Qabala İnternational Music Festival

Since 2009, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation annually holds a festival international festival in the city of Gabala. Famous musicians from 16 countries of the world - USA, France, Israel, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Italy, Spain and others took part in the First Gabala International Festival. The international music festival also included a competition of young pianists. 5 pianists from Azerbaijan, Russia, Croatia and Japan competed for the competition awards. Russian pianist Ilya Maksimov won the highest award of the competition - “Grand Prix”. By decision of the jury, Croatian Goran Filipets won the first place, Russian Alexander Yakovlev took second, Azerbaijani Togrul Huseynli - fourth, and Japanese Shimomura Misako - fifth. At the same time, Nargiz Kengerli (Azerbaijan) and Natalia Landfred (USA) won the nomination “The best performer of works by Azerbaijani composers”.

As part of the festivals held in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, international competitions for young pianists, concerts of mugam, classical, chamber, jazz and vocal music were organized. Famous musicians, world-famous symphonic and philharmonic orchestras performed at the festivals.