The XXVI Regional Music Festival for Young Performers “Our Hopes” has kicked off in Dagestan, bringing together gifted students from children’s art schools and music colleges across the republic. The opening concert unfolded on the stage of the Kumyk State Drama and Music Theatre, featuring young musicians from Makhachkala, Buynaksk, Kaspiysk and Derbent—who, under the guidance of their teachers, have been preparing for this prestigious event since the start of the academic year.

In her opening remarks, Irina Nakhtigal—Artistic Director of Dagestan Philharmonic and Honored Art Worker of Russia—emphasized the festival’s singular importance: “‘Our Hopes’ is the only project of its kind in the North Caucasus that offers young performers the rare and invaluable opportunity to collaborate with a professional orchestra and hone their solo artistry.”

For 26 years, the S. Khrzhanovsky Chamber Orchestra, led by Zarefa Abdullaeva—Honored Artist of Russia—has provided a musical home for generations of aspiring artists. The orchestra has not only nurtured hundreds of young talents from Dagestan but has also welcomed participants from across Russia. For many, this festival has been their first major public performance—a pivotal moment that often marks the beginning of a professional musical journey.

This year’s program showcased a rich and diverse repertoire, including instrumental and vocal works by Russian and Western European composers, as well as compositions by Caucasian masters. Performances featured a wide array of instruments: violin, piano, voice, flute, guitar, cello and the tar—a traditional stringed instrument of the Caucasus.

Complementing the musical offerings, an exhibition in the theatre lobby displayed vibrant artwork by students from the Fine Arts Department of the Murad Kazhlaev Republican Children’s Art School for Gifted Children, further highlighting the region’s multifaceted artistic talent.

All participants will receive festival diplomas and gift books—carefully selected classics of children’s and young adult literature—celebrating both their artistic and intellectual growth.

Throughout the week, concerts will be held at multiple venues in Makhachkala and Derbent, culminating in a grand closing concert on December 7 at 2:00 p.m. at the Kumyk Theatre. The finale will feature special guest appearances by young musicians from Elektrostal and Astrakhan, adding a broader national dimension to this cherished regional tradition.