junction in the public and cultural life of the country necessitated the establishment of the National Conservatory. Later, in August 2001 Baku Music College and the National Art School were incorporated into the National Conservatory.
The construction of a new administrative and educational building of the National Conservatory began in 2006. In 2012, Ilham Aliyev signed an order on additional measures for the construction of this educational institution and allocated financial resources.
The activities to promote Azerbaijani culture on a global scale and develop the national art of mugham are now playing an important role in shaping up the international image of the country.
Informing the head of state, the rector of Azerbaijan's National Conservatory, People's Artist Siyavush Karimi said that the building has all the conditions for the organization of the educational process at a high level.
The library of the National Conservatory has all the necessary literature. The classrooms are equipped with modern facilities. The gym is well suited for a variety of competitions.
The new building of the conservatory, where 287 students are receiving education, can provide training to 1,000 students.
The teaching staff of the National Conservatory includes outstanding performers of folk instruments, professional conductors, singers, renowned musicologists, composers, and scholars in social sciences.
In order to combine education and science, the National Conservatory has scientific laboratories on the "Application of folk music" and "Study of national musical instruments".
The laboratories focus on the restoration of ancient folk musical instruments, their improvement, application and training. One of the key areas of scientific and practical activity is the collection of folk music samples, their design, recording and use in the learning process.
Following, the president and the first lady met with the teachers of the National Conservatory and prominent cultural figures.
Addressing the ceremony participants, President Aliyev congratulated them on this occasion.
"There is a recording studio and a mugham club as well. So there are all the conditions, and I am sure that the activity of the Conservatory will be even more successful in the future, as it will be possible to admit more students," he said.
The president stressed all of the new and renovated higher education institutions are at a wonderful level. "Of course, the learning process should also be organized at a high level."
President Aliyev noted national music shows the talent of the Azerbaijani people and is very important for the preservation of national traditions.
"We should take into consideration that the youth shows great interest in the national music. The competitions and festivals conducted in our country further increase this interest," he said.
Aliyev added that at the same time, Azerbaijani artists achieve great success in other areas. "In a short time Azerbaijani singers won the first place in the "Eurovision" song contest. Our musicians win leading positions in international jazz festivals."
Mehriban Aliyeva, for her part, underscored that persons of culture have always been a focus of attention in Azerbaijan, and development of culture, in particular the national music, has been a priority.
"A young generation will grow up in these conditions and benefit from the experience of teachers like you," she said, and expressed respect for teachers and wished them sound health and long life "so that universal values - as they are of paramount importance today - and humanistic values continue to live."