The first competition day at the 12th Sharq Taronalari (Melodies of the East) International Music Festival-2019 in Samarkand saw performances by several folk bands from different countries, including Archabil Ensemble, representing Turkmenistan. Our musicians presented three original folk-style compositions. Guvanch Yazmammedov’s expressive singing, accompanied by the dutar (a traditional long-necked two-stringed lute), gijak (fiddle), accordion and tambourine, received a warm welcomed from the audience, who broke into enthusiastic applause after each song performed by the Turkmen artists. A solo performance by percussionist Khakberdy Allamuradov, who demonstrated his extraordinary prowess playing on the Turkmen folk percussion instruments, added color and extra sparkle to the atmosphere at the international celebration of music. On Friday, August 30, the winners of the 2019 Sharq Taronalari Festival will be announced and the awards ceremony will be held to celebrate the most talented award-winning musicians and singers, selected by the competent jury. That same day, Samarkand will host the closing ceremony of the biennial International Festival that brings together folk music performers from across the world.