Concert of INRTU foreign students: «Despasito», Pushkin's poems and «Moscow Nights»

A concert of foreign students took place at INRTU. The event was included in the program of the XI International Festival of National Cultures «Siberia – the Territory of Peace and Harmony». In total, almost 1 000 foreign students study at INRTU

The title of the concert was the phrase «Privet, bonjour, hello!» fr om the popular cartoon «Bremen Musicians», which immediately set an energetic rhythm to the student performances.

The host, Artyom Titayev, a student of the BI BRICS, said that the idea to organize the international festival belonged to INRTU students who live in Studgorodok. Now it is a popular youth event, a friendship festival known throughout the region:

«Over the years, the festival has unified thousands of participants: students, representatives of national-cultural centers and communities, creative teams, sociologists and politicians.

This confirms that INRTU can welcome guests from various countries and cities, provide quality education to foreign students, and become a platform that unites peoples and cultures.

Today is a special holiday. More than 30 international students participated in the concert».

The concert program was notable for its genre diversity and daring selection of repertoire. Students Mahmoud Amr from Egypt (BI BRICS) and Nekruz Hamidov from Tajikistan (School of Aircraft Construction, Mechanical Engineering and Transport) were the first to perform. They literally «lit up» by singing «Despasito». The song by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, first heard in 2017, has had more than 8 billion views on the world's most famous video hosting site and made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. The hit, performed by students in the spirit of Latin-pop dancing with elements of reggaeton, gave the listeners a positive mood. The legendary song «My Heart Will Go On» which became the main theme to James Cameron's film «Titanic» was performed by Peng Bo from China. He is a student of the School of Architecture, Construction and Design.

A charismatic performance by BI BRICS students Zolboo Tumenembarel from Mongolia and guitarist Ruben Romario Ratu from Indonesia, who presented I'm yours.

The vocal performances of future aircraft builder Undertaker Setung (South Sudan) and Hailu Yabsira Getahun (Ethiopia) from BI BRICS, were replaced by an artistic reading. Preparatory Faculty student Fazli Naqibullah from Afghanistan tried to tenderly and movingly read one of the most famous lyrical works of Alexander Pushkin, «I remember a wonderful moment». The poetic theme was supported by Rashed Khadega Mugahed Mohammed from Saudi Arabia, who turned to the works of Anna Akhmatova.

The poem «Prayer (while the Earth is still spinning)» by Bulat Okudzhava was very topical and piercing to the accompaniment of the guitar. Bulat Okudzhava was performed by Polish students of the preparatory department Lolo Renata Elzbieta and Mocko Joanna Maria.

Elwaraki Elhussein Mostafa, an Egyptian student at BI BRICS, chose to rap for the concert, while Huang Lei from China (School of Architecture, Construction and Design) played the piano.

Students from Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Tajikistan also took part in the concert. The festival of friendship ended with a common number of students from BI BRICS. INRTU students performed «Moscow Nights», a song that has become a signature of the USSR.

Anna Kirienko, director of the Baikal Institute of BRICS, and Tatiana Dashko, head of the Center for Cultural and Educational Work at INRTU, congratulated the participants of the concert on their successful performances.

«We are happy that such talented students came to Irkutsk. I thank the team of the Baikal BRICS Institute for preparing the concert, as well as the staff of the Center for Cultural and Educational Work, who managed to make the concert so memorable.

There are many more festival events to be arranged. Welcome to our meetings, exhibitions, intellectual games and concerts. It's very educational.

On November, 30 the gala concert «Autumn Roundabout» will take place wh ere the best numbers will be included in the program. Baikal Institute of BRICS is the most singing one. We are glad that so many strong vocalists have entered INRTU».

Student Zolboo Tumenbaerel was born in Ulaanbaatar and lived for many years in South Korea and the United States:

«When my mother who works in the diplomatic service was invited to go to Russia, I decided to go with her and take advantage of a good opportunity to learn Russian. Last year I graduated from INRTU preparatory department and entered BI BRICS to study systems related to artificial intelligence.

Of course, Irkutsk is very different from the megalopolises I used to live in. It is a completely different environment, an unhurried rhythm. I noticed that the calm atmosphere is more conducive to learning and creativity.

I used to perform on stage all the time back in high school. All my artistic passions - dancing, music - are what I like to do in my free time».

First-year architecture, construction and design student Irieu Fabrice (Côte d'Etoire) noted the variety of acts in the concert:

«My song is a love story about music. I can't live a single day without music. I live in a dormitory with nice neighbors we often sing together, dance, and play the guitar».

Ahmad Garba Yakubu of Nigeria is a student of the preparatory department:

«The teachers treat us kindly, the training is positive. For the concert I chose a song about our culture and showed that you should be grateful for your life. I go to the music club and watch Russian movies to understand the language better and immerse myself in the everyday and cultural peculiarities of Russians».

Participants of the concert «Privet, Bonjour, Hello!» received electronic diplomas and souvenirs with INRTU logos.

The organizers of the XI International Festival of National Cultures «Siberia - the territory of peace and harmony» are: Center of cultural and educational work, the administration of the campus, students' comitee, International student club and campus student councils, the Baikal Institute of BRICS, Institute of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, Department of Sociology and Psychology, Department of Monumental and Decorative Painting and Design named after V.G. Smagin