The International Festival of Contemporary Music ‘Ilkhom-XX’ (‘Ilkhom’ is the Uzbek for ‘inspiration’) in Tashkent was founded in 1996 by the composer Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky. The Festival was originally sponsored by the Open Society Institute and is growing in importance on the international music calendar as a showcase for innovative contemporary music.

With support from the British Council, the French Embassy, the British Embassy, the Embassy of Italy, the Swiss Embassy, the US Embassy and Pro Helvetia, the perfect setting is created every year for a Festival which celebrates music and musicians.

Its objective is clear and simple: to showcase music in all its different forms and encourage and honour those who create it. Its scope and pespective is international and it provides a forum for composers and musicians to come together to support music and encourage the development of new projects.

The Delta Saxophone Quartet visited from the UK in 2002, performing to audiences in Fergana, Samarkand and Tashkent. Past musicians whom we supported have also included James Kirby and the Barbican Trio, the Hilliard Ensemble and in 2004 Karine Georgian performed. In April 2005 DSQ returned once again to Tashkent as part of the Festival to present new pieces of music created by the young Uzbek composers and give a series of master classes for the students of Tashkent Conservatoire.