We all know that music has a positive effect on us. It gets deep into the soul and opens it to new positive feelings. There is a great teacher in the Jewish Community of Astana, a musician, a very delicate and sympathetic person, always ready to share her joy with others - Viktoria Pavlovna Boiko.

We would like to tell you about two talented students of this teacher - sisters Anna and Nadezhda Lifanovs. At a competition in Astana, a member of the jury, Professor of the Academic Musical College under the Moscow State Conservatory named after Chaikovskiy, A.N. Seleznev, marked the talent of these girls. The Lifanovs sisters passed exams in Moscow and became College students. They are currently at the last grade and have another five years of studies in the conservatory ahead. These nice girls perform in our Hesed every time they come home during winter vacation. Anna plays violin, while Nadezhda - violoncello. This time, one of Hesed clients, Nina Levina, accompanied the girls.

Our simple room was turned into a concert hall. We were listening to live music, which has no boundaries, does not divide people by sex and age, and unites different generations. National anthem of Israel "Atikva" was performed. Listeners’ faces lightened up, they were recollecting their young years, life events, and were proud of the Jewish People. After the last chord, Nina Levina recited the text of the anthem, everybody joined in and the anthem was pronounced all together.

Then the magnificent Bach’s "Duet" and love songs were performed. The girls took turns to accompany each other. Everybody was delighted to listen to well-known Jewish melodies. The sisters performed music of a wide range of composers. When we were listening to jazz we forgot our age. The sisters Lifanovs also try their hand at composing music. The orchestra composition "Pavana" by Gabriel Fore for viola and violoncello was performed in their own arrangement.

In the College, Anna and Nadezhda are soloists at the ensemble "Premyera", which unites 15-19 year old students. The ensemble has been formed 15 years ago, and its creation was supported by the charity program "New Names". The leader and conductor of the ensemble is Igor Dronov, a Honored Artist of Russia, Professor of Moscow Conservatory, conductor of the Bolshoy Theater. "Premyera" performed in many Russian cities and abroad including France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, and Tunisia.

We would like to wish our girls to find their way in the professional music. Thank them for the holiday they have presented to us in our Hesed.

Lyudmila Tsymbalyuk