Anatoly Kislyakov, a winner of the 2025 Presidential Prize in Culture for works and projects for children and young people
The prize has been awarded for his contribution to the development of Russia’s choral tradition.
Anatoly Kislyakov is the artistic director of the Popov’s Grand Children’s Choir – Choral Association of Followers of Viktor Popov’s Creative Work under the direction of Anatoly Kislyakov.
Anatoly Kislyakov was born on October 13, 1961, in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Region. He is a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation and an associate professor at the department of choral conducting of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He is the artistic director of the Viktor Popov Children’s Choral Festival and a jury member of leading choral competitions. In 2021, he founded and became the director of a choir composed of the Grand Children’s Choir graduates.
The Grand Children’s Choir was founded in 1970 by Viktor Popov and has borne his name since 2008. In 2000, Viktor Popov appointed his student and successor, Anatoly Kislyakov, as chief conductor, and in 2006, as artistic director. Under Kislyakov’s leadership, the choir has not only retained its position as one of the country’s leading children’s ensembles but has also significantly broadened its touring reach.
Today, the choir is actively exploring new genres, including opera, oratorio, church music, and cross-genre projects – from rock concerts to performances at major sporting events. In 2025, the Grand Children’s Choir gave more than 120 performances, including appearances at key events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory.
For 55 years, generations of the Grand Children’s Choir students have introduced their peers not only to the finest examples of musical art, but also to the ideals of patriotism and spirituality, preserving continuity of traditions and contributing to the formation of civic identity and national consciousness among younger generations.
Radio channel Children’s Radio (GPM Radio)
The prize has been awarded for the creation of a cultural and educational ecosystem for children.
For 18 years, Children’s Radio has provided young audiences with a safe, supportive, and educational media environment.
Over the past five years, the radio station has evolved into a fully integrated cultural and educational ecosystem for children, combining traditional broadcasting with cutting-edge digital technologies.
Listeners were offered more than 200 cultural projects, including the transmedia detective podcast universe KHRUM, accompanied by a series of theatrical productions; Russia’s first interactive video show on a radio website and an animated audio podcast; educational series promoting the Russian language, classical and contemporary children’s literature, and science; as well as educational programmes, patriotic initiatives, and children’s musical concerts.
The key focus areas of Children’s Radio include fostering a system of moral values, preserving and developing a culture of speech, cultivating an interest in history, and introducing children to traditional cultural values.
Museum of the History of Military Uniforms
The prize has been awarded for contribution to forming historical memory and promoting patriotism among children and young people.
The Museum of the History of Military Uniforms is a unique museum complex that combines the Museum of Military Uniforms and the Moscow Streltsy Museum in Moscow, along with several affiliated sites across Russia. Its core mission is to cultivate interest in the study of the nation’s military history and to inspire readiness to defend the Fatherland.
The museum’s educational initiatives are designed for young audiences. They foster pride in the heroic deeds of past generations and promote respect for those who serve in uniform as defenders of the country.
These initiatives include guided tours focused on traditions of military valour, interactive programmes, workshops, as well as a Children’s Academy, a Young Historian’s Club, and a Chess School.
Alongside historical exhibits, the museum features extensive modern multimedia installations, enabling young visitors to delve into the atmosphere of Russia’s military history.