Estrada Art Café

The Department of Estrada Art was established in 2004 under the name “Estrada and Popular Music.” Renowned figures of our country’s art have worked at the department. These include People’s Artist, Professor Yalchin Rzazade; PhD in Philosophy, Associate Professor Vagif Gareyzade; People’s Artist and composer Faig Sudjaddinov; People’s Artist Javan Zeynally; and People’s Artist Gulnaz Ismayilova. The department was headed by Associate Professor Vagif Gareyzade (2004–2010) and Professor Yalchin Rzazade (2010–2016). Since 2016, the head of the department has been Honored Teacher, PhD in Art Studies, Professor Maryam Babayeva.

The faculty members of the department, in accordance with the demands of the contemporary era, undertake the complex task of training performers belonging to the new generation of Azerbaijani popular music. Notably, to cultivate highly professional popular music performers, the department offers courses such as “Popular Music and Jazz Performance,” “Fundamentals of Jazz Performance,” “Working with a Sound Director,” “Contemporary Directions in Popular Music and Jazz Performance,” “Vocal Ensemble,” and others.

The staff of the Department of Estrada Art have prepared a number of teaching aids covering historical-theoretical and performance issues of popular and jazz music. For example, over the years, textbooks such as “Vocal Performance Issues in Popular and Jazz Music,” “Vocalize,” and “The Artistry of Rashid Behbudov” by Professor Maryam Babayeva; “Some Theoretical Aspects of Vocal Training” by Honored Artist, Associate Professor Inara Babayeva; and “Selected Arias for Soprano from Operas, Musicals, and Musical Comedies by Azerbaijani Composers” by People’s Artist, Associate Professor Gulnaz Ismayilova have been published.

It is commendable that alongside the educational process, the Department of Estrada Art places special importance on organizing diverse events and concerts. Among the events held by the department in recent years are the “Land of Fire” concert (2017) featuring young estrada performers, held at the Rashid Behbudov Azerbaijan State Song Theater with the support of the “Mədəniyyət” TV channel and “Azərbaycan” radio; the “Memories” concert (2018) at the YARAT Art Center; the “Amore mio” concert (2022) dedicated to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Italy; and concerts held at ADA University (2022), among others.

Students studying in the “Estrada Art” specialty, under the guidance of Professor Maryam Babayeva, have established a tradition of performances distinguished by a rich repertoire at the International Mugham Center. These include musical evenings dedicated to the works of Tofiq Guliyev and Emin Sabitoğlu (2017); a musical-literary evening reflecting the poetic world of Mikayil Mushfiq (2017); “The World of Love” (2018), featuring songs and romances by Azerbaijani composers; “When You Come to My Mind,” dedicated to the works of composer Elza Ibrahimova (2018); “Gems of Rashid Behbudov’s Repertoire” (2021); “Don’t Say to Anyone,” held on International Women’s Day (2022); “Let’s Join the Cranes…” dedicated to Emin Sabitoğlu’s 85th birthday (2022); “Jazz Music Evening” (2023); “Best of the Best,” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of ADMİU (2023); “My Azerbaijani World,” dedicated to the 90th birthday of People’s Artist and composer Ramiz Mirishli (2024); and “Who Are You…” dedicated to the 90th birthday of People’s Artist Oktay Agayev (2024), among other similar events, all leaving a deep impression on music lovers.

The effectiveness of the educational process at the “Estrada Art” department, built on advanced methodological principles, is also reflected in the successes students achieve at international competitions. Notably, students studying at ADMİU have repeatedly participated and been awarded laureate titles in competitions held in Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and other countries, as well as in contests organized within the framework of the Baku Autumn and Baku International Jazz Festival.