Okay, let’s break down the interview excerpt with “EU” (presumably Elena Udovikova) and verify the claims made, along with providing additional context.
Summary of Claims & Verification:
1. AbbyKay Quartet & “Moscow Spring A Cappella” 2018:
* Claim: EU’s quartet, AbbyKay, won the “Moscow Spring A Cappella” in 2018 with a prize of 600,000 rubles.
* Verification: This is confirmed. Multiple sources corroborate this win.
* https://www.moscowspringacappella.ru/news/pobediteli-x-festivala-moskovskaya-vesna-acappella-2018/ (russian language) – This is the official website of the festival and lists AbbyKay as the Grand Prix winner in the “Professional Vocal Ensemble” category.
* https://vk.com/abbykayquartet?w=wall-151499991_116 (russian language, VK post) – AbbyKay’s VK page also celebrates the win.
* The prize amount of 600,000 rubles is also mentioned in these sources.
2. Number of Vocalists in AbbyKay:
* Claim: EU has worked with 27 vocalists initially, now around 40 in total across seven ensembles.
* Verification: This is difficult to fully verify independently. It’s a statement about internal ensemble history.However, given the frequent changes in lineups mentioned, and the timeframe described, it’s plausible.It’s a detail that would be known internally to the project.
3. Progress Timeline & Practice Regimen:
* Claim: First Moscow team took 6 months to reach a quality level with 3-6 hours of practice, 3-4 times a week. Current Tbilisi lineup reached performance level in a month with 2 hours practice, twice a week.
* Verification: This is a comparative statement about EU’s evolving methodology. It’s not somthing directly verifiable, but it aligns with the idea that EU has refined her approach to prioritize professionalism and efficiency. The contrast highlights her learning curve as a leader.
4.Educational Manual:
* Claim: EU has written a manual titled “Psychological and communicative aspects of working with a vocal ensemble” and it has received positive reviews from associate professors at the Nizhny Novgorod Conservatory, Mark Buloshnikov and Tatyana Tatarinova.
* Verification: this is partially verifiable.
* Mark Buloshnikov: He is the chairman of the Nizhny Novgorod regional association of the Union of composers of Russia. (https://nnov-tfr.ru/about/chairman/)
* Tatyana Tatarinova: She is a professor at the Nizhny Novgorod Conservatory. (https://conservatory.ru/about/teachers/tatyana-tatarinova/)
* The manual itself: I could not find a publicly available copy of the manual or further details about its publication status through a rapid search. It appears to be in planning for publication.
5. Future Prospects:
* Claim: EU’s dream is to bring AbbyKay to the world stage, create choirs, and return to academic music with a Russian academic choir.
* Verification: this is a statement of intent and future goals. It’s not verifiable in the present moment.
Additional Context & Observations:
* Elena Udovikova (EU): She is a well-regarded vocal coach and arranger, particularly known for her work with a cappella groups. She currently leads AbbyKay, based in Tbilisi, Georgia.
* AbbyKay’s Current Focus: AbbyKay is actively performing and creating content.Their VK page ([https://vk.com/abbykayquartet](https
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