Submission of all applications to the contest has started in 1st of May and lasted until 15th of August 2018 . 45 young people aged 16 to 28 years old from all over Tajikistan has uploaded their music videos and 11 out of them were selected by jury and audience to the final concert. During the Gala concert, all finalists performed their own song using different music styles and different languages. Prior to the final concert, the Tajik music professionals had conducted a series of master classes on vocal and acting skills.
“We support this wonderful project ‘Bob's Music Award’ because it gives young female and male musicians a stage to show their talent”- said Ms. Walburga Roos, Director of the Swiss Cooperation office in Tajikistan. “I believe that it is an absolutely youth, free, honest contest of creativity. Here and today, we have 11 new, brave, and talented young creators of musical art to share with us their thoughts and ideas through music!
Ilhom Mirzoev won the first prize because of his innovative idea. He performed a fusion piece of Rap and the classic Tajik music “Shashmaqom”. During the press conference, he said: “Most of young people prefer to listen to the modern music only. Therefore, by mixing the classic and modern music styles I want to attract more young people to the Tajik classic music, so they can see how meaningful and beautiful it is”.
The award is named after Bob Leverington, who lived in Tajikistan and was the Head of the International Development Department in Central Asia (DFID) at the Embassy of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Tajikistan. During his life, Bob liked Tajik music very much and supported young talented musicians, especially those who were not able to realize independently their talents. Therefore, in memory of Bob Leverington, who passed away in 2015, his friends and colleagues initiated this project in order to support young musicians.
The Embassy of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in Tajikistan along with the Embassy of France in Tajikistan, the Ministry of the Culture of Tajikistan and mobile company TCELL also supported the event.
This year Switzerland celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Dushanbe. Within the framework of a comprehensive cooperation and development program, Switzerland has supported the People and the Government of Tajikistan in reforming the health, water and natural resource management sectors, in increasing access to justice and in facilitating the country’s transition towards a market economy. Switzerland invests approximately 20 Million USD per year in projects implemented in all parts of Tajikistan.
