The National Music Ensemble of Turkmenistan won first place at the XIII International Festival «Sharq Taronalari» («Melodies of the East»), which was held in Samarkand. The group was awarded a special diploma and a cash prize of 5 000 US dollars, UzA reports.

The Turkmen musical group included People's Artist of Turkmenistan Sukhanberdi Orazberdiev (vocals), People's Artist of Turkmenistan Hakberdi Allamuradov (drums), teachers of the Turkmen National Conservatory named after M. Kulieva Sapamyrat Annamuradov (gyjak) and Dovlet Danatarov (dutar), as well as a student of the conservatory Allamurad Muhammetgulyev.

The festival's Grand Prix was awarded to the Semurg ensemble from Azerbaijan, the second place was taken by the Atameken groups from Kazakhstan and Makom Band from Uzbekistan, and the third place was shared by representatives of Japan, Mongolia and Russia.

The awards to the festival winners were presented by the Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan O. Nazarbekov and the Secretary General of TURKSOY S. Raev.

The festival, held under the auspices of UNESCO since 1997, was held this year for the first time after a five-year break caused by the coronavirus pandemic. More than 400 artists from almost 80 countries took part in it.