Today, April 2, the Polytechnic assembly hall hosted a celebration of instrumental music – the third competitive day of the "BNTU Spring 2026" student creativity festival. The song festival and sparkling STEM ensemble are behind us. Now it's time to speak without words.
The evening opened with hosts Arina Kolesova, Roman Bezborodko, and Alexander Pasko – and the hall instantly came alive. Jokes, chants, genuine passion – all of this set the tone even before the first chord sounded. However, before the stage truly came to life, the audience met those who held the fate of the participants in their hands. The jury for the instrumental music festival included:
The Faculty of Engineering and Pedagogical Sciences was one of the first to appear on stage, immediately transporting the audience back in time two centuries ago. Musicians in formal period suits set the rhythm from the stage, while couples in voluminous period dresses swirled at the foot of the stage. This wasn't just a performance, but a real ball, where for a few minutes you forget it's April 2026.
The Faculty of Energy Construction took a different approach. Dark gothic music and Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life" immersed the stage in a tense, almost cinematic atmosphere. Drama and restrained power: precisely what makes this genre so captivating.
Perhaps the most theatrical number of the evening came from the Faculty of Management Technologies and Humanitarianization. Plague doctors in distinctive masks, a live violinist nearby, and a reimagined track, "The Jingle of Coins - Epidemic." The climax came at the end: the entire hall was filled with figures in black hooded cloaks, holding flashlights. The spectacle was simultaneously eerie and captivating.
A completely different story unfolded at the Faculty of Automobile and Tractor Engineering. Skates, painted drums, a street vibe—and suddenly a man in a white mask appears on stage, instantly recognizable as the silhouette of the famous DJ Marshmello. But the surprises didn't end there: another character in a glowing mask with crosses for eyes appeared next, and with drumsticks at the ready, he began beating out a rhythm on the drums. The audience appreciated it.
No showmanship, just music and charisma—and that was enough. The Faculty of International Cooperation took the stage with the romantic "Until I Found You": a saxophonist, a synthesizer, drums, and bass guitar—and the audience froze. These are the kinds of performances that are memorable: not for their special effects, but for their sincerity.
The Faculty of Information Technology and Robotics staged an entire performance based on "Stranger Things." First, the musicians defeated the Demogorgons with their playing—and it seemed victory was near. But then the main boss—Vecna—appeared. The final battle unfolded on guitars to the tune of Metallica's "Master of Puppets." The moral is simple and universal: true darkness can only be defeated with music.
The energy department had saved the evening's biggest surprise. Grandfathers in costumes and makeup gracefully walked onto the stage, and a leisurely Soviet melody began to play. But at some point, the makeup came off, followed by the costumes, explosions erupted on the screen, and the quiet evening transformed into a veritable rock concert. These grandfathers know how to surprise.
We understand that choosing the best judges will be very difficult, as each department gave it their all. We'll find out the results on April 7th at the big gala concert, but for now, we're taking a breather and preparing for tomorrow—the dancers will take over the stage. Moving on!
