3 Proezd Dezhneva, Moscow 
CHOIR DIRECTORS
CHOIR DIRECTORS
Alexander S. Ponomaryov (1938-2012)
VESNA Children’s Choir Founder.
Alexander Ponomaryov (13.11.1938-16.05.2012), renowned Soviet and Russian choir director, founder, artistic director and chief conductor of Vesna Children’s Choir, principal of Vesna Choir school.
Distinguished artist of Russia (1984), winner of the Moscow Award in the Field of Literature and Arts (1994), winner of the Federal grant program “Gifted Children” within the Presidential program “Children of Russia”(2002), recipient of the Order of Friendship (2004), laureate of international competitions, panel member of many Russian and international choral competitions, author of a number of articles, choral adaptations and arrangements. Under his direction, for almost 50 years VESNA had performed with its concert programs in more than 50 cities of Russia, Europe, Japan, Canada, and China.
In 2000 the Choir won the Great European Choral Award among all the choirs of all types “Europe – 2000 Grand Prix”.
Teaching music to children became Aleksander Ponomaryov’s life goal and he was able to create a collective that was known all over the world and reached the heights unheard-of for a children’s choir, a school where the unique creative and humane atmosphere was mingled with thorough professionalism. Alexander Ponomaryov was dedicated teacher beloved by all VESNA alumni. Since 2013 the school has born the name of A.S. Ponomaryov.
Nadezhda Averina
Artistic Director and Conductor of Ponomaryov VESNA Children’s Choir.
Nadezhda Averina, VESNA alumna. Graduated from the School and went on to join Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory first as an undergrad and then a graduate student.
PhD (History of Arts), Professor of Moscow Conservatory, laureate of international competitions, Merited Artist of Moscow.
Since 2012 she has been Principal of Ponomaryov VESNA Choir School, Artistic Director and Conductor of VESNA Children’s Choir. Under the leadership of Dr. Averina, the Choir received first places and Grand Prix at the international choir competitions in 2006 (Tolosa, Spain), 2010 (Nyiregyhaza, Hungary), 2012 (Malcesine, Italy), 2014 (Neerpelt, Belgium and Halle, Germany), 2016 (Debrecen, Hungary), 2017 (Daugavpils, Latvia) and “Europe-2017 Grand Prix” (Tolosa, Spain).
Dr. Averina has written articles on methodology of teaching, arranged for choir performance a number of music pieces, compiled numerous choir music collections (seven of them were included in the Golden Library of Choirmaster series). She holds seminars and master classes for choirmasters on a regular basis, she is a member of judging panels of many Russian and international choir competitions.
