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History of the Foundation

More than thirty years of work: from the first idea, born on tour through the regions of Russia, to the programmes and festivals that today run across the whole country.

History since 1994

The Foundation was established on 30 May 1994. The idea was born during Vladimir Spivakov’s tours through the remote regions of Russia: he saw how talented children flourished thanks to devoted teachers, yet lacked the means to develop their gift. Thus arose an organisation devoted to nurturing young talents.

Over more than thirty years the Foundation has grown considerably. Its reach expanded from Moscow to Sakhalin and came to span the entire country. Since 2002–2003 the educational programme “Children for Children” (a laureate of the Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation) has run at the Moscow International House of Music. Regional academies have opened — the “Shepsi Academy” in Krasnodar Krai, and academies in Tatarstan, Tver, Bashkortostan and on Sakhalin.

Through the “Miles of Mercy” programme, in partnership with Aeroflot, more than 200 children’s lives have been saved. The Foundation supports the SOS Children’s Villages in Tomilino and Otradnoye, gives concerts in orphanages and hospitals, and provides young musicians with instruments. Each month around twenty major Foundation projects take place around the world.

Timeline

Years and events

1994
The Foundation is founded
On 30 May the Vladimir Spivakov International Charitable Foundation is created — a non-profit organisation established at the initiative of the violinist, conductor and public figure Vladimir Spivakov.
1995
The first scholarship holders
The violinist Yulia Sakharova receives the title of Foundation scholarship holder — one of the first in the Foundation’s history. Today she is concertmaster of the Iowa Orchestra.
2001
The office on Pokrovka
The Foundation is seven years old and occupies the second floor of a small building on Pokrovka in Moscow — and gives over one of its rooms to rehearsals by visiting children’s ensembles.
2002–2003
The “Children for Children” programme
The educational programme “Children for Children”, which went on to become a laureate of the Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation, begins at the Moscow International House of Music.
2004
The first “Moscow Meets Friends” festival
The Foundation holds its first international festival for gifted children and young people. From this year onwards it takes place annually and gathers young musicians, performers and artists from all over Russia and from abroad.
2023
Presidential grants
Cooperation begins with the Presidential Grants Foundation and the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives: the projects “Light of Hope”, “Tuning Fork of the Regions” and “The Present of the Future”.
2025
The 23rd festival
The 23rd international festival “Moscow Meets Friends” took place. Over the years it has gathered tens of thousands of talented children on the finest concert stages of Russia.

Festival archive →

The Foundation’s geography

The Foundation’s projects run across all of Russia — from Moscow, home to its headquarters, to Sakhalin, including Rostov-on-Don and the regional academies in Tatarstan, Tver, Bashkortostan and Krasnodar Krai.

MoscowSakhalinTatarstanTverBashkortostanKrasnodar KraiRostov-on-DonArmeniaBelarusKazakhstanKyrgyzstanGeorgiaTajikistanTurkmenistanUzbekistanNorth and South Ossetia

All cities of Russia →

Recognition and partnerships

Since 2023 the Foundation has worked with the Presidential Grants Foundation and the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, carrying out the projects “Light of Hope”, “Tuning Fork of the Regions” and “The Present of the Future”. Among its partners are Aeroflot, Sber, concert halls and philharmonic societies, and children’s charities. The Foundation has helped hundreds of now-renowned musicians — among them the soprano Anna Aglatova, the cellist Anastasia Kobekina, the pianist Yulianna Avdeeva and the trumpeter Sergei Nakariakov.

Partners of the Foundation →

Heritage

What has been preserved and what you can see

Help us complete the story

If you were a scholarship holder, a participant in our programmes or a partner of the Foundation, and you keep photographs, concert programmes, recordings or memories — write to us. We will carefully preserve them in the Foundation’s archive.

Write to the Foundation

Support

Become part of a great cause

Supporting the Foundation means new instruments, journeys to competitions and a stage for talented children from all across the country.

Support the Foundation