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Oleg Akkuratov, winner of the 2019 Presidential Prize for Young Culture Professionals
The prize was awarded for his contribution to the development of music in Russia and educational engagement.
Oleg Akkuratov is a pianist from Krasnodar Territory.
He was born on October 21, 1989 in Yeysk, Krasnodar Territory. Winner of regional, national and international music contests.
Mr Akkuratov began his musical education at a special music school for blind and visually impaired children in the city of Armavir, Krasnodar Territory. He then was a gradute (2015) and post-gradute (2017) of the Rostov State Rachmaninov Conservatory with a degree in chamber music. Akkuratov plays in the Moscow Jazz Orchestra led by Igor Butman.
Blind from birth, the musician has an outstanding talent. He plays both academic music and jazz with equal brilliance, and is an outstanding singer.
His performances with prominent modern musicians and famous Russian and foreign orchestras have brought him international renown. In 2017, Oleg gave his first major solo concert in the Svetlanovsky Hall of the Moscow International Performing Arts Centre. In October of 2017, he performed with his trio at the 19th World Youth and Student Festival in Sochi.
In 2018, Oleg Akkuratov took part in the gala concert of UNESCO International Jazz Day, was awarded the Moscow Mayor’s Prize, and placed second at the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, held in the home of jazz, the United States.
He has been teaching at the Rostov College of Arts for more than five years, and has led charitable workshops for children and adults.
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Olga Smirnova, winner of 2019 Presidential Prize for Young Culture Professionals
The prize was awarded for her contribution to the development of choreography in Russia.
Olga Smirnova is a ballet dancer and group supervisor at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
Olga Smirnova was born on November 6, 1991 in St Petersburg. She is the winner of the Moscow City Prize for literature and art (2019), winner of the first season of the Big Ballet project on Kultura (Culture) TV channel, winner of Prix Benois de la Danse established by the International Dance Association, the Soul of Dance prize in the Rising Star category (2013), the Dance Open Grand Prix (2016), and Dancer 2018 according to the Danza&Danza magazine.
Olga Smirnova joined the Bolshoi Theatre after graduating from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 2011, and performed as a guest dancer at the Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier, the American Ballet Theatre, the Mariinsky Theatre, and the Vienna State Opera’s ballet.
Her repertoire includes leading roles in many productions such as La Bayadere (one of the youngest performers in history), Ivan the Terrible, Swan Lake, Onegin (the first performer at the Bolshoi Theatre), The Sleeping Beauty, The Lady of the Camellias, The Taming of the Shrew, Hero of Our Time, Raymonda, Don Quixote, Giselle, Anna Karenina, and Spartacus.
Today Smirnova is one of the most remarkable and recognized world ballet stars. Her dancing is distinguished by impeccable form, technical prowess and intellectual substance. She is equally brilliant in very diverse roles of the classical repertoire and avant-garde parts in productions by the iconic choreographers of our time.
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Maxim Shaposhnikov, winner of 2019 Presidential Prize for Young Culture Professionals
The prize was awarded for the implementation of the Russian School of Club Innovation project to develop innovative formats of cultural and educational engagement for young people.
Maxim Shaposhnikov is Director of the Belgorod State Folk Art Centre.
He was born on February 3, 1989, in the village of Ivanteyevo, Valdai District, Novgorod Region. He is the winner of the 2016 Central Federal District Prize for Literature and the Arts, For Educational Engagement in the Field of Culture, and other professional and regional awards.
In 2011, he graduated from Belgorod State Institute of Arts and Culture and joined the Belgorod State Folk Art Centre in 2012.
He initiated new formats of activity for cultural and educational institutions, drafted regulatory documents, developed innovative programmes and projects, including the Russian School of Club Innovation.
Having started as a young specialist to be gradually promoted to head of a regional cultural centre, Maxim Shaposhnikov found a modern way to address an important problem – to develop a rich cultural space extending to the most remote corners of his region. His deep understanding of cultural processes, respect for cultural heritage and use of modern technologies targeting a young audience brought the projects of the Belgorod State Folk Art Centre that he heads up to the national level.