Union of Composers

The Union of composers of Russian Federation is an assignee, founded in 1960, of the Union of composers of Russian SFSR. At the First Constituent Congress, which took place in Moscow, in April, 1960, Dmitri Shostakovich was unanimously elected as the First Secretary of Board.

Since then, the Union of composers has been headed by:

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1960 — 1968)

• Georgy Sviridov (1968 — 1973)

• Rodion Shchedrin (1973 — 1990)

• Vladislav Kazenin (1990 — 2014)

• Rashid Kalimullin (since December, 2015)

Priority activities of the organization are:

- development and strengthening of the composer organizations in regions;

- stimulation and creation of ample opportunities for composer creativity;

- advance of musical culture and compositions of the Russian composers in Russia and abroad;

- development and support of youth composer creativity;

- protection of copyright of composers;

- edition of notes and record of discs, and also distribution of pieces of music;

- creation of positive image of the organization for expansion of opportunities and strengthening of the authority on musical space of the Russian Federation.

Festivals of the Union of composers of Russia: " Panorama of music of Russia", "Composers of Russia — to children", "Music of friends", "A solar circle".

Members of the Union of composers of Russia are 1011 composers and musicologists, many of which are conferred the state awards and ranks.

A Youth office of composers (MolOt) exists at the organization, since 2009. It has 26 representations in Russia and abroad.

The first Constituent Congress took place in Moscow, in April, 1960. Unanimously, Dmitry Shostakovich was elected as the first secretary of Board.

Having headed the Union of composers, Dmitry Shostakovich, concentrated attention on strengthening contacts with the local composer organizations. Thanks to Shostakovich's efforts, the role of the new Union increased every day and, soon, it became the organizing center of modern musical art in Russia. Public work did not impinge on the creativity of the great composer; at this time he has created grandiose symphonic works, operas and ballets, oratorios and cantatas, chamber works, songs, and music for theater and cinema. Due to poor health however, Shostakovich was forced in 1968 to leave the post at the Second Congress. In memory of him, the Union of composers of Russia founded in 1981, an award in his honor.

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