Musicians from all over Russia will perform at Christmas Festival in Chelyabinsk that has opened on Monday at the site of South Ural Institute of Arts, regional Ministry of Culture said.
"Five years ago, our festival was conceived as creative festivity staged by students and teachers of the university – Paul Kostenok, the rector of South Ural Institute of Arts explained. - Now not only its geography, but its genre composition as well has expanded - from dance and choir folklore to academic versions of musical art".
The festival programme was opened by the students of Academic mixed choir of the Institute who last spring have won "Gold Level" award at the international choral Assembly in Ekaterinburg. The opening of the exhibition "Joyful Light of Christmas" that features works by students and teachers of the faculty of fine arts has taken place, too.
The visit of Honoured Artist of Russia Valery Pyasetsky and the students of the Central Music School of Moscow Conservatory will become  the most colourful event of the festival.

Over the years, Professor Pyasetsky has nourished many gifted musicians, the most famous among them Denis Matsuev. For Christmas Festival he will bring the pupils of Dmitry Maiboroda and Oleg Khudyakov, regional Ministry of Culture noted.
At the heart of the event final presentation the game programme "Holiday carols", prepared by creative teams "Mlada" and "Radonitsa" of the Institute faculty of social and cultural activities will be.

The Fifth Christmas Festival in Chelyabinsk will last 10 days.