"On the Eve of the Holiday": How the First-Year Student's Day was held at "TISBI"

For two days, tens of hours of preparation, 40 minutes per performance, and 360 seconds for applause and a general bow – this is how students from the University of Management "TISBI" and college students experienced the end of October, presenting their concert programmes at the "Freshman Day 2026" festival.

This year's overall theme for the performances is "On the Eve of the Holiday". The choice is not accidental: in 2027, the university will celebrate its 35th anniversary, and the presented numbers are variations on the theme of traditions and holidays, culture and daily life of different peoples of Russia from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, from the Volga to the Yenisei. Viewers saw Kuban and Krasnodar Krai with Cossack motifs, the colourful Caucasus, the mysterious world of Nanai culture, the Far East and Yakutia, as well as Tatarstan with the famous Yoshkin Kot.

The performances were divided into two days – 28 and 29 October, with three faculties per day. On the first day, the Faculty of Management, the Faculty of Economics together with first-year students of the "Youth Work Organisation" programme, and the Faculty of Information Technology presented their acts. The evening of the second day was graced by performances from the Faculty of Law, the College, and the Faculty of Humanities.

Each faculty presented a concert programme with mandatory components: directing and organisational work, a video presentation, hosting — and optional components: theatre and dance, vocals, video, fashion theatre, original genre, epilogue, and journalism.

Each performance was assessed by a professional jury:

• Radmir Tulbaev is the owner of a lash extension and eyebrow shaping studio in Kazan, the founder of the Relash franchise network of studios across Russia, a qualified psychologist and certified coach, a lecturer, and a 2012 graduate of the Faculty of Humanities at TISBI.
• Elvina Sharipullina is a choreographer and ballet master, laureate and Grand Prix winner of all-Russian and international competitions, founder, director, teacher, and choreographer of the MILLENIUM pop dance studio (Kazan).
• Reval Khazeyev is a director-creator of republican and all-Russian image events, the best young director of the Republic of Tatarstan 2026, a multiple winner and laureate of the "Russian Student Spring", and a lighting designer at the Kazan Chamber Theatre "SDVIG".
• Alexey Makarov is an arranger, sound engineer, second tenor saxophonist of the Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra, a member of the Yummy Music Band, Zilkov Band, "LESNAYA15", "Chyorny Gosudar" collectives, and head of the VIA (Vocal-Instrumental Ensemble) department at "TISBI".
• Ekaterina Khlebnikova is a pop vocal tutor, singer, graduate of the Kazan Music College (pop and jazz department), participant in television projects on the "Russia-1" channel, finalist of the "Battle of Choirs" project, and laureate of international competitions in Russia, Austria, and Germany.
• Evgenia Prokhorova is the Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Educational Activities at the University of Management "TISBI", head of the Public Council under the Ministry of Youth of the Republic of Tatarstan, and chairperson of the jury.

President of TISBI, Nella Pruss, and Rector, Dmitry Polyakov, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. They wished the speakers good luck and reminded them that at "TISBI" broad opportunities are open to students – especially for the manifestation of a creative nature.

The Faculty of Management presented the "Yoshkin Kot" programme. A sketch on the theme of the Kazan cat legend, the friendship between a girl named Yoshka and her furry companion, and the tale of how, in Tsarist Russia, the best mouser cats were sent from Kazan to the Winter Palace to save it from rodents.

"EkonNorm" is what the Faculty of Economics, with the support of the "Youth Work Organisation" programme, has named their joint initiative. Krasnodar Krai, Cossack bliss, the traditional Cossack dance song "Oysya, ty oysya" and, of course, a story about a young Cossack, Yegor, who went to war to defend his family and homeland.

"Yes, this is the Caucasus" — a collection of tales and legends on the theme of mountain peoples from the Faculty of Information Technology. A young warrior challenges a deity and, during their struggle, gains the most valuable thing of all – wisdom.

"4-1" is a legal drama about four friends who have lost a comrade and are searching for him across the vast city. Here are modern jokes, current trends, and even discussions on topical issues from the Faculty of Law.

"The Legend of 'TISBI': The Last Desk" is not the title of a blockbuster movie. This is a programme prepared by the college, where through a humorous "Legend of Kutkh the Raven": heroes from Kamchatka, Kazan and other places argue about whose legend is "correct", but in the end come to the conclusion that "TISBI" unites everyone – different traditions, languages, musical instruments, dances and cuisine – into one student family.

And the Faculty of Humanities with the programme "Heart of the Beast". Its distinctive feature was the complete absence of lines in the script, and the outline of the performance was built according to one of the most important theatrical rules: show, don't tell. In "Heart of the Beast" the story is told of how life gives every person a chance to gain animal strength and power, but only the heart decides whether to be a beast or a human. Dancing, singing, movement and a fashion show are masterfully woven into the story and presented on stage with virtually no blackout moments.

Now, the professional jury must fairly deliver their scores, and the students must conserve their strength and show their best at the upcoming gala concert.

Very soon, an archive of photos and videos from the festival will appear in our VK group – look for yourselves and your friends! Subscribe so you don't miss anything.

The University of Management "TISBI" congratulates everyone involved in the festival's preparation, the performers, students, jury members, and spectators on the recent Freshers' Day, and wishes those performing in subsequent concerts to give even more!