The conducting baton from the collection of the Museum of the History of Obninsk belonged to Alexander Pozharsky, the founder and head of the Folk Instruments Orchestra of the House of Culture of the Institute for Physics and Power Engineering. Alexander Alexandrovich was an honored worker of culture of Russia, an honorary citizen of Obninsk and a veteran of the Great Patriotic War.
Alexander Pozharsky grew up in a musical family: his grandfather performed with Feodor Chaliapin, and his father, Alexander Nikolaevich Pozharsky, led an amateur folk orchestra and was the first in the country to receive the title “Honored Artist of the RSFSR” among rural workers of cultural education. Alexander Pozharsky junior played his first concerts together with his father, “In 1941 we traveled with my father’s orchestra across Smolensk Oblast, conducting propaganda work. We helped with the harvest, and gave concerts in the evenings. After the war, I participated in parades on Red Square six times, including the famous Victory Parade on June 24, 1945. I was driving a tank, and through a triplex glass I was looking at the Mausoleum tribune and saw Stalin”.
Alexander Alexandrovich established his orchestra in 1952, when he worked as a turner in the secret laboratory “B”. The orchestra was the most famous musical ensemble in Obninsk, gaining national and international recognition. There were 12 members in the orchestra when it was founded, and in 1962 it had 120 members in the main group, children’s group and novice group. More than 1,000 musicians were employed in the Pozharsky Orchestra over 65 years.
Alexander Pozharsky’s orchestra performed on the main stages of the Soviet Union — the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and the Kremlin Palace of Congresses. The orchestra’s concerts were broadcast on central television, and the ensemble won numerous competitions. In 1962, the orchestra was awarded the title of the People’s Orchestra, and later became the winner of the first All-Union Festival of Amateur Art.
Alexander Alexandrovich Pozharsky led the orchestra for 57 years. Today the orchestra bears his name. The musicians perform not only authentic folk, but also classical and contemporary music, works by Russian and world composers, songs and lyrical pieces. The repertoire of the group consists of more than 700 works. Many residents of Obninsk have been involved in the Pozharsky Orchestra and later brought their children and grandchildren to the orchestra.
Alexander Pozharsky grew up in a musical family: his grandfather performed with Feodor Chaliapin, and his father, Alexander Nikolaevich Pozharsky, led an amateur folk orchestra and was the first in the country to receive the title “Honored Artist of the RSFSR” among rural workers of cultural education. Alexander Pozharsky junior played his first concerts together with his father, “In 1941 we traveled with my father’s orchestra across Smolensk Oblast, conducting propaganda work. We helped with the harvest, and gave concerts in the evenings. After the war, I participated in parades on Red Square six times, including the famous Victory Parade on June 24, 1945. I was driving a tank, and through a triplex glass I was looking at the Mausoleum tribune and saw Stalin”.
Alexander Alexandrovich established his orchestra in 1952, when he worked as a turner in the secret laboratory “B”. The orchestra was the most famous musical ensemble in Obninsk, gaining national and international recognition. There were 12 members in the orchestra when it was founded, and in 1962 it had 120 members in the main group, children’s group and novice group. More than 1,000 musicians were employed in the Pozharsky Orchestra over 65 years.
Alexander Pozharsky’s orchestra performed on the main stages of the Soviet Union — the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and the Kremlin Palace of Congresses. The orchestra’s concerts were broadcast on central television, and the ensemble won numerous competitions. In 1962, the orchestra was awarded the title of the People’s Orchestra, and later became the winner of the first All-Union Festival of Amateur Art.
Alexander Alexandrovich Pozharsky led the orchestra for 57 years. Today the orchestra bears his name. The musicians perform not only authentic folk, but also classical and contemporary music, works by Russian and world composers, songs and lyrical pieces. The repertoire of the group consists of more than 700 works. Many residents of Obninsk have been involved in the Pozharsky Orchestra and later brought their children and grandchildren to the orchestra.
