On June 27-30, the picturesque Zaamin district of Jizzakh region in Uzbekistan will host the Second International Forum of Maqom Art, which will be held under the auspices of UNESCO and ICESCO.

The forum, which is being held for the second time in Uzbekistan, will attract over 400 participants from about 80 countries.

The opening ceremony of the Second International Forum of Maqom Art will be held on June 27 in Zaamin district of Jizzakh region. In will be attended by the President of the General Conference of UNESCO Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Deputy General Secretary of AYSESKO Anar Karimov, the Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev, the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova, the Secretary General of TURKPA Mehmet Süreyya Er, Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States Nurlan Seytimov, Secretary General of the International Organization of Folklore for Asia Moon Hyung Suk, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan M. Sharifzoda, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Deputy Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan N. Shirimov, First Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sport and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic Timurlan Ajimaliyev and representatives of the diplomatic corps operating in Uzbekistan – ambassadors, consuls, and consultants.

On June 28-29, the International Scientific and Practical Conference on “Theoretical and Practical Foundations of the Maqom Art: Problems and Solutions” as part of the Second International Forum of Maqom Art will be held in Uzbekistan for the second time (at 10:00 in “Bogishamol” complex in Zaamin city).

On June 28-29 (at 19:00), the participants of the Second International Forum of Maqom Art will compete in a contest. The international jury will select the participants’ performances in three nominations: “Best Maqom Ensemble,” “Best Instrumental Soloist”, and “Best Solo Singer”. (For information, a list of judges from the United States, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and India has been formed to join the jury of the international contest).

Winners of the contest to be held as part of the Second International Forum of Maqom Art will be awarded by the Organizing Committee with diplomas, statuettes, and cash prizes in the following amounts:

Grand Prix – $15,000;

1^st place in the following nominations:

- solo performer (singer or musician) – $10,000

- ensemble team – $10,000

2^nd place in the following nominations:

- solo performer (singer or musician) – $7,000

- ensemble team – $7,000

3^rd place in the following nominations:

- solo performer (singer or musician) – $5,000

- ensemble team – $5,000

In addition, to support and encourage active performers as part of the forum, participants will be awarded incentive gifts and prizes in nominations such as “Best Maqom Singer”, “Best Maqom Musician”, “Best Maqom Teacher”, “Best Maqom Promoter”, “Best Young Maqom Performer”, “Best Maqom Composer”. Each forum participant will receive a certificate “Participant of the International Forum of Maqom Art”.

Fourteen regions of the country organized pavilions in the Zominsoy Complex to demonstrate their unique cultures and art within the forum’s framework. During the Second International Forum of Maqom Art, regional pavilions will host an international music fair and various exhibitions related to maqom art, including national songs and costumes, handicrafts, visual and practical artworks, sculptural examples, artistic and documentary films, audio and video CDs, books, and photographs will be shown. The Second International Forum of Maqom Art is organized to widely promote unique examples of Uzbek national maqom art, to preserve and develop it, to develop feelings of respect and attention to our national classical art in the hearts of the young generation, to strengthen friendship and fraternal ties between different peoples, to expand the scope of creative cooperation and cultural-spiritual relations at the international level.

On June 30, the solemn closing ceremony of the Second International Forum of Maqom Art will be held in Zaamin district. The winners of three nominations: “Best Maqom Ensemble”, “Best Instrumental Soloist”, and “Best Solo Singer” will be announced and awarded.

We remind you that the First International Forum of Maqom Art was held from September 6 to 10, 2018, in the historical center of Shakhrisabz city. Solo singers, folklore ensembles, and representatives of the diplomatic corps from 75 countries attended the event.