National Research University «Higher School of Economics» choir «Force Major» (Moscow, Russia)
Founded in 2005
Directors and founders of the choir are Nadezhda Boiko and Svetlana Sandrakova
Choirmasters are Daniil Kuchma and Vitaly Zhdanov
Concertmaster and composer of the choir is Alexey Suzdaltsev
National Research University «Higher School of Economics» choir «Force Major» (in their understanding this means the Force of Major) was founded during autumn of 2005 by initiative of Economics Department dean V. Avtonomov. The first performance took place at Economics Department foundation anniversary in march of 2006. Then there were only 12 choristers, they sang popular songs in unison with piano accompaniment. Nowadays, there are many-voices compositions in the choir's repertoire, most of which are being performed a capella. Concert staff of the choir is 30 singers, but the whole collective consists of more than 60 people. There are more than 20 different laureate and special diplomas in their artistic asset from various competitions and festivals, choir participates in many cultural initiatives of «Higher School of Economics» and other universities, also participates in opera performances and in concerts of Moscow musical theaters.
Since spring of 2007 the choir is a regular participant of All-Russian and international festivals. They performed in different Russian cities: Saint Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Vladimir, Naro-Fominsk. The choir visited for the first time in May of 2008 the Students Choirs International Forum «Paparatz-Kvetka», which has been held by Byelorussian State University in Minsk. They were very pleased by creative atmosphere of this contest and became its permanent participants (visited Minsk in 2009 and 2011). Our debut outside of the CIS was held in January of 2009 at sacred music contest "Silverbells" in Daugavpils (Latvia), where the collective won the laureate title in international competition. During preparation for the contest the vocal ensemble "Happy singing economists" was founded on basis of the choir, which also got the laureate title. Since then «Force Major» has repeatedly become the choir competitions laureate at: Students Creativity Festival FESTOS (Moscow, 2009, 2010 and 2011), Christmas Music International Competition in Bratislava (Slovakia, 2009), International Choral Competition in Rimini (Italy, 2010). The male vocal ensemble «Boys Motors» which was created specifically for the competition in Italy and based on the collective became the absolute winner in its category.
The collective has got an important recognition also inside the university on 27th of November in 2009 - the choir was awarded by the annual prize of the «Higher School of Economics» for the successes and achievements called "Zolotaya Vyshka" (Golden tower if to translate directly, but the HSE students call the HSE university between each other like this - 'Vyshka' ) in Students Initiative nomination.
The choir's creative credo is a lot of good music and experimentation, the principle of existence is friendship, mutual aid, the joy of co-creation.
Nadezhda Boiko
She graduated Academic Music College of Moscow State Conservatory named after P. Chaikovsky (2000) and Moscow State Conservatory named after P.Chaikovsky (2005). She started professional activity as choirmaster and concertmaster in MEPHI Academic Male Choir. During the college education times she started to take part in many creative projects as concertmaster, choirmaster, aсtress and creative director of choirs and ensembles. Currently she is artistic director of National Research University «Higher School of Economics» choir «Force Major», founder and director of Female Vocal Ensemble "Creative Singers", choirmaster and actress of Vocal Ensemble «Russian Opera» in the theatre.
Svetlana Sandrakova
She graduated Academic Music College of Moscow State Conservatory named after P. Chaikovsky (2001), Russian Academy of Theatre (2005). She started professional activity as choirmaster and concertmaster in Song and Dance Ensemble named after Loktev. Nowadays, Svetlana is co-director of National Research University «Higher School of Economics» choir «Force Major», she teaches acting, voice, makeup, stage speech in schools with theatrical bias and houses of creativity, works at «Russian Opera» Musical Theatre, "Sergey Aldonin Workshop" Theatre Center, she is the artistic director of Non-profit charitable organization for providing social and cultural rehabilitation for children with serious diseases «Doctor-Clown».
Daniil Kuchma
3rd year student of Conducting Department of Moscow State Conservatory named after P. Chaikovsky. He is in National Research University «Higher School of Economics» choir «Force Major» since 2009. Besides working at «Force Major», he participates in activities of Old Music Conservatory Ensemble «Intrada», sings in the Synodal choir and in State Musical Conservatory named after Gnesins Choir "Orpheus".
Vitaly Zhdanov
Vitaly graduated from Conducting Department of Moscow State Conservatory named after P. Chaikovsky, currently he is postgraduate of Historical and Theoretical Department of Moscow State Conservatory named after P. Chaikovsky. He worked with amateur choirs of different Moscow universities, he was the soloist of the «Intrada» Old Music Conservatory Ensemble in 2007 - 2010. He is in «Force Major» since 2010.
Alexey Suzdaltsev
Bachelor graduate of «Higher School of Economics», currently he is 2nd year student of Magistracy of Russian Economics School. Alexey is in the choir since 2006. Despite the great economic education and economic success (Alexey has repeatedly been the member of the jury of All-Russian Olympiad for school pupils in economics, he recently was invited to Stanford University for Ph.D degree), Alexey is the musical symbol of the choir. A recognizable repertoire of the choir has begun to form with his compositions, the choir makes breathing exercises and stage movement in time of rehearsals under his piano improvisations. His powerful creative energy feeds simple choristers and choral directors.