Gnesins Russian Academy of Music

Gnesins Russian Academy of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music institutions in Russia and Europe.

On February 15, 1895, Gnesins music educational complex was founded by three sisters from the family of artists, the Gnesins, who were graduates of the Moscow Conservatory. In the course of time, Gnesins Russian Academy of Music became famous in the pre-revolutionary period thanks to goal-oriented planning, specifically development of new music subjects in Russia, and it became quite prestigious.

In 1919, upon adding of new academic chairs, this educational institution became a state one and met all the criteria for establishment of a higher education institution of music. Having the increasing number of students and improving quality of the training, this institution became the best music center of the times of the Soviet Union among other vocational schools and higher educational institutions. In 1937, the beautiful building of this academy was built in the center of Moscow, not far from famous Arbat Street, and its area was expanding in the course of time.

Gnesins Russian Academy of Music started its functioning when there were five faculties for training in pianoforte, orchestra, singing, composing, history and theory of music. From 1944, thanks to attention and support by then-government, the set was broadened with new plans and programs, such as part-time and full-time study, theory curricular, new audio technical means, as well as such subjects and specialties as chorus, national instruments, opera, orchestra, sound engineering, theory of music production, folklore, symphony orchestra, Russian musical instruments and many others, which became a beginning of a new chapter in the activities of Gnesins Russian Academy of Music.

Elena Gnessin was an Honored Artist of the Soviet Union, the Chief Director of the music institution

Professor Elena Gnessin, the outstanding Soviet person of art, was the Chief Director of Gnesins Institute of Music, who to the end of her life (1967) was in charge of administration and teaching at this institute. Among other outstanding heads of the Academy, one can mention Vladimir Minin, famous pianist Yaroslav Alexandrov and other. At the institute there worked more than 100 leading Russian musicians.

This Academy comprises Gnesins Museum of Music, which was established in 1070 having more than 70,000 historic works, Gnesins Family Library and Archive, two concert halls and Gnesins music magazine.

In 2011, at the instruction of the Ministry of Science of Russia, the institute was renamed into Gnesins Russian Academy of Music, and in 2016 by order of Vladimir Putin, it became a valuable center of cultural heritage of Russia. At present, the university is run by Professor Galina Mayarovskaya.