Turkmen musician Merdan Bashimov became the laureate of the largest Russian competition for young composers “Score”. A native of Ashgabat won in the nomination “Variety-symphonic work”.

“Score” – is a diverse competition, that brings together the leading genres and formats of contemporary academic music in eight categories. Literally anyone, who wants to show, what he can do, can send an application and participate. This year the competition, winners of which receive 200 thousand rubles, received more than 800 applications.

The jury determine the best of the best, in which included masters of Russian and foreign music: Yuri Bashmet, Alexei Rybkinov, Fabio Mastrangelo, Maxim Dunayevsky, Dmitry Bertman, Igor Butman, Mihail Granovsky, Yuri Poteenko, Alexander Sokolov, Rashid Kalimulin, Ivan Burlayev, Vera Tariverdieva, Lev Kontorovich, Ivan Tsybin, Georgy Pleshak and others – more than 50 names in total. Merdan’s work was appreciated by 40 of them.

The composer’s work was sent to the All-Russian contest “Score” by his wife – and she made the right decision. At first Merdan’s work got into the shortlist of 35 laureates, and then brought a victory, as he himself says, completely unexpected.

Merdan – is a musician in the seventh generation. From an early age he played the dutar. In 2005 he graduated from the Turkmen State Musical College named after D. Ovezova (Piano). For eight years he was the keyboardist and arranger of the “Nurana” jazz band, toured extensively in Russia and abroad, performed in famous jazz clubs in Moscow, played on the same stage with Sergei Manukyan and Valery Grohovskiy. Since 2005 he began to engage in arranging professionally, worked with the Honored and Folk Singers of Turkmenistan and Tatarstan. He participated in the creation of songs for government and sporting events.

In 2017 Merdan bashimov graduated from the Kazan State Conservatory named after N.G. Zhiganov. At present time he teaches at this university.