The concert, which is to be organized by the Fund Forum, the Ministry of Culture and Sports Affairs of Uzbekistan and the National Symphonic Orchestra of Uzbekistan, will present renditions of the symphonic poem Les préludes and the Piano Concerto No. 1 by the famous Hungarian composer Franz Liszt, commemorating the 200th anniversary, as well as the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

Tamara Popovich (1926-2010) was a distinguished music educator of Uzbekistan, a professor emeritus of the Conservatory and an instructor at Uspensky Music School, where she had worked for 50 years. She is credited with developing a unique piano teaching technique and training a multitude of award-winning pianists who performed at leading venues throughout the world. Many of her students went on to pursue studies at Gnessin Institute and Moscow Conservatory.

Nuron Mukumi, born in February 1996 in Tashkent, is one of Tamara Popovich’s last students. At six, he started learning to play the piano at Uspensky Music School under the tutelage of Popovich. In 2004, he emerged as a winner at Yangi avlod (New generation) Children’s Art Festival. The following year he was awarded a prize at an international piano competition in Citta di Cantu (Italy) and a grant by the Fund Forum. Later he was invited to Summer Music School in London. In 2006, Mukumi was admitted to a school of music and performing arts in Germany while in May that year he won First Prize at “New Names” piano competition and went on to perform at the Millennium Center in London in October.

In 2007 he came out a winner at Mozart International Piano Competition in Rome and was invited to conduct “Moscow Virtuosos” State Chamber Orchestra at an international music festival of Vladimir Spivakov Charity Foundation.

In 2007-2009, Mukumi studied at Purcell School, the oldest specialist music school in the United Kingdom, on a scholarship. He has performed at St. Martin's-in-the-fields Anglican Church, Steinway Hall, Music Hall and the Royal Academy of Music in London. His exceptional piano skills earned him prizes at an international competition of contemporary music in Switzerland in 2008, the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in 2009, an international piano competition in London.

Mukumi has played solo concerts in Uzbekistan, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom and the USA. He has also appeared at concerts with the National Symphonic Orchestra of Uzbekistan as a pianist and conductor.

Also, on January 26 Nuron Mukumi will lead a master class for students at Uspensky Music School.