On April 5th, 2018, the XXXV International Festival of Children, Youth and Student Creativity "The Blue Bird of Gzhel-2018" was opened at the university, which is held under the motto: "The power of Russia is the unity of people!"

The festival was attended by teams and performers from institutions of additional, secondary and higher education in Moscow and Moscow, Vladimir, Ryazan, Kemerovo, Tula regions, as well as foreign contestants from 12 countries: Belarus, Guatemala, India, Kazakhstan, Cuba, China, Lugansk People’s Republic, El Salvador, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, France, Czech Republic. The festival is held in two stages: April 5th – 7th and April 13th - April 14th.

At the opening of the festival greeting speeches were made by the GSU rector B.V. Ilkevich, chairman of the committee on culture and tourism of Ramensky district administration O.B. Egorova, general director of LLC "Ceramics of Gzhel", manager of the non-commercial enterprise "Chamber of Folk Crafts and Crafts" S.A. Akentiev, head of the Novokharitonovskoe rural settlement N.A. Shirenina, head of Gzhel rural settlement G.N. Golinkova.

On the first day of the festival, the opening of an exhibition of arts and crafts and the performance of contestants in the nominations "Art Word", "Literary and Musical Composition" and "Theatrical Creativity" took place.

Prof. B.V. Ilkevich, opening the exhibition, noted that every year the festival participants become more numerous and for many of them this is an opportunity to express themselves, to show their creative abilities. Dean of the Faculty of Decorative and Applied Art and Design, Honored Artist of Russia G.P. Moskovskaya also congratulated the guests and participants of the festival with the opening of the exhibition, wishing to develop a love of art, to seek inspiration in ordinary things, to learn to be individual.

In the nomination "Art word" 56 contestants were evaluated by the poet and composer of the head of the choir "Sineokaya side" L. S. Chernova, PR-manager of GSU V.V. Semenova, PR-manager of the Ramenskoe sports school E.I. Kholod, the head of the Department of Culture and Art of GSU College T.M. Burdilkina, a member of the Commission for Sport and Youth Policy of the Public Chamber of the Ramensky District, the representative of the Moscow regional branch of the Russian Youth Union, E.Yu. Martynov.

E. I. Kholod shared her opinion after the jury’s work:

"Unfortunately, reading books is becoming less popular among the younger generation, the competition is just designed to arouse interest in thoughtful reading. The festival copes with this task - there are more people wishing to speak every year. Pleases and the choice of contestants - basically, it’s classics: Chekhov, Teffi, Dragunsky, Tyutchev, Akhmatova, Asadov. Today, the guys tried to create an image, reading poems and prose in suits, appropriate to the content, with musical accompaniment. Many managed to convey the author’s thoughts. Judging is never easy. In my opinion, all those who did not hesitate to come out and speak have already won! "

Nominations "Literary and Musical Composition" and "Theatrical Creativity" were evaluated by: writer, producer, author of books and international literature and music projects, candidate for the Union of Writers of Russia S.Yu. Uskov, director of the Ramenskoye Historical and Art Museum L.A. Slizova, head of the Department of International Relations of GSU N.V. Barkalova, artistic director of Vorovsky Palace of Culture and head of the theatrical collective "Sounding Word" V.G. Zolotukhina, the entertainer, teacher of GSU, head of STEP Theater Studio S.K. Yarr.

In the submitted nominations were made about 160 people. Bright and memorable among the presented on stage was the literary and musical composition "Women who killed the war" the theater studio "Debut" from Voskresensk. The jury also noted the play "The Young Lady-Peasant" of the theatrical collective "Descendants of Melpomene" at Ramenskoe School № 1, the play-joke "Proposal" of the theater-studio "GeTeS" from Domodedovo Gymnasium № 5.

S. Uskov shared his impression of the festival:

"By occupation I often work in the jury of various creative competitions. But the festival "The Blue Bird of Gzhel" is a special case! Its 35-year history has no analogues: a huge number of contestants, different vectors of the application of creative forces ... The impeccable organization, the attentive attitude of the organizers to the contestants turned the festival into a bright and joyful holiday. Its high international status is an incentive for developing and improving. I wish to "The Blue Bird…" success and prosperity! ".

6th and 7th April 2018 at the festival were about 500 contestants in the categories "Musical Performance" and "Vocal Creativity". Their work was evaluated by this jury: the honored worker of culture of the Byelorussian SSR, the People’s Artist of the Republic of Belarus E.S. Hanok, the producer, the journalist, the author and the host of the TV program "The ships came to our harbor" the teacher of the Higher School of Television E.N. Filina.

E.N. Filina shared her impressions of the last competitive day of the festival: "The second year I am a member of the jury of the International Festival of Children, Youth and Student Creativity "The Blue Bird of Gzhel ". The second year I get an unusual pleasure: talented children, interesting songs, original musicians, selfless, dedicated teachers.

We listened to the participants for two days from morning till night, but we filled with joy and energy! What happiness, that in our country there are so many talented children who are striving for creativity. I remember many numbers. A great impression was made by the performance of the combined choir of school № 22 in the village of Dubovaya Roshcha, which consists of two Honoured collectives: "Harmony" and "Fasolka". The songs, performed by the guys with such sincerity, sincerity, professionalism, struck to the depths of their hearts. Many thanks to the choirmaster E.Yu. Ryabova, the concertmaster I.A. Volodko and, of course, the director of the school, T.L. Savchenko. I really liked the voice of my namesake, sixteen-year-old Elizaveta Filina. Such a professional, soulful performance of the "Song of the Birds"! The festival was attended by brilliant folk groups. It would be my will, I would award 90 per cent of the singers with awards and prizes - the highest level! Thank you for the pleasure!

The site of the International Festival of Children, Youth and Student Creativity "The Blue Bird of Gzhel": http://ptizagzheli.ru

Members of the jury also noted the song "Carnival" performed by the student of the Humanitarian College of the RSUH Matos Chappotin Regla, the performance of the choir "Gzhelushka" of the Rechitsy school and many others.

By the end of the first competitive days in the book reviews of the festival, many participants have left feedback.

"We liked your university for a friendly and interesting atmosphere. Creativity is everywhere! The collective of the children’s creative studio "Vivat".

"Hello, Blue Bird, we are debutants. Hooray! Thank you for your hospitality and pleasant atmosphere. We hope that the excitement will not cause punctures on the stage. We want to catch a blue bird by the tail! The duet "Litsedei - Retro - Mix".

The first stage of the festival is over. On April 13th and 14th, it will be continued for choreographic groups.

The awarding ceremony will take place on May, 29th.

We wish good luck to the participants of the festival!

V.I. Fedotova,

organizer of cultural and mass work