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Uzbekistan’s music sector has formalised a partnership with the Chicago School of Violin Making, signing a memorandum that lays the groundwork for sustained professional cooperation between the two institutions in the field of academic music and instrument craft.
The agreement is designed to expand professional ties, facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience, and adapt advanced international practices to the specific needs of Uzbekistan’s music education and instrument-making sector, according to the terms of the memorandum.
A central element of the partnership will be arranging visits to Uzbekistan by faculty members, students and specialists from the Chicago school. Those visits are intended to bring direct exposure to American methods in instrument making and music education to Uzbek musicians, educators and young craftspeople through joint masterclasses, hands-on workshops and professional meetings.
The memorandum identifies the manufacture, restoration, tuning and maintenance of bowed string instruments as a priority area. It also calls for study of international practices for assessing instrument quality and ensuring instruments remain in proper technical condition — a field where Uzbekistan’s institutions have sought to build domestic expertise.
Bilateral educational exchanges form the other main pillar of the agreement. Representatives from Uzbekistan are to gain firsthand exposure to professional methods and practical experience within the educational and workshop settings of the Chicago School of Violin Making, giving Uzbek specialists direct access to American training environments rather than relying solely on visiting delegations.
The memorandum does not specify a timeline for the first exchange visits or workshops, nor does it detail funding arrangements for the programme.