The ensemble congratulated the Russian State Social University on its 105th anniversary

One of the good traditions of the Academic Order “For Merit in Culture and Art” of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation under the direction of the artistic director and chief conductor, People's Artist of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev is its participation in ceremonial events dedicated to significant historical events and memorable dates.

Last year - 2024 - the largest forge of Russian management personnel, Russian State Social University, celebrated its 105th anniversary. Its predecessors were the Communist University named after Ya.M. Sverdlov (founded in 1919) and the Higher Party School under the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) (1939).

The university's graduates included such outstanding statesmen as Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko, Deng Xiaoping, Raul Castro, Ho Chi Minh, the designer of the T-34 tank, Hero of Socialist Labor Mikhail Koshkin, many outstanding politicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, and athletes.

Today, RSSU is a leading university in Russia, with more than 20,000 students. Great importance is attached to perpetuating the memory of the university's history and the history of the country. RSSU, together with the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, a large-scale project for the comprehensive resocialization of veterans of the SVO and medical rehabilitation of wounded amputees, as well as other important social projects, is being implemented.

The festive event, which took place at the university on January 18, 2025, was dedicated to students and employees of the RSSU of all generations and was timed to coincide with Russian Student Day.

The honorary guests of the event were the President of the Club of Military Leaders of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Anatoly Kulikov, Advisor to the Rector of the RSSU, pilot-cosmonaut, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel General Vladimir Kovalenok, Hero of Russia, Colonel General of Police Vladimir Rushailo.

The ceremonial event was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Special Historical, Humanitarian Disciplines and Military Memorial Work, member of the Central Council of the Russian Military Historical Society, member of the Commission on Military-Historical Issues under the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of the Presidium of the International Skobelev Committee, member of the Board of the Russian Society of Historians and Archivists, member of the Presidium of the Association of Historians of the Second World War, candidate of historical sciences, Major General Alexander Kirilin.

To the sounds of the Preobrazhensky Regiment march, accompanied by the Guard of Honor, the State Flag of the Russian Federation, the Banner of the Higher Party School under the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), and the Banner of the Russian State Social University were brought into the hall.

The Rector of the RSSU, Academician Andrey Khazin, who delivered a welcoming speech to the audience, noted that in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, in gratitude to the veterans and recognition of the feat of the participants in the Special Military Operation, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin No. 28 of January 16 of this year, 2025 was declared the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland.

The university staff received many congratulatory telegrams from the heads of the highest legislative and executive bodies of the Russian Federation.

The Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Guard congratulated the RSSU with a festive concert.

The concert opened with the performance of the vocal and choreographic composition “Valor and Honor” (music and lyrics by A. Zaitsev, production by Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania Ivan Zhelnov, soloist - Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev).

The "red thread" of the Ensemble's concert program were pieces on military-patriotic themes, songs and vocal-choreographic compositions to the music of Soviet composers and modern authors. With deep feeling, everyone gathered in the hall listened to the performance of the "March of the Artillerymen" (T. Khrennikov, V. Gusev), the song "A Young Sailor is Going on Leave" (A. Averkin, V. Bokov, soloist - People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva), the legendary "Smuglyanka" (A. (A. Novikov, Ya. Shvedov, soloist - Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania Grigory Yakovlev), songs “Guards of Music” (music and lyrics by A. Melnikov, production by Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania Ivan Zhelnov, soloists - Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko), a medley on the themes of military songs “Soldier's Suite” and the songs “I was born in the USSR” (music and lyrics by O. Gazmanov, soloists - Honored Artist of Russia Alexey Dmitriev and Honored Artist of the Republic of Dagestan Alexey Kholyavko), fiery dances “Home with Victory” (staged by Honored Artist of Russia A. Safronov, arranged by A. Zarkov), “Dance with Sabres” from Aram Khachaturian's ballet “Gayane” (staged by Honored Artist of Russia Pyotr Kovalev), sparkling “Gypsy Fantasy” (composition and arrangement by I. Golubev and I. Kadomtsev, choreography by Artur Bogdanov, soloists: People's Artist of Russia Natalia Eliseeva, Honored Artist of Russia Alexei Dmitriev, Evgeniy Nasonov) and a number of other works. Bright colors were added to the program by the performance of the comic song “I'll take you to the tundra” (M. Fradkin - M. Plyatskovsky, soloists - Honored Artists of the Republic of Buryatia Norpol Tsydenov and Ruslan Samozhapov).

The concert ended with a joint performance of the march “Farewell of Slavyanka” (V. Agapkin, A. Fedotov) performed by the choir and orchestra of the Ensemble and Choir of the RSSU (conductor - People's Artist of Russia, Major General Viktor Eliseev).

At the end of the concert, the Rector of the RSSU Andrei Khazin warmly thanked the artists of the Ensemble for the wonderful musical gift to the university staff in honor of its 105th anniversary.

The concert was hosted by Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, Honored Artist of Russia, Colonel Igor Shustikov.